HIDDEN GEMS IN
GAUTENG

Home to some of the richest history in South Africa, Gauteng province is a wealth of opportunities, culture, diversity and of course, the city of gold. This week we are scouring this concrete jungle for some amazing hidden gems to check out.

NIROX SCULPTURE GARDENS

The Nirox Foundation Sculpture Park is located in the middle of the Cradle of Humankind and it is an incredible, expansive area which houses artists from across the world on a residency programme. Here you will see a gorgeous collection of sculptures of varying size and style, all dotted amongst the fifteen hectares of trees, manicured gardens, lakes, birds and winding pathways of the sculpture garden. There are open days which are a lovely way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon lazing around with the family and there are also regular music concerts to keep you entertained.

ZWIPI UNDERGROUND BAR

A gem literally hidden from view is the must-visit Zwipi Underground Bar, which lies in an old bank vault under the city of Joburg. It is located in the trendy Fox Street at Gandhi Square and is an incredible place to host a special party or dinner, or for a memorable date night with that special someone. Set in an old Edwardian building, it fits right in with the contemporary vibe of the surrounding inner city precinct. Make sure you check it out on your night out in the city.

THE WILDS

Feel like you are visiting a totally different world at The Wilds Municipal Nature Reserve where you will see the now-famous kudu sculpture by James Delaney, with a view of Joburg behind it, an array of indigenous flowers and plants, retro-style greenhouses at the western edge of the park and much more. It is a beautiful place worth exploring.

WONDERBOOM NATURE RESERVE

The Wonderboom Nature Reserve is a two-hundred hectare reserve reaching across the Magaliesberg and it owes its name to the colossal and spectacular wild fig tree in the park that is said to be more than a thousand years old and the legend of a local tribal chief being buried beneath the roots. The reserve is the natural habitat of an extensive array of fauna and flora. Dassies live in the caves and crevices overlooking the Apies river, providing food to the black eagles who have been nesting on the Magaliesberg for many years. The conservation area is the site of various archaeological sites from the Stone and Iron Ages, in addition to the notable Wonderboom Fort on the hilltop. There are various hiking trails on offer across the reserve, and the park is a prime picnic spot. Wonderboom is open seven days a week. Worth adding to your budget entertainment things to do in Gauteng.

LION PARK

Lion Park is one of the most essential places to visit in Johannesburg. It is not just home to the Transvaal lions, there are other animals that are indigenous to Africa for you to see in the park. Apart from interacting with the lions, you can also indulge in fun activities like a safari expedition, a tour of the four lion pride camps and more. Makes for a fantastic family day experience. Do check it out.

SAB WORLD OF BEER

Make a stop at the SAB World of Beer. Owned by the South African Breweries, this attraction located in Newtown is amongst the most fun places in Johannesburg to visit. Learn about the drink’s rich history and explore its significance in the cultural space, take a tour of the whole brewery, watch a 3D movie, taste the famous beer and savor the bar snacks during the tour session.

HOLY HILL

Holy Hill is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Johannesburg. Located in the center of the city, this not-so-popular place offers the most breath-takng views of the city that will definitely leave you in awe. Make sure you check it out.

LINDFIELD VICTORIAN HOUSE MUSEUM

The Lindfield Victorian House Museum is one of the most unique, yet exciting sites in Johannesburg. The current owner of the museum, Katherine Love, dresses up in Victorian clothing to match the vibe and purpose of the museum, and will very courteously show you around the Victorian house. This stunning museum houses an impressive collection of 19th and 20th-century Victorian furniture, art and common household items that all tell tales of how this culture and heritage is influencing Johannesburg even today. After your two-hour tour inside this museum, you can indulge in a fine cup of tea in the verandah while looking over the Johannesburg city.

ORIGINS CENTRE

Visit this world-class facility that comprises two independent but closely linked museums and was designed by a team of academics and designers from Wits University and aims to provide visitors with a unique experience of Africa's rich, complex and sometimes mysterious past. The extraordinary journey of discovery begins with the origins of humankind in Africa and then moves through the development of art, symbolism and technology. The very things that give us our humanity on the continent. The journey then continues through the destruction of the great and diverse southern African rock art traditions, the world's oldest continuous art forms at the hands of colonists before ending, more positively, with the re-discovery of these ancient masterworks in a contemporary world. The Origins Centre is Africa-centric and seeks to restore the continent to its rightful place in history as the place where everything that makes us who we are today originated. See the earliest image made by man, found here in South Africa, experience the oldest known ritual that is still practiced today the San/Bushman trance dance and trace their genetic make up through DNA and find out who they really are. The average museum experience lasts from between 90 minutes to 2 hours, but for the enthusiast, there is an unsurpassed (and continuously growing) wealth of extra multimedia material on Africa's past.

SOWETO INSPIRATIONAL HOME MUSEUM

Go have a kasi experience in Soweto at the Soweto Inspirational Home Museum situated about 200 meters from Regina Mundi. The Museum is the first of its kind and it provides knowledge about the ancient connection between people, plants and animals. Enjoy a local tea tasting from plants that are picked up from the Museum’s garden, get tested in the old symbol writing and win fun prices from the Museum and lunch is offered on request. The Museum is a must see and an inspiring place to learn about indigenous history, ancient medical plants, and discover handwriting that goes back to centuries.

TSWAING
CRATER

Just 40 km north-west of Pretoria is an impact crater – an astrobleme to give its scientific name – that is 1.13 km in diameter, is 100 metres deep and one of the most accessible craters in the world. Hiking across this unique geology, provided you follow the proper trail (7 km), is without doubt a highlight of any visit.
The summer months can get unbearably hot although the sight of the electric blue of the lake in high summer is worth seeing.

WONDER CAVE KROMDRAAI

Explore the Wonder Cave, located in the internationally known valley of Kromdraai within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. The Wonder Cave is surrounded by game farms with an abundance of both wild animals and birdlife. This natural wonder boasts an enormous single chamber which one enters by elevator beside walls decorated with beautiful formations up to 15m high. See rimstone pools, cave pearls, stalactites, stalagmites, popcorn formations, straw formations, mushroom formations, and much more in this cave.

MAGALIESBERG MOUNTAINS

The feeling when you get to the Magaliesberg Mountain Range is of timeless magic. Just a short drive from Johannesburg, you can explore these mountains that are older than Mount Everest and host to a variety of ancient biomes. This mountain wonderland is filled with an astounding variety of flowers, trees and animals and is also home to some of South Africa’s most-loved hotels, spas and country restaurants. While there, try out hot air ballooning, go bird watching or join a safari to find the elusive leopard.

This site was designed with Mobirise

HIDDEN GEMS IN GAUTENG