parisien From France, joined Dec 2000, 819 posts, RR: 2 Posted (9 months 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 1371 times:
Hello,
I will be in Johannesburg for 3 days ....can you suggest what I should do ? Where I should stay ? On my definite list is Soweto tour and Apartheid museum.....other can't miss things to do ?
I am also looking for neighborhood to stay that is not too touristy (Rosebank I guess is very touristy or is it ok ?)
Thank you much.....
dl021 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 11436 posts, RR: 81 Reply 1, posted (9 months 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 1341 times:
Go to Rhino and Lion park to see the animals very up close.
A very nice place to stay is Irene Country Lodge. Right in Centurion, between Pretoria and Joburg (technically Pretoria)
Very nice, reasonable price and well situated. Not touristy, very picturesque, very close to main Pretoria/Joburg highway.
parisien From France, joined Dec 2000, 819 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (9 months 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 1326 times:
thank you dl021, I will definitely add the Rhino and Lion park to my list....
Do you know if there is a train from Centurion to Johannesburg?
Also is it best to book the tours on site or via the web (I still have not received confirmation from a couple of the tours companies, despite having requested the tours a couple of days ago).
dl021 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 11436 posts, RR: 81 Reply 3, posted (9 months 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 1271 times:
There is a train, but I don't know how conveniently located the stations are. It was built for the world cup runup, and runs between Pretoria nad Joburg. I'd book via the web just to be sure of a spot, but it's possible to show up there and buy tickets.
signol From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2007, 2953 posts, RR: 7 Reply 4, posted (8 months 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1099 times:
The train is called Gautrain, it also goes to the airport. You cannot pre-book tickets.
My brother in law lives in Centurion, it's a good suburb as far as suburbs go. Sandton is a business friendly suburb, safe and plenty of hotels.
If you visit Pretoria, see the Union Buildings and the zoo.
There's not much touristy in Joburg itself. Next to Apartheid museum is Gold Reef City, a theme park.
simonisjf From South Africa, joined Sep 2012, 24 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (8 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 1068 times:
The Grand yeah...
Rosebank, Brynston, Hyde Park are good places to stay at. Hyde Park has a beautiful 4 star hotel, Sun International, that has magnificent views of the Northern suburbs from the pool deck bar. Its above a mall so you really have everything you want just a few feet away.
Go for a hot air balloon ride near Hartebeespoort Dam, Soweto is full of tourists. Go to the JHB Zoo, Parkhurst (For lunch or drinks). This is where the real South Africa is at!
Enjoy!
@simonisjf is where I am at. I love thunderstorms, but only from the ground!
parisien From France, joined Dec 2000, 819 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (8 months 3 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 970 times:
Hello all,
thank you so much for the replies...
I finally stayed in Rosebank (near the Rosebank Mall where there's an African Art Market on Sundays on the rooftop). I also visited Sandton for dinner one night, I managed to visit Soweto (Mandela House, Hector Pieterson museum, Freedom square. Half a day to do the visit) and the Apartheid museum (you need about 3 hours to visit the museum. A very moving experience).
In Pretoria I only got to visit the Zoo (drove by downtown and the Union building but did not visit). The zoo was great.
The Gautrain was very convenient and inexpensive....
Most of all, the south africans of all races are wonderful (but still segregated I have the impression, compared to France for instance).
Flew the AF A380 and I must say their seat in Y was not comfortable (could not sleep more than one or two hours)!
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