Visit Johannesburg and Pretoria, South Africa

JOHANNESBURG & PRETORIA

- Johannesburg & Pretoria -

Johannesburg, affectionately dubbed Joburg or Jozi by its locals, is South Africa’s largest city. And yet, of the 10 million visitors to South Africa per year, only 108,000 actually visited it.

This is not too surprising as Johannesburg doesn’t have the best image. It also cannot rival Cape Town’s raw natural beauty. As a result, many visitors decide to give it a miss entirely.

However, Joburg is one of our favourite cities and we hope to show you why it deserves some time in your itinerary. While you’re there, don’t forget to visit Pretoria as well, South Africa’s administrative capital.

What is there to like about these two cities? For starters, Johannesburg and Pretoria are vibrant and alive. You will find a positive contagious energy in these fast-paced cities which will uplift even the most down-trodden of spirits. Jozi also boasts some of the best street art in the world, diverse art galleries, restaurant, cafes, quirky shops and markets and many malls, this is a trendy destination indeed.

If you love an edgy hipster atmosphere, we highly recommend a visit to Arts on Main in Johannesburg, a beautiful colourful market daily where locals cook up street food from around the world and sell very unique art and fashion. The Sunday market is especially highly recommended. Secondly, Johannesburg and neighbouring Pretoria have been in the thick of all major political and historical events that makes up the fabric of South Africa’s rich history.

It was in Johannesburg’s Soweto township that the student uprisings took place, and in Pretoria where SAs first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, assumed is seat. It was in these two cities where Apartheid was both born and thankfully repudiated, where Mandela lived and fought his peaceful fight, where Ghandi was imprisoned and so much more that shaped our beautiful country.

Johannesburg is a bustling megalopolis and home to a number of museums that offer valuable insight into this country’s turbulent past. Even if you are not a history lover, a combined visit of the Apartheid Museum and Soweto (South Africa’s biggest township) is a must. Other museums such as SAB World of Beer are less political but no less modern and impressive.

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Pretoria on the other hand is a much smaller city and the main sights can easily be fitted into an afternoon excursion. The Union Buildings form the official seat of the South African government and is both beautiful and stately. Take a stroll through the lush gardens and take the obligatory selfie with Mandela’s imposing statue.

If you have the time, a visit to the Voortrekker Museum will give you precious insight into not only the history of South Africa’s farmer pioneers who fled from the British Colony of the Cape in the 1800s, but also into the Afrikaner culture as a whole. From the top of the monument you can also enjoy spectacular views of the capital city. Pretoria is known as the Jacaranda City, thanks to the thousands of trees that turn its avenues and street purple every year. To experience that, plan your visit so it falls over October.

Finally, both Johannesburg, the City of Gold, and Pretoria serves as a wonderful gateway to many nearby attractions. These include the beautiful Big 5 safari destination of Pilanesberg National Park, the Cradle of Humankind (a UNESCO World Heritage Site where researchers found some of the earliest human remains), and Gold Reef City, a theme park offering tours of a reconstructed goldmine as part of its attractions.

The list of things to do in Johannesburg and Pretoria extends even further, and we will happily tailor your itinerary to take in your unique tastes and desires – using captivating guides, and all in absolute safety.

Tailor Made Itineraries to South Africa Small Group Travel

Each region is unique!

Click on the different regions below to find out more about the unique beauty each offers, and when the best time is to visit.

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Itineraries to South Africa

The Essentials in SA- 15 Nights - Comfort 3* itinerary

Johannesburg - Kruger - Cape Town

3* Itinerary (15 nights)

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- Best time to go to Johannesburg & Pretoria -

Autumn (April - May) and Spring (September - November): This our favourite time to visit Johannesburg and Pretoria. The temperatures are perfect, and these seasons strikes a great balance between good weather and good prices. Autumn will show you an explosion of colour as the trees turn, but spring is the most beautiful time to head to these two cities. Pilanesberg National Park and the Sun City resort, easily reachable from Pretoria or Johannesburg, looks beautiful in spring with fresh green shoots everywhere, and Pretoria is at its prettiest, when the Jacaranda trees transform the city streets into a riot of lilac.

Summer (November - April): Summer is the rainy season in the Highveld region, with intense but short showers that usually pass in 30 minutes. Days are characterised by hot, sunny days making this a great time to visit Johannesburg or Pretoria. The summer electrical storms are seriously impressive with spectacular shows of lighting and rumbling thunder, and occur mostly in late afternoons, which leaves you to enjoy your day out sightseeing. As a result of the regular afternoon showers, Johannesburg and Pretoria is covered with lush vegetation during summer, making these two cities appear beautiful and fresh.

Winter (June - September): Winter is our least favourite time to go to Johannesburg and Pretoria, as the air get so cold and dry that some people develop itchiness and discomfort. Temperatures can be bitterly cold in the mornings and evening, and frost is not uncommon. Temperatures do however improve during the day averaging around 15°C / 60°F, and sometimes as high as 25°C / 77°F. During winter the “Highveld”, where these two cities are located, receives almost no rain, which paints the surrounding landscape in shades of cream and brown.