RamZone's roving reporter recently visited the host nation of this year's World Cup, in the first of her three part series she advises what you should see (besides football) while in South Africa.

 

There must be many people who are going out to South Africa who are wondering what they can do in the days between games.

Although there are currently many tickets available for all games it is possible that fans may want to see something more of the fabulous country they are visiting.

All of the stadia are in reasonably large towns & cities and there are lots of things to see and do.

Rustenburg, where the England team is based is about a 2 hour drive from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo airport – assuming that the journey is not made during the rush hour when the sprawling conurbation is gridlocked.

The nearest tourist attraction in this area is Sun City, South Africa’s answer to Las Vegas.

However, with care, there is a lot to be seen in Johannesburg and it is home to much of the recent history. Tours can be booked in all of the hotels although self-drive is better if one has some local knowledge.

We have recently returned from a long tour of South Africa and the last 5 days were spent in JoBurg.

The first must-see here is the Apartheid Museum which is in Gold Reef City and at least 3 hours should be devoted to this thought provoking reminder of how life used to be in South Africa until only 20 years ago.

Unprepossessing from the outside and stark inside, it is an essential insight of how society can go so wrong.

http://www.apartheidmuseum.org/

We also visited one of the latest museums – the buildings of Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia where Nelson Mandela hid disguised as a farm labourer for months.

It is also where most of the ANC’s high command were eventually arrested, leading to the famous Rivonia Trial where Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada and others evaded the death sentence but were imprisoned for life.

The buildings had fallen into disrepair but they have been well restored.

http://www.liliesleaf.co.za/

No visit to Johannesburg is really complete without going to Soweto, not just where Soccer City is located but to see some of the main locations of the freedom struggle.

Tourists are advised to only visit the main sights unaccompanied and to book a Soweto guide for anything involving straying from the tourist path.

That means that the Hector Pieterson Memorial and the Mandela and Tutu houses are well signposted and perfectly possible to visit.

http://www.soweto.co.za/html/p_hector.htm

http://www.mandelahouse.com/

http://www.southafricantours.co.za/Places/Gauteng/township.htm

There's a real atmosphere of community in this area of Soweto, they are so proud that this is the only street in the world that was home to TWO Nobel Peace Prize winners.

Away from the recent history, the Cradle of Humankind, about 30 km out of the city is also well worth a visit, especially the restaurant which is completely open to the bush

http://www.thecradle.co.za/

Museum Africa is also worth a visit although care should be taken when walking around that area

http://www.sa-venues.com/attractionsga/museum-africa.htm

and it is located close to the new iconic Nelson Mandela Bridge.

http://www.sa-venues.com/attractionsga/nelson-mandela-bridge.htm

Much is made of security issues and fears of crime in Johannesburg but it is perfectly safe if care is taken much the same as in any other city in the world.

Don’t be alarmed by the fact that everyone lives behind fencing – it’s a national obsession. It’s a great vibrant city, one of the greenest I have ever seen and although there is still a huge divide between rich & poor, it is well worth visiting.

The hotels around the airport are a long way from all the sights and the best areas to stay are north of the city in the Sandton, Rivonia & Randberg areas.

Make the most of the World Cup being held for the first time in Africa and see as much as you can of a nation that has emerged from a dark period into a new age of reconciliation and democracy.

 

Next Thursday Part 2 takes us to Capetown and Elaine explores the wonders it has to offer!

 

 

 

Photo: Action Images

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