The Johannesburg Tour:
The Tour can include from the following - however can be adjusted to suit your requirements or time allocation. View and experience the vibe of the Rainbow Nation in Johannesburg. A view across the Johannesburg central business district and Hillbrow with their stark contrast and living conditions. Tour the up-market suburb of Houghton and the forest like area of Rosebank.
The 360 panoramic view of the city from the "top of Africa" - the 50th floor of the downtown Carlton Centre.
Constitution Hill - a tour through number 4 prison including the Mahatma Gandhi exhibition, a walk on the ramparts overlooking the Johannesburg CBD, tour of Nelson Mandela cell within the old fort and a visit inside the Constitution court.
Newtown and its inner city revival with a drive across the Nelson Mandela Bridge and a view of the early 1900 Johannesburg train station. Historical area of Sophia town/Triomf and on to Mayfair, Brixton with the Brixton communication tower.
Downtown drive including historical buildings and the Supreme Court, old Stock Exchange and De Beers.
Visit the Emmarentia Gardens.
Stroll through the Faraday herbal market.
Mary Fitzgerald square.
Mine workers museum.
SAB World of Beer
Our tours are specifically designed to offer choice and flexibility. Combined tours as you require to suit your personal preferences and available time.
Johannesburg metropolitan area is one of the largest in the world, built on neither an ocean nor major river/dam
Johannesburg Today:
Built on profits of gold - on the richest reef in the world, celebrated it's centenary in 1996 It is the most densely populated and urbanized city of South Africa and one of the 40 largest metropolitan's in the world. With over 8 million citizens, Johannesburg is a lively metropolis offering a wide spectrum of culture, including European, African and Asian. Almost half of the 8 million live in Soweto and Diepsloot. Johannesburg is the financial hub of South Africa, an Economic powerhouse producing 20% of South Africa's gross domestic product. This is over 40% of Gauteng's gross domestic product.
Banking, mining and investment institutions and most South African companies have their head office in Johannesburg, or at least would have a branch in the city or surrounding areas. The city boasts over three million households. Johannesburg is now completely multiracial; however Soweto's residents are over 99% black. Johannesburg's economical drive has moved away from gold; however the mining industry has etched its mark on the landscape.
Johannesburg mine history clearly visible in the mine/slag dumps.
Mine dumps/slag dumps: The numerous yellow man made hills scattered around Johannesburg, will have an impact on the appearance of the urban landscape for decades to come. The mine dumps are a reminder of our heritage and are viewed as a monument to gold mining past. The dumps are being removed, as small amounts of gold, about a third of a gram to every ton of sand can be re coved. Once removed the site is made available as prime real estate.
Safety in Johannesburg:
Safety is a concern in Johannesburg; however the city's reputation as being the crime capital South Africa is incorrect. At end of the apartheid era, crime did rise dramatically, with the worst hit areas being in and around the central business district. With the installation of over 200 video cameras in this area, covering most streets and with a good police response time, the inner city crime rate has dropped considerably and is continuing to improve. As most major cities, it is advisable to take sensible precautions with some extra care. Certain areas do carry a higher risk so stay alert, keep car windows up with doors locked and not leave valuable on the seats or in sight.
Johannesburg is rich in history and offers a wonderful array of world-class attractions
The Johannesburg area
Johannesburg is a city with surroundings that give rise to many traditional restaurants, markets and cultural villages. Our Tour packages cover these and many more.
Old Fort Prison and the new Constitutional Court Complex
One of the oldest buildings in Johannesburg
History:
Constitution hill - the site of the old fort, built on the Braamfontein ridge by Paul Kruger in 1893 for military use, later used as a prison. The Fort is one of the oldest buildings in Johannesburg.
The Old Fort Prison was extended to include "native" cells, Section 4 and Section 5, and in 1910 a women's section was added. An awaiting-trial block was constructed in the 1920s. Both political activists opposed to apartheid and common criminals were held at the prison.
Nelson Mandela entered the prison on Constitution Hill as Lawyer, then Prisoner and later as the President of South Africa.
Mahatma Gandhi was the first to apply the concept of non-violent Civil disobedience in South Africa.This saw him face the hard realities of racial discrimination in South Africa. A special exhibit/museum is included within number 4 prison around Mahatma Gandhi and his stay at Constitution Hill.
Prisoners where often sent to Robben island or Pretoria Central Prison after sentencing. The site housed prisoners until 1983, when it was closed. The complex attained national heritage status after 1994.
Old Fort of the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek (ZAR)
Old fort:
Ramparts built by Paul Kruger between 1896 and 1899 to protect the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek (ZAR) from the threat of invasion from the British. Also used to keep an eye on the miners flocking into Johannesburg. Reverted to a prison after the South African war.
Old fort transformed into a living museum
The Prison Today:
The prison and old fort has been transformed into a living museum.
From the ramparts that surround the old fort, you get an excellent view of the surrounding areas, including Hillbrow, the downtown skyscrapers, Braamfontein and the green suburbs of Northern Johannesburg.
The Experience for the visitor:
This prison and old fort is as important as Robben Island both for the international visitor and the South African people as a nation.
The Constitutional Court: South Africa's Highest Court
With one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, the court justices needed a fitting site for South Africa's constitutional court. The prison had fallen into a dilapidated state, but provided a site with rich cultural history. The court building itself was built using bricks from the demolished awaiting-trial wing of the former prison; "taking from the past to build the future".
Witness democracy at work in the Constitutional Court.
Johannesburg Museums:
Museum Africa - SAB World of Beer - AECI Dynamite Factory Museum - Adler Museum of Medicine - James Hall Transport Museum - South African National Museum of Military History - Origins Centre
Ekala Tours use qualified and registered guides - not drivers only.
Different tour options are available - with different prices.
Perfect tour options to include with the Johannesburg Tour to create a full day tour:
Soweto Tour - Apartheid Museum - Lion Park - Rhino and Lion Reserve
Ekala Tours - Personalised attention to your needs. We look forward to hearing from you.
Please Contact Ekala Tours - info@ekala.co.za - for - tour details - Personalised attention - Bookings - Johannesburg Guest House Accommodation.
Daily Johannesburg tours available - 7 days a week.
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For further information on the Johannesburg Tour please Contact Ekala Tours. We look forward to hearing from you - info@ekala.co.za.