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Johannesburg and Surroundings

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Index

Johannesburg City, and Tours Shopping Experiences Museums, Culture and Science Nature and Wildlife Johannesburg City Tour Hyde Park, Melrose Arch, Rosebank Mall, Maropeng – Cradle of Humankind Montecasino Bird Park Johannesburg and Soweto Tour City, Square, Origins Centre Sanctuary The Pivot at Montecasino Soweto Tour Museum Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary Nelson Mandela Museum and Desmond Tutu House Constitution Hill Ann van Dyk Centre Dining Footsteps of Mandela Park Restaurant and Luke Dale Roberts X the Saxon Mining Tours Gold Reef City Game Reserve Gold Reef City Apartheid Museum Johannesburg Theatre Cullinan Diamond Mine Pretoria City Tours Auto & General Theatre On The Square Jewel Africa at The Pivot at Montecasino and Pretoria Botanical Gardens Joburg Theatre Outdoor and Adventure Wonderboom Nature Reserve Peter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre and Studio Natural History Hot Air Ballooning Victory Theatre Maropeng – Cradle of Humankind Art and Craft Galleries Gold Reef City Theme Park Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City Origins Centre Art Eye Gallery Orlando Towers Market Theatre in Newtown Everard Read Gallery and Circa Gallery Goodman Gallery Golf Kim Sacks Gallery Steyn City Golf Course Stevenson Gallery tog’una African Artefacts Collection African Craft Market of Rosebank

Johannesburg

Welcome to Johannesburg, one of the world’s largest urban forests. Aside from the Hotel’s own excellent culinary offerings and The region is an all-year-round destination that enjoys business facilities, there is a range of world class restaurants in excellent weather throughout the seasons, with moderately cool, and around the city to play host to business lunches or dinners, dry winters and hot summers with the cooling relief of sporadic providing a palate range of culinary experiences. Johannesburg’s thundershowers. flourishing arts and culture scenes provide wonderful gallery and Johannesburg, the powerhouse of , is a city steeped theatre outings, while a visit to one of the magnificently designed in a rich cultural and political history, which attracts both business museums offers an in-depth exploration of the city’s history, or you and leisure travellers. This vibrant city has a lot to offer visitors, from could take one of our recommended citywide tours for a day of historic sights of political importance, traditional ties or cultural sensory delights. Wherever you go in the city, the warm African connections, to museums, art galleries and craft markets. spirit will surely follow.

The charming and vibrant atmosphere makes the city of Whether you want to discover South Africa’s traditional Johannesburg a sought-after destination for visitors from all around roots, diverse cultures or explore the lively spirit of the city and the world. Whether it’s strictly business, a well-needed getaway or surroundings, the Saxon Concierge is on hand to assist you with a bit of both, the Saxon offers the ideal luxury retreat. planning your Johannesburg experience. Johannesburg City, Soweto and Pretoria Tours The Soweto Tour explores the cultural melting pot of South Africa and follows the road that led to the end of Apartheid and the Johannesburg City Tour dawn of democracy. The tour includes a visit to the Nelson Mandela The extensive city tour includes a panoramic view of the city, a Museum, the original Soweto home of Nelson Mandela in Vilakazi drive through the central business district, a visit to traditional Street. Vilakazi Street is the only street in the world to have housed healing markets and the bustling . You will cross the two Nobel Peace Prize laureates, namely the late former President into Newtown, the cultural district of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Also on Johannesburg, where you will visit Museum Africa and step into a the itinerary is the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, where typical shebeen of the 1950s. the state-of-the-art multi-media centre depicts scenes leading up to the student uprising of 16 June 1976. The extended tour includes additional experiences such as a visit to the historic Constitution Hill, as well as the SAB World of Beer, In addition, the tour offers a local craft experience at the Handiworx where you can learn about the history of beer and take a walk project or the Soweto Green, as well as a visit to an informal through the sample brewery before stopping in the Tap Room to settlement, a day care centre and Baragwanath Hospital. There is enjoy a glass or two. also an optional cycle tour from Phomolong.

Johannesburg and Soweto Tour Nelson Mandela Museum and Desmond Tutu House The ultimate combination of inner city Johannesburg and vibrant The tour takes visitors to the Nelson Mandela Museum, the original Soweto, the Johannesburg and Soweto Tour explores the rich Soweto home of Nelson Mandela, as well as the former home of heritage and diverse cultures of South Africa. This tour includes scenic Desmond Tutu in Vilakazi Street, Orlando West. views of the city and Newtown, as well as visits to traditional African healing markets and the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum. Footsteps of Mandela This iconic tour takes you on an inspirational journey as you explore Soweto Tour the history of the late former President Nelson Mandela and the Situated to the south-west of Johannesburg is Soweto, one of the places and people that he touched in his efforts to end Apartheid. world’s most famous townships and an important monument to Starting at his home in Houghton, the tour includes visits to Apartheid. A sprawling, self-sufficient home to millions, the spirit Chinatown and crosses the Nelson Mandela Bridge into Newtown of Soweto resonates in a plethora of shebeens. and Museum Africa. The tour also includes a visit to the Nelson Mandela Museum, the original Soweto home of Nelson Mandela in Vilakazi Street. Gold Reef City built in 1905, and the Union Buildings designed by Sir Herbert Situated near the central business district of Johannesburg, Baker, offering visitors a magnificent view of the city from the top Gold Reef City has been built around a former gold mine as a of Meintjieskop. reconstruction of the early days of Johannesburg during the gold If you are interested in indigenous flora, you will enjoy visiting rush era. Attractions include historic miners’ houses and a Victorian the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens with its 50 hectares of fun fair, as well as the South African Mint Museum. You can watch indigenous flowering plant species and trees. Another famous molten gold being poured and also experience a trip down the old national landmark is the Wonderboom, a unique 1 000 year old mine shaft. Traditional tribal dancing adds a touch of indigenous Wild Fig Tree at the Wonderboom Nature Reserve. cultural entertainment. Union Buildings and Pretoria Botanical Gardens Apartheid Museum The imposing Union Buildings were designed by Sir Herbert Baker. The Apartheid Museum tells the story of the triumph of the human Visitors to this historic site at the top of Meintjieskop can take in spirit over adversity. The museum is a superb example of design, the magnificent views of the city. The tour also includes a visit to space and landscape, offering the international community an the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens with its 50 hectares of insight into South Africa’s past. The exhibits have been assembled indigenous flowering plant species and trees. and organised by a multi-disciplinary team of curators, film-makers, historians and designers. They include film footage, photographs, Wonderboom Nature Reserve text panels and artefacts illustrating the events and human stories Wonderboom Nature Reserve is a small reserve in the from the Apartheid era. mountains in the north of Pretoria. The best known attraction within the reserve is the Wonderboom, which means ‘miracle Pretoria City Tours tree’, an immense Wild Fig tree that is estimated to be 1 000 The nearby city of Pretoria is known as the Jacaranda City because years old and stands 25 metres tall, 55 metres wide and has 13 of the abundance of jacaranda trees which are a feast of lilac individual trunks. blue flowers in October. Pretoria, with its rich history, generates a multicultural energy from a harmonious blend of traditions, Visitors can take a short hike up the mountain to view a cave and culture and architecture. The tour includes a choice of either the man-made waterfall that cascades down the western side of the , a well known landmark in honour of mountain into the Apies River. The hiking trail offers spectacular the early Voortrekker pioneers, or the House, Church views of the surrounding areas. The reserve is also the site of the Square, Freedom Square, the Mirramen Hindu Temple which was historic Fort Wonderboom. Art and Craft Galleries Stevenson Gallery The Stevenson Gallery has an international exhibition programme Johannesburg offers an array of art galleries, some exhibiting the with a particular focus on regions. In addition to exhibiting gallery work of international artists, while others focus on developing local artists, it has also brought in the work of celebrated artists and has South African talent. The Saxon can arrange a tailor-made tour to a in the past participated in international art events. number of galleries and showrooms to suit the particular interests of our guests. togu’na African Artefacts Collection togu’na offers a range of pieces meticulously sourced from across Art Eye Gallery the African continent. Each item on display has a personal history Art Eye Gallery, situated in The Design Quarter in , is a developed through wear and use over time. vibrant, dynamic exhibition space that celebrates contemporary African art. They specialise in building up collections, sourcing African Craft Market of Rosebank rare artworks and gems that have been overlooked in the past, The African Craft market of Rosebank is a unique cultural shopping as well as encouraging the development of young artistic talent. destination. What started as a social upliftment project to formalise The gallery exudes an atmosphere of sophistication, offering visitors the hawker trade in the area is now a bustling market known for its an exceptional art experience. quality African artefacts and crafts. Everard Read Gallery and Circa Gallery The Everard Read Gallery, one of the most respected galleries in Shopping Experiences South Africa, houses noteworthy collections by highly acclaimed The areas surrounding the Saxon are recognised as world class local and international artists. Circa, located next to the Everard shopping destinations, offering a wide variety of shopping Read Gallery, is a vibrant contemporary art gallery on Jellicoe experiences, from designer boutiques to local artefacts and curios. Avenue, celebrating art and architecture in Johannesburg. The most exclusive shopping malls, including Hyde Park, Melrose Arch, Rosebank Mall, , and Goodman Gallery are just a few minutes away and The Pivot at Montecasino are a The Goodman Gallery is well known for offering a frequently mere ten to fifteen minutes by car. changing programme of thought-provoking exhibitions by various artists throughout the year. If you are interested in buying specialised products such as jewellery or African artefacts, the Concierge can arrange for reputable Kim Sacks Gallery designers and agents to assist you in the comfort of the Saxon. The Kim Sacks Gallery showcases a contemporary mixture of rural creativity including fine craft, cutting-edge urban design and folk art. Kim Sacks works with and represents a multitude of southern African rural and urban craftspeople and acquires and houses a broad spectrum of pieces including ceramics, textiles and beads. Dining Johannesburg offers an exciting culinary journey with renowned restaurants and eateries offering local delicacies and international cuisines. The Saxon is home to Qunu Restaurant and Luke Dale Roberts X the Saxon, our experiential dining restaurant.

The city offers visitors a wide choice of award-winning restaurants to suit any palate. Johannesburg’s local gourmet and craft markets have created exciting new platforms showcasing the best local artisan produce. These are popular meeting places where you can enjoy the finest local speciality foods in a vibrant atmosphere. Please consult the Saxon Concierge for the best advice and recommendations should you wish to visit some of the local Johannesburg restaurants, bistros or gourmet markets. Theatre Cullinan Diamond Mine To the east of Pretoria is the quaint historic mining town of Cullinan, South Africa has a thriving visual and performing arts community which developed around the Premier Diamond Mine where the and Johannesburg showcases many innovative homegrown famous Star of Africa was found. One of the largest diamonds ever productions. Theatregoers are spoilt for choice, with Johannesburg mined, the Star of Africa forms part of the Queen of England’s often hosting major international shows as well as a year-round Crown Jewels. Diamonds can be purchased on site. Although programme of world class local theatre productions. Theatres surface tours are the norm, underground tours can be arranged on include Auto & General Theatre On The Square, Joburg Theatre, request. Tour times are specific and are not flexible. Peter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre and Studio, Victory Theatre, Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City and the Market Theatre in Newtown. Jewel Africa at The Pivot at Montecasino At Jewel Africa the ancient heritage of Africa meets the timeless Museums, Culture and Science allure of diamonds. From authentic African curios and artefacts at For visitors wanting to learn more about the the Nguna showroom, to diamonds and the largest retail collection and the events that have shaped it, there is an array of museums of the continent’s very own tanzanite gemstone, guests can enjoy and heritage sites in and around Johannesburg covering countless a rich and comprehensive retail experience. You can also take an topics. interactive diamond educational tour.

The Maropeng Visitors Centre showcases the Cradle of Humankind and the development of our ancestors. The Origins Centre is a Natural History world class museum dedicated to exploring and celebrating the Maropeng – Cradle of Humankind history of modern humankind, telling the story of the emergence Situated an easy 1½ hour’s drive from Sandton, this internationally of human beings and humanity. acclaimed tourist attraction highlights the universal relevance of There are also many sites showcasing South Africa’s unique the Cradle of Humankind as our ancestral home. The tour visits democracy. The Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill illustrate the Sterkfontein Caves, where the earliest hominid fossils dating the rise and fall of apartheid, through to the dawn of equality. back over 3 million years were discovered. At Maropeng you can experience fascinating, interactive representations of the origins of Mining Tours the earth and life on our planet. A boat ride takes you back 3 billion years through the elements that started life on the planet, and your Gold Reef City journey continues through a 150 metre interactive ‘virtual cave’. Situated near the central business district of Johannesburg, Gold Reef City has been built around a former gold mine as a Origins Centre reconstruction of the early days of Johannesburg during the gold A visit to the Origins Centre explores the beginning of life on our rush era. planet. This museum celebrates the history of modern humankind, telling the story of the emergence of human beings and their evolution into humanity as we know it. The tour is of interest to both adults and children and is a ‘must see’ on the itinerary of anyone passing through Gauteng. Nature and Wildlife a successful Cape hunting dog breeding programme (formerly known as African wild dogs). The tours coincide with feeding times Montecasino Bird Park and booking is essential. With over 1 000 birds, small animals and reptiles, the Montecasino Bird Garden is the only sanctuary of its kind on the African continent. Lion Park The venue presents entertainment and educational shows that are This tour to the Lion Park situated just north of Johannesburg offers perfect for the whole family. you the opportunity of meeting the king of the wild. Admire the lion cubs, white and get to see the hyenas and wild dogs. Elephant Sanctuary You can even get your picture taken with an irresistible lion cub. Small groups of visitors are guided on foot through the Elephant Visits to the Lion Park are to be pre-booked. Sanctuary, situated to the north-west of the Hartbeespoort Dam, with guides providing in-depth information and an insight into the Pilanesberg Game Reserve world of the African elephant. You are introduced to the The bushveld terrain of Pilanesberg Game Reserve is home to virtually and you can touch and interact with them, followed by a short every of southern Africa as well as a variety of flora and trunk-in-hand walk, which is an unforgettable experience. Guests fauna. This vast area promises thrilling big game viewing in a malaria- also get the opportunity to feed the elephants and learn more about free environment. Visitors can join open vehicle game drives operated their anatomy, as well as their intricate ways of communicating by experienced guides to enjoy the numerous wonders of the area. with one another. Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary Originally established in 1904, the progressive Johannesburg Zoo The Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary is a privately owned, non- is set on 81 hectares and is home to over 2 000 animals. The subsidised sanctuary set on approximately 7 hectares and is one of zoo is dedicated to the accommodation, enrichment, husbandry only eight free-release sanctuaries in the world that provide and medical care of wild animals and is one of the few places in for orphaned and abused animals. The sanctuary is situated west the world where you can see the . Enjoy the views of of Hartbeespoort Dam, alongside the Elephant Sanctuary, and Westcliff, one of the old exclusive baronial residential areas of early provides a natural environment where can enjoy their Johannesburg. freedom. The sanctuary, situated in one of the many gorges of the Magaliesberg mountain range, is a haven for many species of Pretoria Zoo monkeys from around the world. Pretoria Zoo is the largest zoo in the country, situated on 85 hectares and home to more than 7 000 , reptiles, fish and birds. Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre The zoo was originally established in 1899 and received national The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre, situated north-east of the status as South Africa’s National Zoological Gardens in 1916. Hartbeespoort Dam, was previously known as the De Wildt Attractions include South African fur seals, the gorilla enclosure, Cheetah Centre. The Centre was originally established in 1971 the aquarium, a reptile park and the endangered Komodo dragon. as a cheetah breeding project and has during the past 40 years Guests can enjoy the meandering paths and take a seven-minute bred over 800 cheetah cubs. Various conservation projects include cableway ride for an aerial view of the zoo.

Outdoor and Adventure Orlando Towers Originally the site of a coal-fired power station, the Orlando For the more adventurous at heart, the Johannesburg area offers Towers have become one of the most distinctive landmarks in scenic balloon safaris. The balloon safaris take you over the scenic Soweto and the site of the world’s first bungee jump between two landscape near the Hartbeespoort Dam for an unforgettable cooling towers. There is an open-air viewing platform that offers experience. Other exciting activities include cave adventures, spectacular views of Soweto and Johannesburg. The towers are abseiling, rock climbing and skydiving. used for extreme sports such as bungee jumping, abseiling, zipline, pendulum swinging and more. Hot Air Ballooning Enjoy a unique experience that epitomises the spirit of Africa, from Golf a spectacular sunrise to breathtaking scenery and exceptional views of wildlife from the air, with the added luxury of a champagne The fantastic year-round weather and exceptional golf courses breakfast and superb cuisine. make Johannesburg a golfer’s paradise. The city has a number of golf courses that have hosted the European PGA Tour and South Gold Reef City Theme Park African golfing events. Gold Reef City Theme Park is situated just outside the city centre on the site of an old gold mine and is themed around the Johannesburg Steyn City Golf Course gold rush in the late 1800s. Gold Reef City is an entertainment Should you wish to visit one of the local Johannesburg golf courses complex that comprises a theme park, museum and casino. Visitors or play a round of golf at the Steyn City Golf Course, the Saxon can enjoy rollercoaster rides, go underground into a mine shaft, Concierge is available at all times to help you make all the necessary watch smelted gold being poured, try panning for gold and see arrangements to suit your preferences and time schedule. traditional gumboot dancing. Steyn City is a groundbreaking lifestyle residential estate which boasts an award-winning Jack Nicklaus designed golf course that is on par with the best in the world. Nineteen, the clubhouse restaurant and bar, is ideal for taking in the magnificent views over the golf course and enjoying a refreshing drink and a delicious meal. 36 Saxon Road Sandhurst Johannesburg 2196 PO Box 567 2132 South Africa Telephone +27 (0)11 292 6000 / +27 (0)87 375 7777 Email [email protected] Website www.saxon.co.za

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