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Johannesburg Holidays

In a country as special as South Africa, Johannesburg might not seem an obvious highlight, but bear with us. Like all urban legends this is a city of villages: Houghton; Newton, the former industrial area now cultural centre; Braamfontein, the student district where art galleries pop-up on a weekly basis. Then there’s the Fashion District, where the fast growing middle class shop in an area previously known only for the poor district of Hillbrow. This gentrification hasn’t entirely changed the city’s identity, though, and on a Johannesburg holiday you can still walk in the footsteps of Gandhi - one of the city’s most famous residents - at the elegant museum/hotel Satyagraha House (Gandhi’s one time home), or learn about the remarkable life of Nelson Mandela in Soweto.
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Johannesburg holiday ideas

A few suggestions to get the holiday planning process started

Johannesburg Guide

Practical advice and inspiration to help you prepare for your holiday

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South Africa Testimonials

5 reviews
4.6 / 5
"The choice of lodges to stay in were brilliant. The settings were amazing as was the food! We were very well looked after. The guides were great too. So knowledgeable. We saw so much. It was good to have the Concierge always available in the background, though everything was so well organised beforehand we didn't really need to use them."
Jill - Surrey
Published on 11th March 2025
"Our honeymoon was absolutely incredible. The booking process was excellent, our consultant showed a great deal of expertise, listened to what we wanted and reassured us. The wraparound services you provide are superb, the whole honeymoon was easy and relaxed. The Original Travel app is extremely clear, as was the itinerary, and it was really useful and exciting to be able to refer back to this. The Concierges were AMAZING. They were so kind, kept in regular communication and were really helpful with recommendations."
Louise - London
Published on 5th September 2024
"To say we had the holiday of a lifetime would be an understatement. The attention to detail was unbelievable and it's those things that helped contribute to the great time we had. Given my brief was pretty vague(!), you did an incredible job at creating the most magical of holidays. I could wax lyrical about all the amazing things we saw and did but I won't bore you. But suffice to say, it really surpassed all of our expectations and then some! My husband loved it and both boys have got some memories that will last them a lifetime. The team (and I mean a team!) listened to my rather vague ideas and came up with a wonderful plan for my holiday, which had a significant meaning and they were really respectful of that. Their attention to detail was fantastic, their communication was great and the holiday itself was wonderful in every way. They even handled my last-minute panic (my son was ill 48 hours before we were due to travel!) with calmness, reassuring me and putting an alternative plan into place, should we have needed it (thankfully we didn't!). I would not hesitate to recommend them or indeed use them again. The only downside - they have rather spoilt me for holidays as I only want to do big, 'holidays of a lifetime' with them....! Incredible on every level. The locations, the staff, the resorts, the little touches, the smooth transitions, the planning, the detail - just fantastic. "
Peter - London
Published on 24th April 2018
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Who is Johannesburg best for ?

Anyone with an interest in history, Art Deco architecture, Mahatma Gandhi, Mandela or (a bit more niche, this one) South African urban theatre. Johannesburg is perfect for those who want to experience a city in transition, and drink in the sense of dynamism and intensity inherent in that. And finally, it's for those eager to learn more about the complexities of contemporary South Africa and who want to understand more about South African society, past or present.


What experiences is Johannesburg best for ?

Seeing another side to South Africa away from safari parks, winelands and prettier cities. The Zulus still call Johannesburg ‘the city of gold’ and there is cultural gold here if you know where to look. Start at Satyagraha House for an insight into Gandhi and his fledgling footsteps towards passive resistance. Then switch from Mahatma to Madiba with a visit to Nelson Mandela’s house, now a museum and almost a shrine. A little further on in Soweto, visit the memorial to the black schoolboy Hector Pieterson, shot dead during apartheid era riots against the enforced learning of Afrikaans. In short, Johannesburg is a city that evokes strong emotions.


Special things to do in Johannesburg

Go down a goldmine. Descend 720ft down a mine shaft to experience the life of a gold miner and learn about the extreme working conditions they endured from a local guide.

Best places to go in South Africa

The Satyagraha House African Safaris Southern Africa Zambezi River Family Cape Town Family Africa Ayers Rock Rapa Nui Family Eastern Cape Family Cape Winelands
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