Excursions
For a Half Day
Witwatersrand National Botanical Gardens: ‘Best-kept secret’ may be one of those tired clichs but it certainly applies to this spot, within a one-hour drive from anywhere in Johannesburg. Against the backdrop of the magnificent Witpoortjie waterfall, this garden covers almost 300 hectares (750 acres) and consists of both landscaped and natural veld (open savannah) areas. The natural vegetation is a mosaic of grassland and savannah, consisting of 600 naturally occurring plant species. There is also the chance for visitors to see a breeding pair of majestic Black Eagles nesting on the cliffs. A restaurant (Caf Clivia) is situated at the heart of the gardens, in the shade of two magnificent white stinkwood trees. The gardens (tel: (011) 958 1750; fax: (011) 958 1752; e-mail: botanic@mweb.co.za; website: www.nbi.ac.za) are located on Malcolm Road, Poortview, Roodepoort, and are best accessed by minibus-taxi from Noord Street to Brits, or Rustenberg via the R47. Visitors should ask to be dropped off at Doreen Road. The gardens are open daily 0800-1800 and cost R10.
Johannesburg Lion Park: This is a 200-hectare (500-acre) lion reserve and breeding research station, featuring more than 60 lions (including a pair of the famous white lions on loan from Johannesburg Zoo). Other animals include black wildebeest, gemsbok, impala, blesbok, zebra and ostrich. The Lion Park (tel: (011) 460 1814; e-mail: lionpark@cknet.co.za; website: www.lion-park.com) is located off the R55, between the R512 and Cedar Avenue, Nietgedacht. Most Johannesburg travel agents offer guided tours. It is open daily 0800-1630 and costs R75 per car for independent visits.
For a Whole Day
Cradle of Humankind: This 47,000-hectare (117,500-acre) site, encompassing Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and the environs, starting 35km (22 miles) northwest of central Johannesburg and extending for another 20km (13 miles), was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1999. Dozens of limestone caverns, particularly the Sterkfontein Caves, have produced findings as remarkable as Mrs Ples (the first complete Australopithecus (southern ‘ape-man’) skull to be discovered) and more recently, Little Foot – a 3.3-million-year-old hominid skeleton. The heritage area also encompasses a Rhino and Lion Park, a cathedral-esque show-cave, hiking and horse trails, craft centres and the remnants of the Witwatersrand’s first goldmine. The Cradle of Humankind Exhibits (tel: (011) 355 1348; fax: (011) 333 0667; website: www.cradleofhumankind.co.za) are best reached by car or on a guided tour. Nevertheless, it is possible to get to the area via minibus taxi from the Noord Street rank (visitors should ask for Rustenberg and to be dropped off at Sterkfontein Caves). The caves (tel: (011) 956 6342) are open Tuesday to Sunday 0900-1600 and admission costs R15. The Rhino and Lion Park (tel: (011) 957 0109) is open weekdays 0800-1700 and weekends 0800-1800 and admission costs R28. Kromdraai Conservancy (tel: (011) 957 0241) run the hiking trails at R50 per day per person – these must be arranged in advance.
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Excursions