An itenary for Africa….SOUTH Africa that is!!

 

Well I am really excited as Jeanna and I have officially both now received the approval we need from our bosses to go to South Africa from (probably) February 5th through February 27th, about 3 weeks long.

So with that said I thought I’d blog about what sort of things we’ll do when we’re there, just list out some of the attractions we’ll visit and add some pictures of them. I am sure we’ll be going to stay in Johannesburg as well as going to Durban where my parents have their vacation home at Illovo Beach.

One of the key areas to visit, well I think so because I love amusement parks, is Gold Reef City:

Gold Reef City

Gold Reef City is a large amusement park in Johannesburg, South Africa. Located on an old gold mine, the park is themed around the gold rush on the Witwatersrand. Park staff wears period costumes of the 1880s, and the buildings on the park are designed to mimic the same period. There is a museum dedicated to gold mining on the grounds where it is possible to see a gold-containing ore vein and see how real gold is poured into barrels.

There are many attractions at Gold Reef City, not the least of which are water rides and roller coasters.

Gold Reef City is located to the south of the Central Business District off of the M1. It is also the site of the Apartheid Museum. I have not seen this museum and I think I’d like to this time.

Rides and attractions

There are numerous rides ranging from log flume rides to an inverted coaster. Some of the popular rides at the theme park include:

•   The Anaconda. This is the only inverted roller coaster in the world built by the coaster design company Giovanola, and is currently the record holder for the fastest and tallest inverted roller coaster in Africa.
•   The River Rapids
•   The Jozi Express, which is a high-speed roller coaster built and manufactured by the German amusement park ride manufacturer Zierer.
•   The Tower of Terror (also known as the Shaft of Terror). This roller coaster was originally designed by Swiss designer Ronald Bussink, manufactured by local companies, and built by the park themselves. It is a vertical-drop roller coaster which features a drop of 47 meters, and a pull-out which features a positive G-force of 6.3 Gs. This coaster is also the record holder for the current tallest and fastest roller coaster in Africa.
•   The Golden Loop, originally White Lightnin’ at Carowinds, known for its acceleration and the loss of gravity at points, mimics the effects of the Superman Ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Also in the years since I left South Africa gold reef city built a casino resort across the street from the amusement park. I am sure we’ll have to check that out too as the rand dollar exchange rate is in our favor, haha. This is the entrance to the casino complex:

To get our shopping fix we’ll go to Bruma:

Bruma Lake Flea Market

Bruma Lake Flea Market, very close to Eastgate shopping mall in the southern suburbs, is one of the biggest flea markets in South Africa, and you’ll find almost anything you can think of here.

Bruma is an array of West African wood crafts, designer clothing, wire art, homemade toys, plastic gadgets, arts and crafts, curios, funky second-hand clothing, one-off fashions, furniture, textiles, and antiques from over 630 traders. Bruma Lake flea market stands on an old sewerage catchment area turned lakeside market, mall and commercial zone. Bruma Lake mall is a string of restaurants and shops around a body of water, resembling a waterside village. The Bruma flea market is a great place to browse for bargains and, even though it is past its heyday, Bruma continues to draw the crowds, particularly over a weekend not least because of the exciting line up of stalls, fast food and the live ethnic entertainment.

Of course what would a visit to South Africa be without seeing wild animals:

Krugersdorp Game Reserve

The habitat is mainly grassveld with small dams and reedbeds at the northern-most end. The vast areas of open grassland in the reserve provide the visitor the opportunity to observe many of the grassland species of Gauteng. West of Johannesburg, on the outskirts of the suburban area, is the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, which, although relatively small, boasts enough wildlife to satisfy any tourist’s hankering for an African experience.

The Reserve is a little more than 40 minutes drive from central Johannesburg. To reach it drive west out of Krugersdorp towards Rustenburg on the R24. Watch for signposts indicating the Reserve on the right hand side. A densely wooded valley runs through the reserve and includes a selection of bushveld birds. Approximately 200 species have been recorded. There is a good network of roads and walking is not permitted, so one has to bird from the car.

The reserve has several different habitats including grassland, rocky outcrops and forest, which allow it to sustain a variety of game including buffalo, hippo, zebra, giraffe and numerous antelope. There are also some lions in a separate enclosure. Day and night game drives are offered.

The Lion Park

One of my favorites. The picture below of feeding a giraffe is probably one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done!

A great day out, the Lion Park is situated near Lanseria Airport and Fourways, within easy reach of Johannesburg and Pretoria. The Lion Park is home to over 80 lions including the rare white lions and many other carnivores such as cheetah, wild dog, brown hyena, striped hyena, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, side-striped jackal, and a wide variety of antelope which roam freely in the antelope area.

Guests have an opportunity to interact with some of the animals in the Cub World area which has a giraffe feeding platform that puts you at eye level with our tame resident giraffe creating a fun experience for all ages. Then there is the popular cub interaction which allows guests to touch the cubs and take photographs.

Facilities include a curio shop, restaurant, childrens playground, picnic and braai (barbecue) facilities.

One can never have enough animal activity once in South Africa, next is the Rhino and Lion Park.

Rhino and Lion Park

This Gauteng Nature Reserve in South Africa is located in the ‘Cradle of Humankind’, an acclaimed World Heritage Site, central to Johannesburg and Pretoria. The Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve is a wonderful getaway from the city and offers many attractions for the whole family.

From its humble beginnings with only 2 White Rhino in 1985, this Gauteng Nature Reserve in South Africa has grown to feature over 600 head of game in a great setting. Rhino And Lion Nature Reserve is just a short drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria.

More than thirty species of game, including 3 of the Big Five, can be viewed from open vehicles in the presence of an experienced and registered guide. Big game in the reserve includes Kruger Lion, White Rhino and Buffalo.

Endangered species, such as the Wild Dog have been introduced into this South African nature reserve near Johannesburg, Gauteng. Cheetah, Hippo, Crocodile and more than 20 species of antelope can also be seen. From a vulture hide, visitors have the opportunity to view and photograph the rare Cape Vulture. Over 200 bird species can also be spotted.

A successful Wild Dog breeding programme has been underway and subsequently led to further programmes for Bengal Tigers, Siberian Tigers and the very rare White Lion. Today, this Gauteng Nature Reserve in South Africa features not only wildlife and birdlife, but guests will find recreational and accommodation facilities for their enjoyment and comfort.

And then we’ll need some more shopping:

Brightwater Commons, well it was called Randburg Waterfront when I left, but it changed names….most everything has changed names since I left.

Brightwater Commons  

Situated in the heart of Randburg, The Brightwater Commons is an ideal family shopping destination with over 60 stores including restaurants and eateries, home-ware, fashion and gift stores. Unique about the centre is it’s park-like setting which includes a large grassy commons area. The commons, perfect for family entertainment, is situated in the heart of the centre adjacent to a large market place which sports an array varied of stalls.

One of the highlights of the centre is its musical fountains, which operate from 7:30pm to 8:30pm on Mondays to Thursdays and at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The centre provides something for every family member. Whilst parents can enjoy the convenience of a Pick ‘n Pay or relax at any one of the numerous restaurants, teens and children can visit the NuMetro Cinamas or Boogaloos Skatepark.

Another casino resort is Monte Casino, closer to home then Gold Reef City and quite an attraction for tourists, and gamblers.

Monte Casino

Gauteng’s premier entertainment destination, Monte Casino, is a distinctive complex with casino, shops, movies, fun arcades, restaurants, outdoor bird garden, Boogaloos New Generation Skate Park, Pieter Toerien theatre, Parker’s Comedy & Jive venue and lots more.

Modelled on a Tuscan village, Montecasino seems an unlikely location for one of Gauteng’s best casinos. What appears to be a weathered open air Italian village is a deceptively modern family entertainment complex – over 2 kilometres of cobbled walkways and 3 storey buildings all covered by a massive roof. The casino is in the centre with all the shops, restaurants, cinemas and theatres surrounding it.

This is by NO means a complete listing of attractions and things we’ll do while there, but this is a list of the main events available to do while in Johannesburg. This has turned out a little longer then I expected so the info related to Durban will be in the next blog I post. I hope you enjoyed!!