WILD SECRETS-JOHANNESBURG

AIRTRACK ADVENTURESmuseum is the work of top architects, curators,
Take your special someone for a journey theydesigners and landscape artists. Entrance tickets are
won’t forget in a hurry. It’s an absolutelycards indicating OENon White of OEWhite.
romantic and thrilling way to explore this country andPhotographs, newspaper clippings, metal cages and
all the animal attractions it’s famous for. Soarnooses (121 dangle from the ceiling to represent the
high up in a hot air balloon and keep your eyes openpolitical prisoners during apartheid) all shock, but also
so you don’t miss sighting the Big Five in actiongive you a feeling of triumph at the indomitable
from between the clouds. Especially fun is flying overhuman spirit.
Crocodile River Valley, northwest of Johannesburg,WONDERCAVE
and the gorgeous Pilanesberg National Park near SunWonder cave is a large, single chamber with
City, witch is located in the crater of a long-extinctabsolutely stunning natural formations- up to 15m-high
alkaline volcanic crater.stalagmites and stalactites, rimstone pools, cave
THE SAXON HOTELpearls and popcorn formations – all of which are
A boutique hotel beyond superlatives, The Saxon isbeing preserved such that their natural process
exquisite, with African style interiors in shades ofaren’t interrupted in any way. Be prepared to
sand and brown. Formerly an insurancetake an elevator ride down 40m from the surface
magnate’s private mansion, The Saxon is locatedand walk the glowing paths into a different world
in Jozi’s fanciest neighborhood, Sandhurst, aaltogether. But don’t touch anything, or
bower of coral trees, high walls and lush gardens. Theyou’ll be paying more than just the price of a
hotel is steeped in the kind of history we love. Nelsonticket with a fine.
Mandela stayed here after his release from prison,GRAMADOELAS
for instance, and it was here that he edited hisGet a taste of South Africa at Gramaddoels, one of
autobiography Long Walk to Freedom.the oldest restaurants in town. Sample the flavours
THE LION PARKof South Africa’s unique cuisine with dishes like
Start your day in the grand company of the King ofmasonja, Mopane worms with peri peri sauce. Other
the Jungle. The Lion Park offers visitors a chance tomust-try includes bobotie (beef pie), sosaties (grilled
kick back and relax with lions and cubs in largemeat with apricots), cubed crocodile tail, grated
enclosures, complete with photo-ops-underbiltong and mielie (maize bread).
supervision, of course, let’s not be completelySUNDAY PICNIC CONCERTS
idealistic also. Should you have a weak heart or anYou can’t escape the pleasures of nature and
easily distracted mind, there’s a whole family ofwildlife in South Africa-and really, why would you
other animals roaming this small game area as welleven want to? --But you can add a musical twist to
–cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, antelopes and rhinos.you weekend in Johannesburg. That’s when the
There are even giraffes waiting to be fed, aWitpoortjie waterfall at the Water Sisulu National
delightful experience especially for children.Botanical Gardens is happy to take a backseat from
THE APARTHEID MUSEUMits own splashy orchestra and let musicians and bands
It’s not on top of tourist lists, but this is thetake over. Pack a picnic basket and spend a lazy day
place that will help you understand South Africa andinfused with all the right notes. Also check out Art in
experience an extraordinarily powerful passagethe Garden, the open-air art exhibitions the garden
through its apartheid era. Opened in 2000, thishosts.