Johannesburg (or Jazi as the locals call it) is a city full life, with many interesting spots to visit. On the other hand, the city, or parts of the city, has a name for being dangerous for foreigners unless you know where you are going and know the city well. So, the Hop on-Hop off Red Bus is a great alternative to walking on you own and touring the main areas in the CBD safely, still capturing the vibrancy of urban life, colourful characters, and interesting corners. There is always something happening in the streets of central Johburg! We even witnessed one of the massive demonstrations of the metal workers, who had been striking for weeks for a raise of salary.
The bus route is not as good as in Cape Town, due to the constrictions of the city centre for buses of this size, but it is good enough and you can experience a mix of culture, entertainment, fun and history.
The bus route is not as good as in Cape Town, due to the constrictions of the city centre for buses of this size, but it is good enough and you can experience a mix of culture, entertainment, fun and history.
There is a little mini-tour through Soweto scheduled at set times if you buy the ticket that includes it. The entry to Mandela's house or any sight in Soweto is not included. You should take it, just a suggestion. Even if it is just 3 hours or so, it will be a good teaser to make you want to return. A couple of young Sowetans will drive you there and show you around, and transmit to you the passion they have for this very special place. Although there are a lot of people selling souvenirs around some of the landmarks there, they are very easy going, not invasive at all. To me, visiting Soweto was a dream come true. A place that has been so pivotal in the fight against Apartheid, a subject very dear to my heart when I was at University. Today's Sowetans are the nicest people in South Africa. Source: me. I would certainly love the Soweto tour expanded or just a separate Soweto tour offered by the same company.
The recorded program you hear in the bus (available in 15 languages) is very engaging, with a mix of local music and a narration that mixes historical events, sight description and curious facts about the life in the city. Nothing boring or too long.
The recorded program you hear in the bus (available in 15 languages) is very engaging, with a mix of local music and a narration that mixes historical events, sight description and curious facts about the life in the city. Nothing boring or too long.
The tour is very well organised, punctual, and the drivers and staff are top notch people. They are friendly, welcoming, warm, caring and they put a face to the city we all see passing by. I haven't found people
more enthusiastic about a foreign visiting their home city than these guys. If they see you twice, they will be elated.
BUS STOPS
1- City Sightseeing Office at Gautrain Park Station. I love the Gautrain. But you can always end the tour here and go directly to the airport. Or vice versa.
2- Carlton Centre, the tallest building in Africa. You are guided there by one of the guys of the company. The shopping mall is mostly for working class locals, or that was my impression, and a inner elevator leads you to the top, where there are several popular cafes as well. They don't let you go unescorted there.
3- James Hall Museum of Transport. For car nuts.
4- Gold Reef City Casino and city park. I decided to enter and visit... the toilet. I was so comfy that I let the bus go :D. They don't let you take photos and there is an electronic control at the gate, but it is worth visiting. 'Shocking' in away. Wonderful front fountains and sculptures, lovely surroundings, ample parking, beautiful building (a hotel actually), lovely flashy interior, many eateries, many pokies, bling bling. Worth a visit, even if anthropological.
2- Carlton Centre, the tallest building in Africa. You are guided there by one of the guys of the company. The shopping mall is mostly for working class locals, or that was my impression, and a inner elevator leads you to the top, where there are several popular cafes as well. They don't let you go unescorted there.
3- James Hall Museum of Transport. For car nuts.
4- Gold Reef City Casino and city park. I decided to enter and visit... the toilet. I was so comfy that I let the bus go :D. They don't let you take photos and there is an electronic control at the gate, but it is worth visiting. 'Shocking' in away. Wonderful front fountains and sculptures, lovely surroundings, ample parking, beautiful building (a hotel actually), lovely flashy interior, many eateries, many pokies, bling bling. Worth a visit, even if anthropological.
5- The Apartheid Museum. This is a MUST. A fantastic comprehensive museum on the history of Apartheid and how affected the lives of the "Bantus". It is also huge, very well documented and structured, but exhausting to visit all at once, saddening and very confronting as well. I would recommend structuring your visit in at least two days.
6- Mining District Walk. I would not go there on Sundays or public holidays or when there is not many people around. Not alone for sure.
7- Newtown precint, with plenty of cafes, music bars, night clubs, museums, and art galleries. Very arty place.
8- Newtown Junction Mall.
9- Origins Centre at Wits. If you have the time I would recommend going to the Craddle of the Humankind, which is an UNESCO's world heritage, and blew my mind. However, if you don't have the time, this will do.
10- The Grove, Graamfontein. A groovy area with lovely street art. A TV ad was being shot here the day we visited!
11- Constitution Hill. A MUST. I wasn't sure whether to visit, but it is my favourite part in the tour. Really! The area is a bit secluded, quiet and peaceful, with lovely sculptural pieces and paintings of the Fathers of the Country, and a magic ghostly light before sunset. The place has a special energy, the one that always gives me the goosebumps in places embedded with horrible suffering inflicted by twisted souls. Here, you have a short guided visit through what is left of the old political prison at no. 4, and you are told of the brutalities committed against black prisoners; you can see the remains of the jail, some of them in quite a good state. Gandhi, whose personal story is intricately linked to South Africa, was briefly in this prison as well and there is a room devoted to him. Next door is a new building, the Constitutional Court, which was built using part of the demolished prison. I was blown away by it. The engraved huge wooden doors, the collection of artwork inside (free to visit) and, most importantly, the narration of our lovely rastafarian young guide. I was amazed at how good the Court has been for human rights in South Africa, and about how it has been used by simple 'nobodies' to obtain benefits for the general of the population. If you want, you can take with you a copy of the Constitution, free of charge. So much of the history and of the heart of the country is on that hill, the worst imaginable and the best possible.
Moreover, the bus stops are also close to many other landmarks or places of interest, and the recorded program will tell you. Among those I wanted to visit, was one of the museums that exhibits contemporary South-African Artists, which unfortunately closes on Mondays.
6- Mining District Walk. I would not go there on Sundays or public holidays or when there is not many people around. Not alone for sure.
7- Newtown precint, with plenty of cafes, music bars, night clubs, museums, and art galleries. Very arty place.
8- Newtown Junction Mall.
9- Origins Centre at Wits. If you have the time I would recommend going to the Craddle of the Humankind, which is an UNESCO's world heritage, and blew my mind. However, if you don't have the time, this will do.
10- The Grove, Graamfontein. A groovy area with lovely street art. A TV ad was being shot here the day we visited!
11- Constitution Hill. A MUST. I wasn't sure whether to visit, but it is my favourite part in the tour. Really! The area is a bit secluded, quiet and peaceful, with lovely sculptural pieces and paintings of the Fathers of the Country, and a magic ghostly light before sunset. The place has a special energy, the one that always gives me the goosebumps in places embedded with horrible suffering inflicted by twisted souls. Here, you have a short guided visit through what is left of the old political prison at no. 4, and you are told of the brutalities committed against black prisoners; you can see the remains of the jail, some of them in quite a good state. Gandhi, whose personal story is intricately linked to South Africa, was briefly in this prison as well and there is a room devoted to him. Next door is a new building, the Constitutional Court, which was built using part of the demolished prison. I was blown away by it. The engraved huge wooden doors, the collection of artwork inside (free to visit) and, most importantly, the narration of our lovely rastafarian young guide. I was amazed at how good the Court has been for human rights in South Africa, and about how it has been used by simple 'nobodies' to obtain benefits for the general of the population. If you want, you can take with you a copy of the Constitution, free of charge. So much of the history and of the heart of the country is on that hill, the worst imaginable and the best possible.
Moreover, the bus stops are also close to many other landmarks or places of interest, and the recorded program will tell you. Among those I wanted to visit, was one of the museums that exhibits contemporary South-African Artists, which unfortunately closes on Mondays.
THE ONLINE SITE
I did all my bookings online while in Johannesburg, and it was really easy and convenient. The website has changed since I visited, and now is more polished and easier to browse. The site is very informative, and you can easily check the itineraries offered, get general information about each stop in the route, and information about the different kinds of tickets available. Of course you can buy your tickets through the website, the most economic being the Sunday Pass (but... it ends earlier and the city is not its usual self either) or the two-day combo tickets. At least when I visited, the used tickets gave you an 5% discount on any purchase of a Red Bus ticket anywhere in the world if you mentioned the number of your ticket. In fact, I used mine to get a discount on my Cape Town tickets.
***
If you want to see everything in the itinerary, you will need at least three days, unless you want to run like an emu in the Nullarbor. You don't. You can't. You shouldn't.
