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Johannesburg & Beyond

Johannesburg is one of the most vibrant of Africa’s bustling cities. Many visiting the city do so for a couple of days, enjoying rooftop bars, the restaurants and to soak up South Africa’s past, before heading out to the surrounding game reserves.

 

What you’ll love most about Johannesburg & beyond

  • Spending a few days in Johannesburg will afford you time to explore the markets and shopping malls, the Apartheid and Mandela Museums and Constitution Hill
  • Johannesburg has lively nightlife hotspots spread throughout the city. You’ll find a wide choice of hipster bars and dance clubs here. Most of the best rooftop bars you’ll find in the Sandton district
  • Pretoria is less than an hour’s drive – or 35 minute train ride from Johannesburg. The city is worth a visit while en-route north to one of the game reserves, especially for large parks and gardens
  • There are so many game reserves within four hours or so from Johannesburg. If you’re heading to the region for a safari, you’ll find Madikwe, Pilanesberg, Welgevonden, Mabula and Dinokeng Game Reserves just a car journey away, with the latter closest – just 30 minutes north of Pretoria and around an hour from Johannesburg
  • Why not combine exploring Johannesburg and its surrounding safari reserves with a stay in coastal Cape Town, providing you with the opportunity to see Hermanus, delightful vineyards and to follow the Garden Route. A flight from Jo’burg to Cape Town takes just a couple of hours
  • If you’re the adventurous type, you could make the journey from Johannesburg to Cape Town by road and build your own epic itinerary to take in Drakensburg, KwaZulu-Natal and the rugged Coffee Bay, the beaches of Chintsa and Addo Elephant Park near Port Elizabeth

Where to Book

  • Family of elephants in Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa

  • Zebra at Mziki Private Game Reserve

  • View from Union Buildings Park of Pretoria Downtown

  • Waterfall at Walter Sissulu Botanical Garden, Johannesburg

  • Weaver bird busy building its nest in Dinokeng Game Reserve

  • Giraffe in Mabula Game Reserve, South Africa

  • Street in Pretoria lined with jacaranda trees

  • Pearl-spotted owlet in Welgevonden Game Reserve, South Africa

  • Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, South Africa

  • Johannesburg skyline

Average temperature

Information below is based on average highest temperature for each month.

  • 26℃
  • 26℃
  • 24℃
  • 21℃
  • 20℃
  • 17℃
  • 17℃
  • 20℃
  • 24℃
  • 25℃
  • 25℃
  • 26℃
  • 11
  • 8
  • 9
  • 5
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 7
  • 10
  • 10

Information above is based on the average number of days which experience some form of rainfall for each month.

Rainfall

When to Visit

Below gives you information and a rating of the best time of year to visit.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Our Ratings

  • Most Recommended
  • Recommended
  • Highly Recommended
  • Not Recommended

Where to book


East Cape Tours create unforgettable holidays, tailored just for you. Explore, experience, and make priceless memories like never before. As tour operator and ground handlers, they’ve been curating dream holidays for 25 years. Tailor-made specialists that you can trust, they’re passionate about Southern Africa with first-hand experience in the destinations they offer.

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Explore is a global adventure travel company with 40 years’ experience in providing exciting and authentic travel experiences. With over 350 trips in around 100 countries, Explore’s expertly crafted itineraries combined with award-winning tour leaders, small group sizes and a commitment to responsible travel ensure unforgettable travel experiences in extraordinary destinations.

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Hotels

  • Best of the Best
  • Life of Luxury
  • Unique & Fabulous
  • Creature Comforts
  • Basics covered

4* One O Eight Place

OneOEight Place brings out the best of sustainable luxury with each of its seven luxury suites is elegantly styled and fitted with lavish amenities to indulge any discerning traveller’s senses. It’s an ideal retreat for couples and birdwatching enthusiasts. Among the many open-plan terraces, OneOEight Place includes a private terrace overlooking the majestic Korsman Bird Sanctuary that can be reserved for private dinners. Personalised service marks its style.

Our Rating: Unique & Fabulous

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5* Fairlawns Hotel & Spa

Set among lush acres of landscaped gardens you’ll find Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa, an urban sanctuary right in the heart of Johannesburg. With close attention to detail and exceptional service, Fairlawns creates an intimate atmosphere where some of the globe’s most vibrant personalities converge. The chic, upscale suites are individually decorated in varying themes ranging from Eastern influence to French provincial, each featuring every desired modern amenity. The hotel also caters to a variety of culinary tastes with an array of elegant dining experiences to choose from.

Our Rating: Best of the Best

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5* Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa

Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa is a luxurious, five-star private safari lodge and villa situated within the malaria-free Welgevonden Game Reserve in the Waterberg District of the Limpopo Province in South Africa. In an under three-hour drive or a one hour flight from Johannesburg, you can escape into this ideal safari destination to experience the magic of the Big 5 at home here in the African bush.

Our Rating: Best of the Best

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5* Walkersons Hotel & Spa

The rolling highland hills surround this stately country hotel, a short 10km scenic drive from Dullstroom. Superb rainbow trout fishing, horse riding, panoramic walks, a treatment at the wellness centre are amongst some of the activities available to discerning guests. Each meal is a carefully crafted journey of the senses and is presented in the dining room or out on the patio. Luxurious suites warmed by log fires feature an array of facilities before settling down for a peaceful nights rest.

Our Rating: Best of the Best

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Top Holiday Offers

We’ve hand-picked a range of enticing offers to incredible destinations. If you want value for money on your next trip, start by reviewing our dedicated Top Holiday Offers page.

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