Where to go for your autumn adventure
Autumn travel is for colour, culture and smaller crowds – as these six destinations prove. When Britain’s summertime ebbs away to autumn,
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Within three years of its birth, Johannesburg was the country’s largest town. In 1928 it became a city, and is now the second biggest on the African continent (after Cairo). Johannesburg has all the amenities of a major modern city including excellent shopping outlets both in the central area and, especially, in the large and glitzy suburban malls. Johannesburg, in common with every major metropolis has its less desirable areas. There is substantial wealth here but also extreme poverty in the surrounding ‘black’ townships.
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When diamonds were first discovered in about 1888 in the river systems east of where Cullinan is today, a fascinating history began which led to the discovery of Premier Mine (now Cullinan Diamond Mine). In 1905, one of the greatest events in diamond history took place when an enormous diamond, weighing 3106 carats, was found. It was named after Thomas Cullinan and still remains the largest diamond ever found. After the Second World War ended Cullinan Mine was re-opened. The mine is still fully operational today and Cullinan Mine, owned by De Beers, is the source of some of the world's largest gemstones such as the Cullinan, Premier Rose, Niarchos, the Centenary and the Golden Jubilee. The tour departs daily at 8.30am or 12.30pm (Mondays to Fridays only) and does not operate on Christmas Day, New Years Day & Good Friday. Tour duration is a maximum of 5 hours. Children under 10 years are not permitted to join this tour.
Experience the cultural, social and artistic highlights of Johannesburg on this full-day tour travelling from the south of the city to the north. Start at the Apartheid Museum, dedicated to illustrating apartheid and the 20th-century history of South Africa. From here, continue into Soweto township to visit landmarks such as the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Freedom Square and Nelson Mandela's former home. Drive into the city centre for an orientation tour including spectacular views from the Carlton Centre. Finally, drive north to peruse the quirky designer shops at 44 on Stanley and the Amatuli fine art warehouse with an impressive collection of artefacts collected from across the African continent.
Take a fascinating and eco-friendly half-day cycling tour around the township – the perfect way to get to know Soweto's different communities and their history. Stop at a former migrant workers' hostel for men and the Meadowlands, famous for the forced removals from Sophiatown in the 1950s. Cycle through historical landmarks of the 1976 student uprisings and visit the memorial site of Hector Pieterson. Cycle down Vilakazi Street, where Nelson Mandela used to live and where Bishop Desmond Tutu has his home. Stop for a local Kota lunch (township burger) and conclude the tour at a local shebeen with a drink, a game of pool and dance to kwaito music.
Johannesburg, also known as Jozi or Jo’Burg, is a vibrant city experiencing many positive and rapid changes. A tour of the city centre’s main highlights includes the northern neighbourhoods, Constitution Hill, the Carlton Centre, Museum Africa, the Oriental Plaza and the mosque. Start at the northern suburbs of Saxonwold, Houghton and Parktown, home to African immigrants from all over the continent. Visit Constitution Hill, built on the site of the Old Fort that later became a notorious prison. The Carlton Centre in the heart of downtown Johannesburg allows for views of the city as the elevator takes guests to a viewing deck on the 50th floor. Continue to Museum Africa, where a variety of exhibits tell the fascinating story of Johannesburg, from its beginnings right through to the democratic elections of 1994. The final part of the tour crosses the Nelson Mandela Bridge into the business district of Braamfontein, past the University of the Witwatersrand to Fordsburg with its Oriental Plaza and mosque.
Take a shopping tour of Johannesburg for genuine African arts and crafts, some locally produced and others imported from several countries on the continent. Some of the highlights include Amatuli Fine Art, home to thousands of pieces of beautiful African artworks, including intricately carved crocodiles, fish and snakes from Swaziland; African Queen in Bramley, which has bronze sculptures from Nigeria and other West African countries; Objekt in Parktown and its eclectic mix of artwork, ceramics, furniture, and jewellery, most of it locally produced; and African Craft Market in Rosebank with figures and crafts from the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Zambia and Kenya. Other boutique and craft shops can also be included in the tour.
The Apartheid Museum in South Africa is testament to the struggle of many during the oppressive apartheid regime of South Africa. This extraordinarily powerful museum has become the city's leading tourist attraction. It occupies a 7-hectare site which consists of indigenous bush habitat containing a lake and paths, alongside the main stark building built to resemble the prison on Robben Island. A multi-disciplinary team of curators, filmmakers, historians, museologists and designers were assembled to develop the exhibition narrative, which graphically animates the apartheid story. Guided informative tours are available at the museum or you can choose to explore the exhibits by yourself.
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