Day Tour Options Day tour options in and around Johannesburg. Please note that many tours need pre-booking. Please note some tours require a minimum of 2 passengers otherwise price increases. Please note you will be collected from your hotel and returned. Soweto Tour (R610 pp) Half day Experience the turbulent history and diversity of the people and cultures in the heart of Soweto, now more than a hundred years old. This affluent hub for development projects and tourism, open their doors to the world in an attempt to showcase its vibrant social life, renowned for its music and arts. Witness the revolution of a township that rose out of ashes and Gold dust. The history of African townships south west of Johannesburg that would later form Soweto was propelled by the increasing eviction of Africans by city and state authorities. Africans had been drawn to work on the gold mines that were established after 1886. From the start they were accommodated in separate areas on the outskirts of Johannesburg, such as Newtown. Price includes Transport with a Professional Guide. Entrance at Hector Peterson. Entrance fee at Mandela House currently R70 per person clients own account. All meals are for own account. Johannesburg Tour (R610 pp) Half day Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, in every way. It is the heart of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa. The city is one of the 40 largest metropolitan areas in the world, and is also the world s largest city not situated on a river, lake, or coastline.
Egoli, the bustling City of Gold and its tranquil suburbs has transformed from all that was sordid during the Apartheid years, into the financial capital of Africa. It has become our welcome centre to the world, a city of hopes and dreams and home to 10 million people of all races and cultures. Included is professional guide and transport. Any entrance fees and meals are excluded. NB Please note that Soweto tour and Johannesburg city tour can be joined together for a full day tour. Apartheid Museum Tour (R675 pp) The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, the first of its kind, illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid. Starting in 1948, the white elected National Party government implemented the policy of apartheid which turned 20 million people into second class citizens, damning them to a life of servitude, humiliation and abuse. Their liberation in 1994 with the election of Nelson Mandela, the prisoner who became president, is a climax in the saga of a nation s resistance, courage and fortitude. The museum is a superb example of design, space and landscape offering the international community a unique South African experience. The exhibits have been assembled and organised by a multi-disciplinary team of curators, film-makers, historians and designers. It include provocative film footage, photographs, text panels and artefacts illustrating the events and human stories that are part of the epic saga, known as apartheid. A series of 22 individual exhibition areas takes the visitor through a dramatic emotional journey that tells a story of a statesanctioned system based on racial discrimination and the struggle of the majority to overthrow this tyranny.
As visitors, carrying their entry card which identifies them as either white or non-white, move through the rooms they are assailed by the sights and sounds of the apartheid era the violence, the suffering, the anger. They follow the path of the country through decades of oppression to the birth of democracy. The Apartheid Museum is the story of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. For anyone wanting to understand and experience what apartheid South Africa was really like, a visit to the Apartheid Museum is fundamental. Included is transport, guide and entrance fees to program specified destinations. Excluded are all beverages or lunches. This tour can also be combined with Soweto and Johannesburg tours. Gold Reef City Tour (R975 pp) Enjoy a visit to Johannesburg s favourite theme park that brims with activities and experiences that are tough to recreate elsewhere. Here, an old Gold Mine has been transformed into a bustling theme park that offers guests the best of both worlds. Many of the buildings still have the original features and showcase the vibrant gold mining history of Johannesburg. The old mining town is complete with train station and stores from a bygone era. There is a working mine shaft that takes visitors into the belly of the earth to demonstrate how gold was mined back in the day and a gold pour that shows how the gold was molded for the first time into the typical gold bars that we know today.
The Gold Reef City Casino offers gaming on a whole new level and the Theme Park offer thrill rides that will take your breath away (literally). Visitors return time and time again to experience the world class facilities, from indulging in one of the many restaurants, taking in a show at the Theatre, the excitement of gaming, experiencing a 4D movie to the thrill of the rides. Included is transport, professional guide, Gold Reed City entrance and underground mine tour with gold pouring. Excluded are all meals. This tour can also be combined with above tours. Pretoria City Tour (R890 pp) Enjoy a tour of the administrative capital of South Africa. Pretoria / Tshwane lie about 50 km north of Johannesburg. The population is just under a million and consists mainly of government officials and other related government personnel. In Pretoria, life goes at a much slower pace than in the ever-busy Johannesburg and it is quite easy for the visitor to find his or her way through the city, which is laid out like a chess board. Pretoria lies 1367 m above sea level, which makes it about 400 m lower than Johannesburg. It is surrounded by protecting mountains and is home to the magnificent Union Buildings. Pretoria is home to many fascinating museums and monuments. As the capital of the country for over 100 years it is strewn with many official buildings and memorials dating back to the early 1900 s. The majestic Voortrekker Monument is situated south of Pretoria in a nature reserve. It is a unique Monument which commemorates the Pioneer history of Southern Africa and the history of the Afrikaner.
Today it is the most visited heritage site of its kind in Gauteng and one of the top ten cultural historical visitor attractions in the country. This Monument also manages the Heritage Foundation and various other monuments and cultural historical sites country-wide. Kruger House is the historical Pretoria residence of the Boer leader and President of the first South African Republic, Paul Kruger. It was built in 1884 by architect Tom Claridge and builder Charles Clark. Milk was used, instead of water, for mixing the cement from which the house was constructed, as the cement available was of poor quality. Included is transport, guide and entrance fees of specified sites. Excluded are all meals. Cullinan Diamond Mine Surface Tour (R920 pp) The charming little Victorian village of Cullinan is situated about 30 kilometres to the East of Pretoria and has become famous for the discovery of some of the finest diamonds ever discovered. Diamonds were discovered in the area at the turn of the Century and the Cullinan Diamond Mine established. In 1905 the world s largest ever diamond (more that 3100 carats) was found in surface workings. The Cullinan Diamond Mine, probably the most popular attraction in Cullinan, offers visitors an informative glimpse into the operations and history of this historic mine where the world s biggest diamond was found in 1905. After visiting the Diamond Mine, you will have time to spend in the surrounding small Victorian town itself as well, exploring it s rich history and breathtaking charm. Richly lined with both Jacarandas and Oak trees, Cullinan s main street (Oak Avenue) is a living museum and favourite destination amongst visitors. Whether you re looking to spend some cash in one of the little shops, or enjoy a delicious lunch with friends or take a lazy stroll down the historical street, there is much to see and do in Oak Avenue. A visit to the mine will include a detailed above ground tour of the mine with lots of facts and technical information on the mine and the diamond industry in South Africa. Optional and at additional cost Underground Mine Tour added to your surface tour. Included is transport guide and specified entrance fees. Excluded are all meals. This tour can also be combined with Pretoria.
Maropeng, Cradle Of Mankind (R890 pp) Who s your Daddy? This is the catch phrase used by the brand new State of the Art Maropeng Museum, a few minutes drive from the world-renowned Sterkfontein caves, northwest of Johannesburg. A visit to the museum takes you on an incredible journey back in time, literally millions of years to the birthplace of mankind. Maropeng means returning to the place of origin in Setswana, the main indigenous language in this area of South Africa. The Cradle of Humankind is an easy drive of less than an hour from Johannesburg or Pretoria. Our ancestors have lived in this area for more than 3-million years. See the evidence of how we evolved into the people we are today, talk to some of the extinct species of animals that went extinct in the last century and see how humans are busy destroying the earth in real-time. A visit to Maropeng should be coupled with the Sterkfontein Caves, one of the richest and most productive Palaeo-anthropological sites in the world that forms part of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. Amongst the most remarkable findings to have been made by numerous world famous scientists within the Cradle of Humankind is the famous Mrs. Ples, the first complete Australopithecus skull to be discovered and more recently, Little Foot, a 4.17 million-year-old almost complete apeman skeleton was also discovered in the same caves. Included is transport, guide and entrance fee to Maropeng. No meals included. Lesedi Cultural Village Tour (R1190 pp) We invite you to experience the spirit of Ubuntu at this Unique Cultural Venue where the people of Lesedi welcome you with music, song and the warmth of Africa.
Let the sound of the Marimbas take you into Musi s Ndebele Theatre to be transported through South Africa s history from the Cradle of Humankind to the Cultures of Lesedi Then we will explore the villages first hand and get a feel of their day-to-day lifestyle before we watch breathtaking traditional dance performances and then head off for a scrumptious Traditional African meal. Lesedi and its cultural experience of old and new Africa was co-founded by renowned African explorer, Kingsley Holgate, who remains heavily involved in the day to day operations and ensures that every attraction is not only fascinating, but enriching. One of Lesedi s many differentiating factors is the village s natural and tasteful incorporation into the surrounding bush, river and forests, with five traditional homesteads including Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele. Local families live permanently in each of these five homesteads and visitors are invited to observe the African way of life by either enjoying a short tour of the villages or actually living among these families in guest accommodation, offering all the necessary modern day amenities and comforts discerning visitors are accustomed to. Included is transport, guide, entrance to Lesedi, lunch or dinner, cultural tour and traditional dance. Excluded are all beverages. Elephant Back Safari Including Sun City (R3450 pp) On top of Africa! Join in the most thrilling animal experience on the planet. These magnificent beasts tower over the African bush with grace as only they have. See how they are trained to interact with humans and learn more about their incredible intelligence. This is the postcard picture you want to send to your family back home. The African Elephant and their plight across the African continent remains one of the greatest and most controversial issues for modern day conservationists. With wild habitats for elephant populations shrinking the total amount of land for these herds are being reduced at an alarming rate! Man s relationship with elephants in Africa is a colourful and fascinating story, dating back as far as 218BC where elephants were captured and trained by the Carthaginians and used as vehicles of war With their defeat the tradition of working elephants all but died out until the early 20th Century when King Leopold of the Belgian Congo set out to realize his dream of training the African Elephant.
An elephant training school was set up in Garamba, in the heart of the Congo and for a while thrived. Today the camp still exists but the ravages of war and unrest leaves only 4 elephants as a legacy to this ancient tradition of the past. In 2002 the Pilanesberg Elephant-Back Safari opened in South Africa bringing with them 5 special elephants: Chikwenya, Sapi, Michael, Mana and Sharu and their handlers. The translocation operation was a mammoth task and whilst traumatic at the time, has been a great success ever since. The elephants have settled well into their new home on South African soil and visitors to Pilanesberg and Sun City are now able to witness this wonderful interaction. This is truly one of the best experiences in Africa. The spirit of these Great Creatures will Never leave you! Included is transport, guide, elephant safari and entrance to Sun City. Excluded are all meals and drinks. Elephant Sanctuary Tour (R1560 pp) The Elephant Sanctuary provides a safe-haven for Elephants and offers a platform for guest education and interaction. They offer guest and elephant driven programs where the most important part of the operation is happy Elephants and satisfied guests. Their programs offer one of a kind elephant interaction and are unique to the Elephant Sanctuary. All the Elephants are rescued African Elephants and they have gained their trust through a unique reward based training program. Nestled in the Magaliesberg Mountains, only one hour from Johannesburg and Pretoria, The Elephant Sanctuary near the Hartbeespoort Dam lies in a malaria-free area. It is surrounded by natural indigenous bush and is home to impala, klipspringer, baboons, porcupine, caracal, leopard, a host of other small mammals, 350 bird species and, of course, four magnificent African Elephants. Guests are guided on foot through The Elephant Sanctuary. Guides will provide in-depth information and insight into African elephants. You will be introduced to our elephants in the forest area, and here you will be able to touch and interact with the elephants. You will see the special
relationship that the elephant handlers share with their elephants and become a part of it. Walk trunk-in-hand with the elephants. See the stables where the elephants sleep at night. Guests learn about elephant anatomy and are able to feed them. On some hot or rainy days you may see the elephants swimming. Enjoy a drink on the deck overlooking the elephant boma, and visit our curio shop. Remember to wear flat walking shoes, sun hats and bring your camera. Elephant Back Riding is a optional activity. The Elephant Sanctuary also provides a halfway house for young African elephants in need of a temporary home. It is the only operation in South Africa that provides for elephants in this way. It is their vision to release all the elephants into an environment where they can be more independent once they are older. The Elephant Sanctuary is a family orientated business catering for both young and the old. They believe that the positive energy an elephant exudes is transferred to people and makes a major contribution towards people s wellbeing. The venue, including the bathrooms, is wheelchair friendly. Included is transport, guide, entrance to sanctuary and guided walk. Excluded are meals and drinks. De Wildt Wildlife & Elephant Sanctuary (R2080 pp) This combination tour of De Wildt Cheetah Centre and the Elephant Sanctury, both reknowned for devoting their time and effort in understanding and protecting two very unique animals, allows visitors the opportunity to interact with Elephants as well as Cheetahs. De Wildt Cheetah Centre was established in 1971, in the past known as the De Wildt Cheetah Centre it has recently been changed to The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre as a tribute to the woman who has devoted her life to the survival of the cheetah species. Their mission was to ensure the survival of the Cheetah, African Wild Dog and other wild animals in southern Africa, that was in the brink of extinction.
At the centre we enjoy a three hour guided wildlife tour during which you will see and learn about cheetah, African wild dog, caracal, African wild cat, vultures and various antelope species. On Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday visitors will enjoy the opportunity to partake in the Cheetah Run: The ambassador cheetahs at the Centre are exercised as part of an enrichment programme. This entails the cheetahs chasing a high speed lure and visitors are able to witness the cheetah moving at speed. This activity offers some excellent photographic opportunities. The Elephant Sanctuary provides a safe-haven for Elephants and offers a platform for guest education and interaction. They offer guest and elephant driven programs where the most important part of the operation is happy Elephants and satisfied guests. Their programs offer one of a kind elephant interaction and are unique to the Elephant Sanctuary. All the Elephants are rescued African Elephants and they have gained their trust through a unique reward based training program. The Elephant Sanctuary also provides a halfway house for young African elephants in need of a temporary home. It is the only operation in South Africa that provides for elephants in this way. It is their vision to release all the elephants into an environment where they can be more independent once they are older. The Elephant Sanctuary is a family orientated business catering for both young and the old. They believe that the positive energy an elephant exudes is transferred to people and makes a major contribution towards people s wellbeing. The venue, including the bathrooms, is wheelchair friendly. Included is transport, guide, entrances to both venues. Excluded are meals and beverages. Please note that there are many other tours available. Should you have specific interest please advise and we can send relevant information. Continent Crossings Destination Management P O Box 1807, Magaliesview, 2067, Gauteng, South Africa www.continentcrossings.co.za * debra@continentcrossings.co.za * 24/7 Contact: +27 (0) 82 897 0775