Apartheid Museum
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FTER a few hours at the Apartheid Museum you will feel that you were in the townships in the 70s and 80s, dodging police bullets or teargas canisters, or marching and toy-toying with thousands of school children, or carrying the body of a comrade into a nearby house.
This extraordinarily powerful museum has already become the city s leading tourist attraction, an obligatory stop for visitors and residents alike. The Museum, with its large blown-up photographs, metal cages and numerous monitors recording continuous replays of apartheid scenes set in a double volume ceiling, concrete and red brick walls and grey concrete floor, is next to the Gold Reef City Casino, five kilometres south of the city centre.
Top attractions
At a loss over the holidays? Looking for more than mall-hopping or watching movies? The Joburg Tourism Company has some suggestions.
THE City of Gold has been the heart of South Africa since a rich seam of the shiny metal was found on its western boundary. It is still the country’s financial centre. But there’s more to the city than lucre.
The walkway to the Constitutional CourtIf you want to discover Joburg, there is plenty to keep you entertained. Here are the Johannesburg Tourism Company’s top 10 attractions.
Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill is set on the site of Johannesburg s notorious Old Fort prison complex. It is here that you can trace the story of South Africa’s turbulent, often troubled, past and its extraordinary transition to democracy.
Hotels
Tel: +27 (0)11 646 5016/021 4070
Fax: +27 (0)86 681 6797
93 on Jan Smuts is a 5-star lifestyle hotel, offering 5 modern luxury suites with all amenities. An 16-seater boardroom is available for small conferences.
Cedar Park Hotel
Tel: +27 (0) 11 804 3777
Fax: +27 (0) 11 802 1004
The hotel offers 51 comfortable en-suite, air-conditioned rooms and suites with large bathrooms in townhouse-style apartments. A work station is provided with international plug points, television, a safe, mini bar and tea-making facilities. Breakfast is provided in the tariff.
City Lodge - Bryanston
Tel: +27 (0) 11 706 7800
Fax: +27 (0) 11 706 7819
This hotel is within walking distance of restaurants and across the road from the Sandton Clinic. The hotel is equipped with a mini gym, a swimming pool and a meeting room. It offers 120 en-suite rooms.
MTN Expo Centre
Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec
Southwest of Johannesburg - near the Gold Reef City Casino, the Apartheid Museum and Soweto - is Johannesburg Expo Centre.
The massive exhibition facilities offer 42 000 square metres of undercover space. The centre is also quite self-sufficient: it has its own banks, post office, telecommunication services and secure parking for up to 20 000 vehicles.
The main arena can accommodate an impressive 20 000 people. Another venue, the Black Eagle, can be divided into three sections. The Bateleur, which is slightly larger, easily divides into two. It can seat 1 000 delegates cinema-style. The centre is within easy reach of restaurants and fast-food outlets.
Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec
Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec
Southwest of Johannesburg - near the Gold Reef City Casino, the Apartheid Museum and Soweto - is Johannesburg Expo Centre.
The massive exhibition facilities offer 42 000 square metres of undercover space. The centre is also quite self-sufficient: it has its own banks, post office, telecommunication services and secure parking for up to 20 000 vehicles.
The main arena can accommodate an impressive 20 000 people. Another venue, the Black Eagle, can be divided into three sections. The Bateleur, which is slightly larger, easily divides into two. It can seat 1 000 delegates cinema-style. The centre is within easy reach of restaurants and fast-food outlets.