Johannesburg has more than enough to warrant a night or two as part of a holiday in South Africa, especially for those interested in digging into South Africa’s recent history.

Soweto is the spiritual home of the anti-apartheid struggle and the only town in the world to have two Nobel Peace Prize winners living in the same street (Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela both lived in Vilakazi Street). A half day tour of Soweto would include the Hector Pietersen museum, the Kliptown memorial and Regina Mundi Church in Orlando West, an important gathering point during the struggle. Often a tour of Soweto is combined with the haunting Apartheid museum which tells the story of South Africa’s years of oppression and the path to democracy.

If you visit one place in Johannesburg, make it the exceptional Liliesleaf Farm. The former secret headquarters of the African National Congress (ANC)’s military wing and the site of a major police raid in 1963, the farm has been converted into an interactive museum which tells the story of the struggle to freedom. There are a number of fascinating exhibits and the quantity of material will keep a real enthusiast happy for an entire day. Even those for whom the period holds no interest will struggle not to be taken aback the dedication of those who have brought Liliesleaf together and impressed by the finished product.

For those more interested in the prehistoric period, the cradle of humankind at Maropeng, about an hour from Johannesburg has fossils dated back three million years and a new world-class visitor centre.

Away from the museums, Johannesburg’s northern suburbs offer some of the best shopping in Africa, Rosebank is particularly noted for its craft markets. Melrose Arch is a recent development of roadside cafes, restaurants and trendy nightlife.

For information about places to stay, see Johannesburg accommodation. Our experienced consultants can easily build any of these experiences into a tailor-made South Africa holiday quote for you.