Go Wild in Johannesburg!

Johannesburg is the heart of Africa with it being the social, economic, and cultural center of the country. There’s a lot happening in this busy city and one is sure to never run out of things to do. Although it was not originally intended to be a tourist hot spot, the fact that this bustling city lies in the center of it all has made it at least a pass-through city for travelers that are visiting other areas of Africa. As it has seen more people throughout the years, it has built many attractions and sights to cater to the tourists and entice them to stay! You can start your wild adventure by heading over to Lion Park where you can see some of the wildlife native to Africa. The lions are kept in a high-security area to keep the human kind safe but there are opportunities to take supervised photographs with lion cubs – truly a photo opportunity that is one of a kind! Also be sure to snap shots of the rare species of white lion. You’ll have a chance to get up close and personal with other animals as well and you can even step up onto the giraffe platform to hand feed the giraffes that call the park home. As you drive through the rest of the park, you will have a chance to see hyenas, cheetahs, jackals, wildebeests, zebras, and much more! The Johannesburg Zoo is another place where you can get your fill of the wild animals that call Africa home. Here you will not only find lions, tigers, elephants, gorillas, antelopes, polar bears, and bat-eared foxes but also beautiful walkways, an abundance of nature, and educational and entertainment activities. This is the only zoo in the world that has had success breeding Siberian tigers and it is also the home of “Twist,” a male Siberian tiger weighing an astounding 320 kilograms. Twist is the dad of all Siberian tigers in South Africa. Gold Reef City is another area where you can unleash your wild side. This huge entertainment park is named for the old gold mine that it sits on and the entire park is themed around the gold rush of the Witwatersrand. The staff at the park all wear costumes in keeping with the theme and buildings are also designed to reflect that time period. A museum on the grounds provides an educational experience where people can see how gold ore veins work and how gold is poured into barrels. The Hippodrome is also here and this is the taping location of Idols South Africa. Along with all of this entertainment you can also find water rides, roller coasters, and other displays and entertainment to delight you! Once you have your dose of thrills and you are looking for a quieter type of excitement, you can find it in any number of Johannesburg museums. The Johannesburg Art Gallery displays many different paintings that are both figurative and show amazing landscapes or you can head on over to Museum Africa, where you can learn about the history of the city and view a huge collection of rock art.