The Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve is the largest official nature reserve in Johannesburg, and it's well worth the short drive from the center of the city. The area contains diverse wildlife, including zebra and black wildebeest. There are also six hiking trails that range in difficulty.
This area of Johannesburg is filled with mixed themes and is rife with history. A symbol of South Africa's journey to freedom, the Constitutional Court sits where the Old Fort Prison Complex used to house both political and common criminals. Figures such as Robert Sobukwe, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela were once imprisoned in these walls until its closure in 1983. This site has been transformed into a monument of perseverance and justice. Guided and interactive tours are scheduled regularly.
Built around the No. 14 shaft of Crown Mines, this city is an authentic reproduction of Johannesburg at the beginning of the 1900s. There are fully furnished miner's houses with original furniture and fittings, including pressed ceilings. The museum exhibits include antique clothing and children's toys, which take the visitor back 100 years to the city that was. A train encircles the park and many shops offer interesting curios. You can also visit the original gold mine in a lift that goes down to 220 meters below the surface. An on site casino is open 24 hours daily.
Stumbled upon by limestone miners and excavated in the late 19th Century, the Sterkfontein Caves feature astonishing palaeo-anthropological findings that rendered it the moniker – 'The Cradle of Humankind'. This set of subterranean caves, replete with knotted stalactite deposits and stone-hewn twists extending from its roof, were first excavated in detail by Professor Raymond Dart and Dr. Robert Broom of the University of Witwatersrand, who documented the remarkable presence of hominin remains in its cavernous depths. These 3-million year old remains were that of 'Mrs. Ples', the first complete Australopithecus skull to be discovered, and an even older Australopithecus skeleton known as 'Little Foot'. This evidentiary site of evolutionary enigmas was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000, and continues to instill awe and wonder several years after its serendipitous discovery.
Kloofendal Nature Reserve was founded on the site of the first payable gold mining operation of 1884 (this was prior to the main reefs being discovered). The old shafts have been restored and are national monuments, open to view. The wildlife is generally of the smaller variety, the main attraction being the pristine vegetation contained by the reserve. Walking trails traverse the area. The facility is also occasionally offered as a live music venue. It closes from May to September due to the high risk of veld (bush) fires during this time.
Bringing to life the almost lost concept of the Bioscope, this venue is a movie theater that strives to steer clear from mainstream cinema, focusing more on independent cinema. Located on the ground floor of the bustling Main Street Life building, The Bioscope opened its doors in 2010 and since then has been providing the locals with a space where they can discover something different, movies that deal with issues that matter, rather than the glamor of the mainstream cinema. From films made by not-so-known local filmmakers, to films made by filmmakers from around the globe, The Bioscope is the ideal stop for any cinema lover. See the website to know more.