Places of Interest
Situated Near Rutland House:
For the sporty
- Planet Fitness the leading health club in South Africa is a half a kilometre walk from Rutland House www.planetfitness.co.za
- Run, Walk for Life walking club meets at the corner opposite Rutland House gate www.runwalkforlife.co.za
- Bryanston Country Club (golf and tennis) is 10 kilometres away
www.bryanstoncountryclub.co.za - Parkview Golf Club is 5 kilometres away www.parkviewgolf.com
- Wanderers Golf Club is 5 kilometres away www.wanderersgolfclub.com as is the famous Wonderers Club, www.wanderersclub.co.za
- For a pleasant stroll around the Zoo www.jhbzoo.org.za or Zoo Lake is it 5 kilometres away.
- The Botanical Gardens (with the beautiful rose garden) and Emmerentia Dam for canoeing, rowing and sailing are 5 kilometres away www.sanbi.org
- Further away are the Crocodile Ramble www.theramble.co.za and the Vaal Meander www.vaalmeander.co.za where antiques, arts and crafts, curios, tea gardens and
restaurants can be found. - Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens at Roodepoort are famous for their nesting black
eagles and indigenous gardens www.sanbi.org/sisulu - You can take walking tours around Parktown and Westcliffe and soak up the beautiful
views and early mining town history. www.parktownheritage.co.za
For the cultural and historical experience
- Everard Reed in Rosebank www.everardread.co.za
- Goodman Gallery also in Rosebank www.goodmangallery.co.za
- Gallery on the Square in Sandton www.galleryonthesquare.co.za
- SA National Museum of Military History adjacent to the zoo www.militarymuseum.co.za
- The Planetarium at Wits University for those northerners who want to see the Southern Hemisphere stars www.wits.ac.za/planetarium
- Lesedi Cultural Village offers live performances of Xhosa, Zulu, Pedi, Sotho and
Indebele dances and culture. www.lesedi.com - Gold Reef City is a theme park set in a recreated gold mining town offering an
underground mine tour, gold pouring demonstration, gold panning, museums and for the adventurous a fun fare with rides called “Miners Revenge” and “Tower of Terror” not
for the feint or weak hearted. www.goldreefcity.co.za
The Political History
These are “must do experiences”
- The Apartheid Museum explaining the politics that divided the nation for 48 years,
is situated at Gold Reef City www.apartheidmuseum.org - Constitution Hill with the New Court, the Old Fort and Prison Buildings offer organized
tours on the hour every hour. www.constitutionhill.org.za - SOWETO is a 45 minute drive from Rutland House. Either a half, or all day tour can be
arranged to suit your timing and needs with lunch at the famous Wandie’s restaurant. www.wandie’splace.com and www.joburg.org/soweto
Further Out
- The Cullinan Diamond Mine home of the largest diamond in the world (3106-ct)
offers tours of a working diamond mine. www.geosites.co.za/premier.htm - The Cradle of Humankind comprises 13 fossil sites, amongst these are :-
- The Sterkfontein Caves, considered to be one of the world’s most productive and
important anthropological sites. It is also a World Heritage Site. This is the place where
Dr Robert Broom found the very first adult ape-man in 1936 and where in 1947, a
well-preserved skull of a female Plesianthropus (Mrs Ples) was discovered. It is the most complete skull of Australopithecus africanus yet found. She is about 2.7 million years old. www.cradleofhumankind.co.za & www.discoveryourself.co.za
Wild Life on our Doorstep
- The Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve is on the outskirts of Johannesburg.
Here visitors can view a variety of African wildlife including Buffalo, Rhino,
Lion, Cheetah, Wild Dog, Zebra and Wildebeest. www.rhinolion.co.za - The Cheetah Research Centre. You will be taken on an educational tour of the
King Cheetah’s breeding programme, where these exceptional animals were saved from extinction. www.dewildt.org.za - The Lion Park where more than 100 lions can be seen including the rare white lion also,
Hyenas, cheetahs, wild dogs, wildebeest, springbok, blesbok, zebra and giraffe.
www.lion-park.com - Pilanesburg National Park, situated 1.5hours drive from Johannesburg, is the
3rd largest game reserve in South Africa. The park covers an area of 137, 000 hectares
and over 200km of gravel roads for game viewing. This unique area is encircled by four
rings of hills, a geologically fascinating alkaline complex which was produced by volcanic
action some 1 200 million years ago. Africa’s Big 5 can be seen amongst more than 7000 general game animals, and more than 300 birds. Maleria free area. www.pilanesbergnationalpark.co.za
In contrast : - Next door to Pilanesburg is Sun City, South Africa’s nearest answer to Las Vegas.
Set out like a film set of King Solomon’s Mines, the attractions include the Valley of the
Waves, Bridge of Time which erupts every hour, a vast 24 hour casino, theatres, and
2 of Africa’s best golf courses (with crocodiles at the water hazard at the
13th hole). www.sun-city-south-africa.com
Pilanesburg and Sun City are a busy days outing from Rutland House B&B, you will be
advised to leave early with a packed breakfast. Good directions will be supplied.
Shopping and adventure
On your doorstep
- Rosebank Rooftop Market is open on Sundays and public holidays. A wonderful
amount of high quality stalls offering anything from curios, specialist foods and
clothing, décor and art and many present ideas. You will be entertained by music
and dancing whilst you shop. www.craft.co.za - Bryanston Organic Market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. A small and
exclusive market which is a “must visit” www.bryanstonorganicmarket.co.za
Further Afield
The surrounds of Hartbeespoort Dam (on the way to Sun City) have many interesting, exciting and historical places to visit. Amongst these are :-
- Ngwenya Glass Village Art & Crafts where you can watch glass blowing demonstrations and brows around many other crafts www.shadesofngwenya.co.za
- Crafters Market offers 190 crafters all under one roof www.craftersmarket.co.za
- Welwitschia Country Market is a haven for outdoor shopping www.countrymarket.co.za
- Chameleon Village is a lifestyle centre with a difference
- Protea Eco-Adventures for you to enjoy driving your off road vehicle surrounded by dramatic and rugged wilderness areas. www.passport2adventure.co.za
- Hot air ballooning over the Crocodile River Valley www.glenburn.co.za
- Game viewing by balloon www.hotairballons.co.za
- Wonder Cave is 2 200 million years old www.wondercave.co.za
- Paddle Power Adventure offers canoeing down roughly18 km of water with 20 rapids with a scrumptious picnic lunch served alongside the river. They also offer hiking trails,
mountain biking, horse trails and flat water canoe trips, tubing and
caving. www.easyinfo.co.za
Entertainment
- The South African Lipizzaners hold shows every Sunday at 10.30am and on special occasions. The performances are spectacular www.lilizzaners.co.za
- Montecasino – 12 kilometers away, is an entertainment complex set in an Italian Village atmosphere, complete with nesting storks and vesper scooters. There is an array of themed restaurants, coffee shops, children’s entertainment, a casino and a beautiful outdoor bird park with live shows to delight both adults and children. www.montecasino.tsogosun.co.za/live/index.php
www.montecasino.tsogosun.co.za/live/content.php
www.montecasinotheatre.co.za - Sandton – 5 kilometres away
- The Blues Room at Village Walk, a vibey restaurant with excellent live blues music www.bluesroom.co.za
- Liberty Life Theatre on the Square, set in Mandela Square offering local and
international plays. www.artslink.co.za - The Lounge at Weirda Valley) – Adult Entertainment www.lounge.co.za
- Ster Kinekor Cinemas (Sandton City) www.sterkinekor.co.za
- Nu Metro Cinemas (Village Walk) www.numeto.co.za
- Taboo Night Club www.taboo.co.za
- Or visit the website to find out more www.sandtonventral.co.za
There is so much to do and see in and around Johannesburg with beautiful treed suburbs to enjoy, be sure to allow many days to explore our wonderful city.
It is said that “Johannesburg is the largest man made forest in the world”
In spring time, imagine streets lined with purple Jacaranda trees with bright pink and red bougainvillias climbing through them, accompanied by the perfume of flowering jasmine and the first flush of roses. This all set in a wonderfully warm and bug free climate.
Contact Delia Ferguson at delia@rutlandhouse.co.za for more information and bookings at Rutland House. Tours of all the above can be arranged to suite your interests.
