5 best day trips from Johannesburg

Day trips compared

The day trips

50 km · About 1 hour by car

1.Cradle of Humankind

A UNESCO World Heritage Site of limestone caves where many early hominin fossils, including the skull nicknamed 'Mrs Ples', were found. The Maropeng visitor centre explains human evolution with interactive exhibits; check before going whether guided tours of the Sterkfontein Caves are running.

Getting there

Car or organised tour

Best for

Families, Culture

55 km · About 40 minutes by Gautrain from Sandton

2.Pretoria

South Africa's administrative capital has the Union Buildings with a nine-metre Mandela statue, the hilltop Voortrekker Monument and the historic Church Square. In October its streets are lined with flowering jacarandas.

Getting there

Gautrain to Pretoria or Hatfield station

Best for

Culture, First-timers

180 km · About 2.5–3 hours by car

3.Pilanesberg National Park

A malaria-free Big Five reserve set inside the eroded crater of an ancient volcano, with tarred and gravel roads suited to self-driving. Lions, elephants and white rhinos are regularly seen, and the Sun City resort sits next door.

Getting there

Car or safari tour; often combined with Sun City

Best for

Families, First-timers

60 km · About 1 hour by car

4.Hartbeespoort Dam and the Magaliesberg

A reservoir below the Magaliesberg range with weekend markets, waterside restaurants and the Harties Cableway, which lifts visitors to the ridge for wide views. Hot-air balloon flights over the area leave at dawn.

Getting there

Car

Best for

Couples, Families

420 km · About 5 hours by road; stay two nights or more

5.Kruger National Park

South Africa's flagship park covers nearly two million hectares with the Big Five and more than 500 bird species. The southern section around Skukuza and the Malelane and Crocodile Bridge gates is closest to Johannesburg and has the densest game.

Getting there

Car via the N4, or a short flight to Skukuza or Nelspruit

Best for

First-timers, Families

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Buy a rechargeable Gautrain card at any station and keep it topped up; the system does not take cash at the gates.
• The Rea Vaya bus rapid transit system runs on dedicated lanes between Soweto, the CBD and Braamfontein, though most visitors find guided tours easier for Soweto.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask