Gauteng Travel Guide

GAUTENG

GAUTENG

Coalescing abundant cultural heritage with ravishing natural splendour and an exquisite spectrum of entertainment, the South African province of Gauteng boasts an irresistible offering for all WRITER: ED BUDDS PROJECT MANAGER: MANTĖ KALINAUSKAITE

G

auteng, the vibrant beating heart of South Africa (SA), offers a unique blend of culture, leisure, sports, and awe-inspiring natural beauty.

When nine new provinces were named in the wake of the nation’s first democratic elections in 1994, a part of the former Transvaal province became Gauteng, a Sesotho word meaning ‘place of gold’.

The fitting name honours the gold-bearing Witwatersrand, a mountainous quartzite ridge that runs east to west across Gauteng.

Although SA’s smallest province, it is the country’s richest and most densely populated, standing proudly as 2 | Outlook Travel Issue 25

the economic heart of the nation.

Gauteng, influenced by the increased centralisation of modern cities, is divided into five regional municipalities – Johannesburg, Tshwane (Greater Pretoria), Ekurhuleni (the East Rand), the West Rand, and Sedibeng.

It’s a cosmopolitan paradise of fun, warm, and unique people who come together to make all visitors feel welcome.

Home to world-class entertainment venues, fine restaurants, day spas, boutique hotels, authentic African craft markets, and fantastic jazz venues, Gauteng has it all.

From shopping malls, African street markets, and café

GAUTENG T R AV E L G U I D E

societies to restaurants, upmarket shebeens, and the great outdoors, this is a province that offers instant gratification and no dull moments.

Gauteng is fondly known for its vast array of restaurants and local fare, boasting a diverse spectrum of flavours and cultural influences, from home-grown boerekos (farmers’ food) and authentic African cuisine to Thai, Portuguese, Italian, Cape Malay, and more.

As a top-tier destination to watch musical icons from across the globe, or spectate the pinnacle of sporting excellence, Gauteng’s dedication to vibrant energy and entertainment is unrivalled.

Alternatively, for those captivated by history and the story of SA, one of the most significant recent developments has been the declaration of the Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites.

This serial world heritage property consists of 14 unique sites across the nation, several of them in Gauteng.

Designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, they collectively reflect the country’s long struggle for human rights, liberation, and reconciliation.

What makes these places so powerful is that they are no longer only understood as South African heritage sites; they are now part of a shared global story.

Outlook Travel Issue 25 | 3

Industry Insights

PHOTOGRAPHY © GAUTENG TOURISM AUTHORITY

GAUTENG TOURISM AUTHORITY The mission of the Gauteng Tourism Authority is to develop, promote, coordinate and facilitate responsible and sustainable tourism in the Gauteng global city region, and to create a world-class destination that attracts business visitors and all other tourists to the province, benefits its people, and contributes to job creation and economic growth. We sit down with Barba Gaoganediwe, Head of Destination Marketing and Communications.

BARBA GAOGANEDIWE Head of Destination Marketing and Communications

Outlook Travel (OT): Firstly, could you introduce us to the authority and describe where tourism finds itself today in SA? Barba Gaoganediwe, Head of Destination Marketing and Communications (BG): Today, SA’s tourism landscape has been transformed from a propaganda machine that once promoted experiences for only a privileged few – under apartheid, many spaces and places were inaccessible to the majority of the population.

The Urban Areas Act, for example, made it impossible for 4 | Outlook Travel Issue 25

people of colour to be in central business districts after certain hours without permits. Tourism in those years, when SA was isolated by the world because of its apartheid policies, was therefore entirely different from what it is today.

At the same time, the legacy of apartheid still lingers.

Amongst the many sectors that make up the nation’s economy, tourism, travel, and hospitality remain some of the least transformed.

However, as SA reopened to the world, rejoined the global community, and adopted transformative policies, the tourism landscape had to recalibrate. Those who were already active in the sector were not removed, but it became necessary to introduce transformation policies that would bring into the mainstream those who had previously been excluded.

This has also changed how places are understood. Areas that were once seen simply as places where people lived and slept, such as Soweto, Atteridgeville, and Mamelodi, are now recognised as rich centres of cultural expression.

GAUTENG T R AV E L G U I D E

Modern travellers are increasingly drawn to these kinds of experiences. The days when tourism was driven only by beaches, wildlife, and mountains are gone. Today, people and culture are central to the travel experience.

OT: Is this also the case for Gauteng as a vital part of SA’s tourism offering?

BG: This is particularly important in Gauteng. Although it is the smallest province by landmass, it is the largest by economic value, contributing just under a third of SA’s GDP and almost eight percent of Africa’s GDP. If Gauteng were a country, it would rank amongst the largest economies on the continent. For that reason, South African tourism cannot grow without Gauteng playing a central role. The province may not have extensive coastlines or mountain ranges, but modern tourism is increasingly driven by people, and with a population of around 16.5 million, Gauteng sits at the heart of the South African travel experience.

The province accounts for more than 55 percent of all international arrivals into SA and we have now crossed the 10 million international arrivals mark again after several years of setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and wider global economic and geopolitical instability.

SA also remains a compelling value-for-money destination. Favourable exchange rates, combined with a growing portfolio of high-quality experiences, continue to make the country attractive to international visitors.

“We helped deliver what FIFA have, and many pundits still, declare as one of the greatest, most iconic World Cups ever, for SA, in 2010” – B A R B A G A O G A N E D I W E , H E A D O F D E S T I N AT I O N M A R K E T I N G A N D C O M M U N I C AT I O N S , G A U T E N G T O U R I S M A U T H O R I T Y

PHOTOGRAPHY © GAUTENG TOURISM AUTHORITY

PHOTOGRAPHY © GAUTENG TOURISM AUTHORITY

PHOTOGRAPHY © GAUTENG TOURISM AUTHORITY

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GAUTENG T R AV E L G U I D E

“Visitors today are not only looking for monuments – they want to meet people, experience culture, and understand how communities live, create, and celebrate” – B A R B A G A O G A N E D I W E , H E A D O F D E S T I N AT I O N M A R K E T I N G A N D C O M M U N I C AT I O N S , G A U T E N G T O U R I S M A U T H O R I T Y

Additionally, whereas Gauteng was once mainly a transit point for travellers heading on to Kruger National Park or Cape Town, average stays have increased from around nine days to 13 – evidence that Gauteng is increasingly being experienced as a destination in its own right, where people can work, stay, and play.

So, despite the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, slow economic growth, and global conflict, the South African tourism landscape remains healthy and full of opportunity.

PHOTOGRAPHY © GAUTENG TOURISM AUTHORITY

OT: The authority describes Gauteng’s townships as the essence of the location and its heart and soul, can you elaborate on this?

BG: You cannot talk about Gauteng’s tourism experience without talking about its townships. They are the heart and soul of the province, and they are where most of our 16.5 million residents live. Soweto alone has a population of more than three million, larger than some entire countries, and it remains central to the story of SA. Visitors today are not only looking for monuments – they want to meet people, experience culture, and understand how communities live, create, and celebrate.

Places such as Atteridgeville, Mamelodi, and Sharpeville deserve much more attention in that regard. They carry deep historical memory, but they are also places of energy, creativity, and economic potential.

They show how Gauteng’s visitor offering extends well beyond its best-known attractions and into communities that continue to shape the province’s identity in real and meaningful ways.

PHOTOGRAPHY © GAUTENG TOURISM AUTHORITY

OT: What role does the authority play in growing Gauteng and SA as tourist destinations?

BG: We understand that our role extends beyond the province itself. Our responsibility is to ensure that Gauteng grows strongly enough to help propel SA’s wider tourism growth. Because of the province’s economic weight and contribution to national GDP, its performance matters to the whole country.

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PHOTOGRAPHY © GAUTENG TOURISM AUTHORITY

With the adoption of the national Tourism Growth Partnership Plan and the Gauteng Economic Growth and Development Plan, which identifies tourism and hospitality as one of 12 key sectors, we believe we are moving in the right direction and are back to prepandemic levels of tourism.

Through structural reform and resilience, we can now see a pathway towards 15 million international arrivals for SA overall, with Gauteng playing a crucial role in that growth.

As people visit us, whether as sports teams, cultural groups, or entertainment artists, we now have the capability to play host to them at a very high level. Over the past few months, we have seen many international acts on world tours include Johannesburg and Pretoria in their schedules. That is not a coincidence.

It reflects a deliberate strategy of bidding for and hosting major events, whilst reusing the infrastructure built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and other large sporting occasions to stage high-quality events for internationally renowned performers.

That gives you a sense of the 360-degree approach we are taking. We use sport and entertainment not only to attract attention, but also to confront challenges directly.

OT: Finally, what are you most proud of in terms of the legacy that the authority has created so far?

do even better than what we have done over the last decades.

As well as this, we’ve been helping the preservation of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, continuing to preserve this wonder for the rest of the world and use its content, findings, and discoveries to tell the story that humanity started right here on the African continent.

This hard work has led to the ‘Out of Africa’ concept, theorising that most human ancestors originated from one general spot within Africa.

We are really proud of playing a key role in being an integral part of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development at a time when sustainable development was not even on the lips of anyone.

Elsewhere, we helped deliver what FIFA have, and many pundits still, declare as one of the greatest, most iconic World Cups ever, for SA, in 2010.

GAUTENG TOURISM AUTHORITY info@gauteng.net

www.gauteng.net

BG: We’re proud to say that we’ve contributed towards a coherent African tourism agenda, but we also think we can Outlook Travel Issue 25 | 7

Avis is making it easier for travellers to enjoy memorable experiences in South Africa Established in 1967, Avis Southern Africa is one of the oldest mobility companies in South Africa, and has over 20 000 vehicles in its fleet.

Our core offering is Avis Car Rental, supported by a broader mobility ecosystem that includes Avis Car Sales, Avis Fleet Solutions, and Avis Chauffeur Driven services, which comprise Chauffeur Drive and P2P. Additionally, we offer subscription-based mobility through Avis iLease, giving customers flexible access to vehicles without the long-term costs of ownership.

Our brand ambassadors, advanced technology, and expanding mobility solutions continue to set the standard for our industry. We are more than a car rental company; we have the capacity to respond to the diverse needs of our customers, as well as cater to changing customer preferences across the full mobility journey.

Avis has a wide range of vehicles that suit the diverse needs of clients looking for mobility solutions. With Avis, customers are guaranteed high-quality, reliable

vehicles ranging from small cars, 4x4s, luxury vehicles, and vans, through to chauffeur-driven services. For those who prefer to be driven, we offer Avis Chauffeur Drive and P2P services.

Avis is geared up to take advantage of the changing mobility needs of customers and the global trends that are increasingly shaping South Africa’s mobility landscape. We continue to leverage digitisation to enhance the customer experience and make it easier for customers to choose and engage with Avis.

More recently, we have partnered with City Lodge, where travellers staying at City Lodge can get up to 20 percent off when they book a car with Avis. There is a growing demand for solutions that offer greater simplicity, flexibility, and connectivity. Many travellers are increasingly seeking more integrated experiences that merge mobility and accommodation in ways that reduce friction and enhance convenience across the journey. This strategic partnership with City Lodge Hotels, one of South Africa’s most established hospitality groups, will enhance the domestic travel experience and give customers more reasons to choose Avis.

Avis will look to maintain its leadership position in the mobility sector and

continue to play a key role in making it easier for travellers visiting South Africa to have memorable experiences.

Despite current economic challenges, Avis customers can expect great offers in every season of travel as we aim to deliver value and encourage more travel. Our value-added services, such as Safedrive, ensure that customers arrive safely at their destinations.

Another key focus at Avis is enhancing the overall customer experience through technology. Our continued drive towards digitisation and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) for booking, point redemption, and real-time updates makes engaging with Avis a more seamless and convenient experience.

This winter we invite travellers to choose Avis and enjoy a complimentary upgrade.

Book now at avis.co.za Avis Winter Love I Complimentary Winter Vehicle Upgrades

PHOTOGRAPHY © GAUTENG TOURISM AUTHORITY

In Focus

SPORTS TOURISM SA is one of the greatest and most iconic places on the planet to come and watch sport and it is amongst the very few countries that have held World Cups for all three of its major sports – cricket, football, and rugby union.

SA HO STED THE 1995 Rugby World Cup, 2003 International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup, 2007 ICC World Twenty20, and the football 2010 FIFA World Cup. Gauteng has invested heavily in positioning itself as an attractive sports tourism destination with world-class infrastructure and a comprehensive sports offering.

Later this year, Gauteng will play host to the latest Springboks versus All Blacks test in Johannesburg – New Zealand against SA in rugby union – which will be staged at FNB Stadium, one of the country’s great sporting arenas.

This is not just a rugby match – it is a global showcase for SA and Gauteng’s sporting and entertainment capabilities.

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Looking ahead, SA is also preparing to host the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, with venues such as the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg and SuperSport Park Stadium in Centurion expected to play a prominent role across Gauteng.

The Soweto Derby, meanwhile, is a football match involving Soweto-based teams Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates and usually attracts huge crowds. Over the years it has become an entire weekend experience not to be missed.

Elsewhere, LIV Golf in SA is now a major multi-year international tournament that brings elite golf and top global players to African soil.

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GAUTENG T R AV E L G U I D E

RECOMMENDS Eat: FOR F I N E DI N I NG. . .

Marble Restaurant (Marble) is a celebration of quintessential South African fare and open-fire cooking. Widely considered one of the best restaurants in Johannesburg, Marble offers diners something different – not just a plate of food, but a theatre of experience. It celebrates the deep-rooted South African tradition of cooking over flames – and not just meat, but all types of ingredients cooked on coals – including fish, poultry, vegetables and breads.

FOR E AT I NG L I K E A LO CA L . . .

Gauteng’s market culture has expanded significantly over the past decade, and the weekend food market circuit is now a genuine institution for residents and a revelation for visitors who stumble across it. Play Braamfontein has evolved into one of the city’s most iconic destinations. With a few years of unforgettable events, curated experiences, and legendary spaces behind it, this venue continues to set the standard for Johannesburg’s creative and culinary scene.

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Do: FOR A F FOR DA BL E T R A N S P OR T S E RV IC E S . . .

AVIS offers conveniently situated branches in major centres such as Johannesburg and Pretoria as well as numerous other locations, ensuring that visitors have access to quality rental cars when travelling across the province.

AVIS offers the perfect variety of rental vehicles to suit every occasion. Coupled with high standards of quality – including low mileage and regular maintenance – and great pricing, your transport needs will be taken care of.

Upon arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), hiring a car has never been easier. AVIS is ideally located as the first car rental kiosk on the left as you enter the ground floor of the parking lot opposite domestic arrivals. Open 24 hours a day, you will always be greeted with a smile no matter what time you arrive.

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JOHANNESBURG’S AIRPORT OF CHOICE Lanseria International Airport (HLA) is a boutique airport north of Johannesburg, offering travellers a convenient, seamless gateway to Gauteng, the North West tourism belt, and nearby businesses - a leisure, safari, and lifestyle destination

FOR A N I N FOR M AT I V E A DV E N T U R E . . .

Located in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, Lesedi Cultural Village offers a fascinating exploration of Africa’s tribal history entwined with sumptuous hospitality.

Named after King Moshoeshoe’s inspired words, “Our culture is the light of our nation”, Lesedi Cultural Village transports guests on an illuminating and enthralling historical adventure. Visitors will be immersed in a historical tour de force that connects the past with the present and shines a light on our collective humanity.

Sleep: FOR A H I L L S I DE PA R A DI S E . . .

Four Seasons, The Westcliff, Johannesburg, is the ultimate destination for a luxurious stay high up on the rocky Witwatersrand ridge.

Despite being in the middle of SA’s largest city, the hotel feels like a chic hillside village, with nine sun-splashed villas woven with courtyards, fountains, and breathtaking gardens.

T+27 11 367 0300 | pr@lanseria.co.za | www.lanseria.co.za

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TRAVEL GUIDE

TRAVEL GUIDE

GAUTENG

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

The vibrant beating heart of South Africa

Surrender to the rhythm of the Caribbean

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T R AV E L B U S I N E S S :

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Using seaweed to go beyond the surface of beauty

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WEAVING CREATIVITY INTO EVERYDAY LIFE THROUGH HIS VISUAL ART, PATRICK MORARESCU USES PHOTOGRAPHY TO CAPTURE THE WORLD FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE USES PHOTOGRAPHY TO CAPTURE THE WORLD FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE WEAVING CREATIVITY INTO EVERYDAY LIFE THROUGH HIS VISUAL ART, PATRICK MORARESCU beaches, and immerse in bustling night markets canopied green landscapes, sink your toes into soft ivory-sanded Langkawi is an archipelago with a difference. Explore the region’s

travel magazine the surface of beauty Using seaweed to go beyond

MARIJANI LU X * STORIES: S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

island escape Where work meets

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heart of South Africa The vibrant beating

GAUTENG

AND BARBUDA ANTIGUA

GUIDE TRAVEL

GUIDE TRAVEL

Outlook Travel Issue 25 | 13

GAUTENG T R AV E L G U I D E

Landmark Attractions Cradle of Humankind World Xxxxxxxx Heritage Site village Surama is an Amerindian (mainly inhabited by Macushi One of Gauteng’s defining attractions and amongst the people) and the site for the first most important paleoanthropological landscapes in the community ecotourism initiative world, the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site is in Guyana. The local community recognised for having the largest known concentration manages and maintains Surama of human ancestral remains anywhere on Earth, and Eco-Lodge, which offers tourists a continues to draw anthropologists, scientists, and chance to stay in traditional huts, try researchers from around the world. Here, the landscape local food and explore nearby nature is dotted with subterranean limestone caves that have trails. turned up a rich fossil record for human evolutionary studies.

PHOTOGRAPHY © 2005 VISIONSOFAMERICA.COM/JOE SOHM

Apartheid Xxxxxxx Museum OpenedThis in 2001, flat-topped the Apartheid mountain Museum soars is to acknowledged an elevation as theofmost 2,811distinguished metres, and lies museumon inthe theborder world dealing between with Venezuela, and illustrating Guyana 20th and century Brazil.

SA,The at the plateau heartisof which isan theotherworldly rise and fall of landscape the apartheid of stark story. Architecturally rock formations, breathtaking, often shrouded in the museum cloud. isOn a superb clear days, example you can of see for design, space, miles across and landscape the rugged offering Pakaraima a uniqueMountains. experience. The exhibits have been assembled and organised by a multidisciplinary team of curators, filmmakers, historians, and designers.

PHOTOGRAPHY © MARIO HAGEN: KONTAKT@MARIOHAGEN.DE

Constitution Surama is anHill Amerindian is a livingvillage museum (mainly that tellsinhabited the storyby of Macushi SA’s journey to people) and The democracy. the site site for is athe former first prison community and military ecotourism fort that bears initiative testament to in Guyana. the nation’sThe turbulent local community past and, today, is manages home to the and Constitutional maintains Surama Court, which Eco-Lodge, endorses thewhich rightsoffers of all tourists citizens.aThere chance is no other to stay incarceration in traditional sitehuts, in SAtry that local food and imprisoned theexplore sheer number nearby of nature worldtrails. renowned men and women as those held within its walls.

PHOTO © SOPOTNICKI.COM

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PHOTO © 2016. PETER HASSALL PHOTOGRAPHY. WWW.HASSALL.CO.ZA

Xxxxxxxx Constitution Hill

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Getting There and Around GETTI NG TO G AUTENG by air means flying into JNB, the primary international hub and busiest airport across the entire continent. Located about 30 to 40 minutes east of central Johannesburg, from here you can fly to pretty much every substantial city in SA. The smaller Lanseria International Airport (HLA) also handles domestic regional flights.

By bus, long-distance, reputable lines like Intercape or Greyhound connect Gauteng with major cities across SA, typically arriving at Johannesburg’s Park Station or Pretoria.

Elsewhere, travellers can utilise the Gautrain – this rapid rail network is the safest and most efficient way to travel between JNB, Sandton, Rosebank, Midrand, and Pretoria.

Stations are secure, and you can purchase a reloadable Gold Card at any stop.

Once in Gauteng, for seeing major sights like the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, and Soweto safely,

the City Sightseeing open-top buses provide a secure and informative way to explore.

To get around locally, rely on ride-sharing apps like Uber or Bolt for safety and convenience. Car rentals are also available through major companies such as AVIS and Hertz.

GAUTENG TOURISM AUTHORITY info@gauteng.net

www.gauteng.net

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