Jozi’s Coolest Heritage Sites

Heritage Day is upon us once again and a lot of you probably have plans ya go tlala koChisa Nyama, since some smart guy diluted the Holiday a few years back.

Heritage Day was initially put on the calendar to celebrate our various traditions and cultures. Somewhere along the line we got it mixed up mara it’s a good thing because braai-ing is one thing that South Africans appreciate.

I was thinking that a lot of people spend most of their Sundays ko ChisaNyama and this holiday being on a Saturday is going to clash with your Itinerary so I have compiled places of interest around heritage and some are just interesting places to visit.
Here’s my pick.
1. Museum Africa
Museum Africa is in the Newtown Precinct, opposite the Mary Fitzgerald Square (open place where you park ge le a Sophiatown, the restaurant). This is one of the most important buildings in Johannesburg. Ke kgale e dibona, it used to be a fruit and veg market before being opened as a museum in 1935. Mara back then it was called Africana Museum. There are various exhibits ranging from Geology -Photography. There is an exciting exhibit on Sophiatown life and life komkhukhung. There are no Tourist guides at the museum. If you need a guided tour it can be organised and the best is that it’s free.

2. Main Street
You can take a walk on main street in the Johannesburg CBD, the best way to go about this is to start from the Anglo offices on Ntemi Piliso street and walk your way up to the Carlton Centre, there are plaques on the path that you can read and get a feel of what the city was like before businesses moved to the suburbs. The beautiful thing about Main street is that there are security guards so you don’t have to worry about safety.

Love the building on the right it’s not on main street but as you approach Carlton Centre for our next attraction.

3. Top of Africa
The Top of Africa is another exciting attraction at a very good rate as well. As the name says, you are at the top of Africa, as some of you might know Carlton Centre is the Tallest building in Africa. You can take an elevator to the 50th floor for only R15 and if you are parked in the basement you get free parking. There are binoculars that you can use to view Johannesburg and all it’s corners. On a clear day you can see as far as the Voortrekker Monument in PTA (for those who don’t know what that is, it’s the tall structure you see when you approach PTA, just off Euffes road.)
4. Credo Mutwa Cultural village
The Credo Mutwa cultural village in Soweto – Jabavu offers visitors a serious African experience from story telling to herbs and some sculptures from way back. The entry is also free.

5. Origin’s Centre
Origin’s Centre will give you a history around the evolution of man, quite interesting if you are into that sort of thing. There are also Rock Art exhibitions that will leave you in awe. It’s on Yale Road at the Wits Campus. Entry is R60 a head and definitely worth it.

6. Maropeng
This is one place that everyone should have on their bucket list. It’s an interactive site where you get to go through the journey of evolution. My favourite is the boat ride underground and the hall where they have extinct animals. I love the Dodo in there and when you are done with the tour you can have lunch at the Tumulus Restaurant.

7. Lesedi Cultural Village
Lesedi Cultural village sheds light on various cultures. You get to visit various villages, only 5 cultures are represented though and they show the roles of the different sexes in their culture. For those who grew up ekasi or suburbia, it gives you a glimpse of what these cultures value. Makgoa a e rata. It’s quite a drive though

8. National Cultural History Museum
Formerly known as African Window Museum. The museum focuses on the diversity of the country’s cultures and shows the history of all its people. You also find Stone Age and Iron Age exhibits . There are collections of Cape Dutch furniture and other fascinating findings.

Just added this one as a fun fact, the building in the picture was the first building to have an elevator in Johannesburg

 A view from Top of Africa

Happy Heritage Day, hope even those outside of Johannesburg will visit Heritage sites in their areas.

By Neo Mohlatlole ©

Twitter: @KONEOM

Photos Courtesy of Penni Will and Energy Guides

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