Top Gauteng Outdoor Activities

Get to know South Africa’s biggest city on a full-day tour that covers all the highlights of Johannesburg and Soweto. Take in the views from the Top of Africa, learn about the city’s history as you visit Constitutional Hill and the Apartheid Museum, then follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela in Soweto, with a tour of the Nelson Mandela House, Hector Pieterson Museum, and Freedom Square.

Visit the Lion Park outside of Johannesburg without the hassle of renting a car. This tour includes round-trip transportation from your Johannesburg hotel and admission to the Lion Park, where you can explore at your leisure to see more than 85 lions, including the rare white lion, and other animals such as wild dogs, hyenas, and cheetahs. Take a 2-hour safari drive to see the animals.

Get the most possible learning out of your visits to the Cradle of Humankind and Sterkfontein Cave. By traveling with a guide, you'll get the full picture of the remarkable fossil findings there and why the site is so important. Walk through Sterkfontein Caves to see the fossils of hominids such as Little Foot and Mrs. Ples, two of the greatest archaeological discoveries of our time. Note: the caves are currently closed due to heavy flooding; this tour visits the museum.

This Lion and Safari Park trip is a great pick for travelers visiting Johannesburg or Pretoria. Only a short 45-minute drive away, the vast 1,000-hectare (2,471-acre) landscape is home to an abundance of wildlife—including cheetahs, giraffes, hyenas, lions, and zebras. Once inside the grounds, a guide takes you on a ride around the grassy plains to spot the magnificent creatures safely from your vehicle.

Get more out of your time in South Africa by combining a hot air balloon ride with a game viewing experience. Traveling by hot air balloon instead of car allows you to fly over several game reserves in a short space of time in the scenic Cradle of Humankind area. Along the way, look out for local wildlife—including four of the “Big Five”, and access incredible photo opportunities too.

Make the most of your time in South Africa on this expertly planned, small-group safari experience. This two-day package takes you from Johannesburg deep into Kruger National Park—one of Africa's largest game reserves—for multiple game drives in search of the Big Five. With transport, accommodation, meals, and a knowledgeable guide all arranged for you.

Spend a day connecting with nature when you embark on this guided bushwalk through the Ukutula Conservation Center. With a small group and guide, learn about African wildlife and their behavioral traits as you walk through the park and observe them in their natural habitat. Qualified rangers and safari guides are with you at all times to ensure your safety.

Go on an unforgettable adventure in Pilanesberg Nature Reserve with this full-day safari tour. Your day begins with early morning pickup from your hotel in Johannesburg, followed by a scenic drive to the reserve. Experience two thrilling safari drives—one in an open 4×4 vehicle and another in a closed vehicle—giving you the opportunity to encounter Africa’s iconic Big Five: elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards, and buffalo, along with an abundance of other wildlife. A delicious lunch is included, offering a chance to relax and recharge amid the reserve’s breathtaking landscapes. Led by expert guides, who provide insightful commentary throughout the day, this tour is ideal for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and families alike. It promises an enriching and memorable day immersed in the beauty of the African bush.

Soar over the Cradle of Humankind or the Magaliesberg mountain range on a sunrise hot air balloon flight. Have some refreshments as you watch the balloon being inflated, then set off on a scenic adventure in the sky. Fly over one of the two sites with your experienced pilot, taking in the sweeping views of South Africa below. After the flight, enjoy a full breakfast as you savor newly-minted memories.

If you’ve only got a day to fit in a safari drive, this visit to Pilanesberg Nature Reserve ensures you make the most of it. Begin with an early morning pickup, then head straight to Pilanesberg for a 4x4 safari drive. During the tour, look out for the “Big Five”, take a break for lunch, then take part in an afternoon drive for even more wildlife spotting. Note that park admission is not included.

Skip the stress of self-driving Johannesburg in the early hours, and enjoy wide-angle views from an open safari vehicle on this full-day tour to Pilanesberg National Park. This compact reserve is home to all of the Big Five—lions, leopards, rhinos, buffaloes, and elephants—and your dedicated safari guides will help you spot them. Your day includes lunch, hotel pickup, entrance fees, and a bottle of water: breakfast is at your own expense.

Visit the Lion and safari Park of Johannesburg without the hassle of renting a car. This tour includes round-trip transportation from your Johannesburg and Pretoria hotels and admission to the lion park. Where you can explore at your leisure to see more than 85 lions, including the rare white lion and other animals such as wild dogs, hyenas and cheetahs take a 2 hour safari drive to see the animals

Break away from the classic game drive and enjoy wildlife viewing atop a horse on this exciting half-day tour. With a private guide, trot through a wildlife reserve to observe South African animals in their natural habitats. This is a fun excursion for anyone, even kids who are three and older, and doesn’t require any prior horseback riding experience.

Explore Johannesburg and Soweto on this private full-day tour, delving into South Africa's rich history and culture, complete with a shebeen lunch. Visit the Apartheid Museum, the Hector Pieterson Memorial, and Nelson Mandela's former home, now a museum. Enjoy lunch on Vilakazi Street and take in the vibrant atmosphere of Soweto, concluding with a stop at Constitution Hill, a symbol of the nation's journey to democracy.

Visit Kruger National Park and Blyde River Canyon in one trip with this3-day tour from Johannesburg. Go on game drives and look for wildlife, like the Big 5 of lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo at Kruger. At Blyde River Canyon, enjoy short walks and soak up the scenery of the third deepest canyon in the world. Includes tent camping accommodations, transfers, and some meals.

Enrich your visit to South Africa on this small-group tour focused on local culture, history, and diversity. Combine a visit to the Lesedi Cultural Village—where five of South Africa's major ethnic groups are represented through performance and food—with a guided visit to the Cradle of Humankind, home to some of the oldest hominid fossils ever discovered, and the Sterkfontein Caves where they were found.

This Pilanesberg Nature Reserve and Sun City Resort small-group tour makes for a day of fun activities combined with a safari experience, which is ideal for those who are short on time but still want to take advantage of South Africa’s highlights. Go on a safari hunt of the Big Five from the safety of a vehicle with a guide who knows the park well, and then enjoy time at the Valley of Waves inside the Sun City Resort.

Combine history and wildlife on this combo tour to the Cradle of Humankind and Rhino and Lion Reserve on this private full-day tour from Johannesburg. See where some of the oldest human and hominid fossils have been found, then look for lions, rhinos, and wild dogs on a safari drive. Includes transfers from Johannesburg.

Kruger National Park—the “prince” of Africa’s national parks—is one of the most beloved parks for wildlife in the world. On this 3-day private tour, you’ll begin with a ride along South Africa’s Panorama Route, passing historic towns and high mountains. Then enter the park’s Phabeni Gate for two days of game drives, searching for elephants, lions, and more, while enjoying included accommodations and meals.

About 90 minutes from Johannesburg, the Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeesport Dam and Bush Babies Monkey Sanctuary let these intelligent and sensitive creatures live their best lives. Skip the stress of self-driving in South Africa when you join this door-to-door adventure, with a guide to explain elephants’ habits, family structures, dynamics, and even anatomy and to show you monkeys running wild and free.

Go in search of wildlife, even if you have limited time, with this small-group half-day tour from Johannesburg. Enjoy hotel pickup from your accommodations in the morning and transfer to the Rhino and Lion Reserve in Krugersdorp, home to more than 30 species of wildlife, including lions, rhinos, cheetahs, tigers, and leopards.

Get more from a visit to the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre by going with a guide and not just independently. This tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria also includes pickup and drop-off for an easy day learning about cheetahs and wild dogs. Hear about the conservation efforts for cheetahs, as well as the wildlife research that takes place at this attraction.

Johannesburg is known for being a gateway to fantastic wildlife encounters, and this option is perfect for time-tight travelers interested in seeing a variety of animal species in just half a day. Enjoy included hotel pickup and travel to the Safari Lion Park. Animals that reside at the park include rare white lions, brown lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, zebra, and antelopes.