The City Tour Hop On-Hop Off Red Bus

There are many things I actually prefer to do on my own, shopping for bathing suits, going to films during the day, sitting on the beach with a good book, and even on occasion taking in an exhibit at an art gallery. Sometimes I just love the intimacy of anonymity. But a city tour on the hop on-hop off red bus should only be done with a bunch of gals having a good ol' time. So when the International Women's Club offered its organized tour of the city sights in downtown Joburg at the last meeting, I hopped on board!

We met at a convenient Gautrain station stop and were whisked away for a daytime tour of all the city highlights in the comfort (and safety) of the soft leather seats of our double-decker bus. Vince and I had been to a few of the sights already on our own, the Origins Museum, the Apartheid Museum, etc. But this gave me the opportunity to see the layout of the city from up above and add on a few more sights to our list for future forays.

Constitution Hill, Gandhi Square and the Carlton Centre where we were encouraged to get off and check out the view from the "Top of Africa". Carlton Centre is the tallest building in Africa and the top floor has an observation deck with 360 degree views of Joburg!

We all got off at Gold Reef City for lunch. Gold Reef City is a gold mine theme park, with a huge casino and rides. Built on the grounds of an old gold mine, you can even go down a real decommissioned gold mine shaft. I didn't go down this time, but I may when I invariably have to go back with my roller coaster-loving sons when they come to visit. I am certainly not going on that roller coaster!