With thanks to the Gautrain, Africa’s first high-speed railway line, the city of Johannesburg has become a lot more accessible for tourists and locals. Not only is it South Africa’s largest city – in 2016, it was the African continent’s most visited city. This explains why the city’s major international airport, OR Tambo, has been ranked as the busiest airport in the continent too.
So, where do all these tourists go when they visit the busy airport? Well, with the help of the Gautrain, visitors are able to swiftly and securely travel throughout the greater Gauteng area. The Gautrain is the first modern railway service on the continent and spans 80-kilometres worth of routes.
Flying locally in South Africa? Book your next best adventure with flyMango.
Exciting Places to Visit Using Gautrain Stations and Routes
Source: @BobAdams
So, maybe you’re spending the day in Jozi and want to make some cool stops along the Gautrain route to show you more of the city. Well, fortunately for you the Gautrain and bus systems have extensive route layouts which cover many areas.
With the aid of the Gautrain routes, we’ve designed a day filled with fun for you to explore Jozi as well as its outer areas. The stops are in the same order as they would be if you caught the train, which eventually culminates at Rhodesfield Station (the airport).
But, it all depends on how much time you’ve got on your hands and what type of experiences you want. From hiking in a nature reserve to shopping and trendsetting in Africa’s richest square mile, the Gautrain lets you see all of it.
1. Park Gautrain Station – Visit Constitution Hill
Maybe you didn’t come to Jozi to stroll around the shops all day – it’s a city packed with a dense history. Make a stop at Park Station which is positioned in Joburg’s CBD. And from Park Station, you can visit one of the country’s most historically important monuments.
During Apartheid, Constitution Hill functioned as an overcrowded prison for those who rebelled against the regime. Some of these prisoners included Nelson and Winnie Mandela as well as Oliver Tambo.
Today, it operates as a museum that takes you through the motions the country had to go through in order to achieve democracy. You can book a guided tour that will take you through the Old Fort, Constitutional Court as well as the jails.
Park Station is the Southernmost stop on the Gautrain route. And fortunately for you, one of the Gautrain bus routes stops directly at Constitution Hill (stop J1-10), if you catch it from Park Station. The Gautrain fares are also really cost-effective because the trip to Constitution Hill will only cost you R10 – so you really have no excuse!
To check the Gautrain route map and bus schedules, you can visit the Gautrain website here.
2. Rosebank Gautrain Station – Browse through Rosebank Mall
What Joburg lacks in street walking (because of its massive size), it surely makes up for with its extravagant malls. Here, you can walk freely and even spend the entire day enjoying the extensive shop options. The perfect example is Rosebank Mall, which can be accessed directly from the Gautrain Station.
If you prefer outdoor walking, then you should choose Rosebank over Sandton. It has all the country’s major chain stores, and what differentiates it from Sandton other than being much smaller than it, is that it has a lovely arts and crafts market. Here, you can purchase traditional African artefacts.
3. Gautrain Station Sandton – Explore Africa’s Richest Square Mile
Source: KingofWiki
This is probably the quintessential Johannesburg experience, and certainly the trendiest stop on the Gautrain route map. Also known as Sandton City, Africa’s richest square mile has loads to offer, with almost 300 stores. And the Gautrain stop is next to the shopping centre – lucky you.
Sandton’s buildings dominate Johannesburg’s skyline and act as the country’s economic hub. From trendsetting restaurants to top-notch designer stores in its iconic Diamond Walk, you won’t be short of entertainment here.
The broader Sandton City area is also safe to walk around and you could hop between the various malls, while admiring the architectural wonders such as the Michaelangelo. And if you’re feeling especially extra, you can have a rooftop pool and cocktail day at the Radisson Hotel.
4. Marlboro Gautrain Station – Unwind in Modderfontein Nature Reserve
Don’t have time for a safari while you’re in South Africa but can’t leave without having done one? Well, you should make a stop at one of the lesser-visited Gautrain Stations, Marlboro Station. This will be your portal to some exquisite nature.
And this is fitting because Jozi is actually the world’s largest man-made urban forest!
Marlboro is the link between many stations and the bustling OR Tambo Airport, so it serves an important function.
Marlboro lies on the outskirts of Sandton, and while there isn’t much to do in the area itself, you can escape the metropolis for a bit to the scenic Modderfontein Nature Reserve. And seeing as no busses head in that direction, you can catch an Uber from the station to the Reserve. It will only cost you around R50 and the drive will take roughly 15-minutes.
After this short drive, you’ll be transported into an entirely new setting – a privately-owned 275-hectare preserve. It contains a restaurant, hiking/biking trails as well as wildlife such as antelope and jackals.
5. Rhodesfield Gautrain Station – Goodies for Gardens
Rhodesfield Station is the station that operates from OR Tambo International Airport. The airport is situated close to Kempton Park, which has some lovely eating spots.
Because maybe you don’t really have time to venture out into the city, only having a few hours to play with at the airport. If so, we’ve got you covered – only a 15-minute drive (or uber) away from the airport is a restaurant/garden centre that offers visitors lakeside seating, mini-golf and heaps of plants to admire.
This is the perfect option if you want to grab a bite to eat before flying and breathe in some fresh air with great views.
Thinking of extending your stay in Joburg after reading about all these cool things to do in Johannesburg? Book a new flight home with flySAA.
Final Thoughts
So, the Gautrain has opened up many opportunities for the tourism sector in Johannesburg. Areas that were previously too far or too hard to reach have now become accessible within minutes.
And it doesn’t end there, because for only R10 per trip, the bus will deliver you even further into the depths of Jozi, so walking won’t ever be a concern. We hope you get to see the golden potential in the city of gold.