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Monkeyland
This very popular attraction helps rehabilitate wild monkeys that have been in zoos or private homes. The walking safari through a dense forest and across a 128m-long rope bridge is superb. A combo ticket with Birds of Eden costs R280/140 per adult/child.
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Pretoria National Zoological Gardens
There’s a reptile park and an aquarium here, as well as a vast collection of exotic trees and plenty of picnic spots. The highlight, though, is the cable car , which runs up to the top of a hill that overlooks the city. It’s about 1km out of the city centre.
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William Humphreys Art Gallery
One of the country’s best public galleries, with changing exhibitions of contemporary South African work, as well as a surprisingly good collection of European masters. The cafe sits in a lovely garden and is one of Kimberleys nicest spots for tea and cake.
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National Library of South Africa
Facing the north end of the Public Garden, this neoclassical building is based on the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, UK, and holds a copy of nearly every document published in South Africa. Exhibitions are held here; enter to admire the central rotunda.
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Gold Reef City
Offers a vaudevillian ride through Johannesburg’s gold-rush period. Ninety per cent Disneyland clone, this theme park only offers a token nod to historical authenticity but provides ample means for filling a spare afternoon, especially if you have kids in tow.
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Gandhi Square
Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi came to South Africa in 1893 and lived in Johannesburg, where he worked as a lawyer, from 1903 to 1914. The square was renamed Gandhi Sq in his honour and a bronze statue representing him as a young lawyer was erected in the middle.
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Chimpanzee Eden
This chimp centre, 12km south of Nelspruit on Rte 40, acts as a sanctuary for rescued chimpanzees. Here you can see chimps in a semi-wild environment and learn about the primates behaviour and plight. The entry fee includes a guided tour (10am, noon and 2pm).
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Woolsack
If you approach University of Cape Town (UCT) from Woolsack Dr, you’ll pass this cottage designed in 1900 by Sir Herbert Baker for Cecil Rhodes; it’s now a student residence. It’s said that Rudyard Kipling wrote the poem If during his residence here between 1900 and 1907.
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Nitida
Excellent tastings of these award-winning wines are held in the wine cellar. Also here are two restaurants: the excellent Tables at Nitida , where you can pre-book delicious gourmet picnics (R250 for two) or enjoy one of their luscious cakes, and the more formal Cassia .
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International Library of African Music
There are 200 or so instruments to examine here – you can listen to field recordings and try to emulate what you’ve heard on nyanga (pan) pipes from Mozambique, a kora (stringed instrument) from West Africa or a Ugandan kalimba (thumb piano). Call ahead for an appointment.
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Lowveld National Botanical Garden
Out of town, the 15,000-sq-m Botanical Garden (established 1969) is home to tropical African rainforest and is a nice place for a stroll among the flowers and trees. Over 240 bird species have been recorded here. It’s on Rte 40 about 2km north of the junction with the N4.
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Dullstroom Bird of Prey & Rehabilitation Centre
This centre, just outside town off Rte 540, teaches visitors about raptor species and the dangers facing them – you can even learn the art of falconry for a day. There are regular flying displays involving peregrine falcons, kestrels, buzzards and black eagles among others.
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Juma Mosque
The largest mosque in the southern hemisphere; call ahead for a guided tour. Next to the mosque between Dr AB Xuma St and Cathedral Rd, and near the Catholic Emmanuel Cathedral, is the 1927 Madrassa Arcade, a bazaar-like shopping space with a distinctly Indian flavour.
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Great Fish River Reserve
There is a large wildlife – including black rhinos, hippos, kudus and buffaloes – to be seen in Great Fish River Reserve , a park of thick bushveld. Sandwiched between the Great Fish and Keiskamma Rivers near Fort Beaufort, it has rugged terrain and panoramic views.
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Old Library
This former library, built in 1847, houses a wide-ranging collection of historical artefacts. Theres fossils from the Karoo, displays on Khoe-San rock paintings and slavery, and an exhibition about local son Robert Sobukwe, founder of the Pan African Congress (PAC).
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Royal View
This pair of golden thrones, a sculpture by Greg Benatar, face away from Camps Bay beach providing a view towards the Twelve Apostles. Theyre one of the Art54 public art project sculptures and art installations you can find scattered along the citys Atlantic Seaboard.
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Ronderbosch Common
This open common is well used by the local community with various events happening here during the year, including the twice-yearly Potters Market in March and November, a Christmas market in December and a weekly 5km run (www.parkrun.co.za/rondeboschcommon) every Saturday.
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Top of Africa
The iconic Carlton Centre (223m) has been Africas tallest building for more than 40 years now. The basement shelters a buzzing shopping mall. For awesome city vistas, head to the observation deck at the top (entrance is via a special lift one floor below street level).
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Siege Museum
The excellent museum, next to the town hall in the old Market House (built 1884), was used to store rations during the Anglo-Boer War siege. It has displays about the war, stocks information about the town and surrounds, and can provide a list of battlefield tour guides.
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Cape Columbine Nature Reserve
Three kilometres south of Paternoster lies this windswept but stunningly beautiful reserve. It has campsites with basic facilities at Tieties Bay (R108 per site). The lighthouse tower is worth a climb and you can also stay here in renovated keepers’ cottages (from R600).
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