Great outings from Gauteng Tourism Authority
THE Gauteng Tourism
Authority highlights
activities in and around
Gauteng for the fairer sex this
August.
For a pamper session with a
difference, Zaza’s Guesthouse
& Spa in Pimville, Soweto,
offers deluxe accommodation
that is the perfect place to
unwind after a thrilling day of
adventure.
Its luxurious spa with two
treatment rooms offers a
range of massage and beauty
treatments, while its wellappointed
accommodation
comprises a deluxe suite
with queen-size bed, en-suite
bathroom with shower and
private balcony; and two
standard rooms – with queensized
or twin beds and a
shared bathroom.
To celebrate National
Women’s Day, owner, Ayanda
Hermanus, is offering women
two attractive packages for
the month of August. The day
package starts from
R1 150pp and includes a
half-day tour, 60-minute hotstone
massage and buffet
lunch. The overnight package,
from R1 650pp, includes one
night’s accommodation with
full English breakfast, a halfday
tour, a hot-stone massage,
and R300 dinner voucher for
Restaurant Vilakazi on Vilakazi
Street. Zaza’s offers free WiFi
and operates a shuttle service
for guests.
Guests can choose from
three half-day tours: Birding on
Bicycle – an off-road mountain
bike birding adventure guided
by Bay of Grace Tours, that
explores birding in Soweto’s
green spaces; a Sophiatown
tour with Eyitha Tours that
explores Sophiatown’s rich
history and heritage; and a
walking or electronic bike tour
of Alexandra township with
operator, The Hub Presents.
The tour visits Mandela’s Yard,
Alexandra Heritage Centre,
Olive Tree Theatre, a traditional
healer, and residents’ homes
that have been transformed
into mini art galleries
showcasing local artists’
works.
Ultimate indulgence
Another great option for a
fabulous day out with the girls
is a spa party at the Four
Seasons Spa Westcliff, at
the Four Seasons Hotel The
Westcliff. Here one can start
the day with a delicious health
or traditional breakfast at the
spa’s Westcliff deli before
enjoying a range of treatments,
from soothing massages
and facials to exfoliation
and manicures. The spa has
a 25-metre lap pool and a
rooftop lounge with full bar
and magnificent views, where
guests can unwind and enjoy
sundowners.
The spa experience can
be combined with lunch at
the casual dining Flames
restaurant or afternoon tea at
the signature View restaurant.
The View is famous for its
afternoon tea, with a choice of
sweet and savoury delights.
Shopping tour
For the more adventurous,
Past Experiences’
‘I Love Shopping Tour’ in
Johannesburg’s inner city is
one that women love, says
owner, Jo Buitendach. The
walking tour visits fabric,
clothing, handbag and coat
shops, a traditional medicine
shop as well as a Chinese
supermarket. “A lot of people
come on this tour to visit the
fabric shops, as Ferreirasdorp
and Diagonal Street are
famous for traditional fabrics
like Shweshwe. On the tour
they learn about the history
of the fabrics and who wears
what,” says Jo.
The scheduled two-hour
budget tours cost R160 per
person, while private tours
cost R900 for two, with the
per person price decreasing
as more people are booked on
the tour. Private groups of 10
pay just R160 per person. The
tour starts and ends at the
new Mad Giant brewery at The
Sheds at 1 Fox Street, where
the group can enjoy lunch after
the tour.
Explore quaint Cullinan
For those who want to get out
of the city, Cullinan offers a
great day out. Just 30km east
of Pretoria, the main attraction
in this well-preserved 19th
century mining town with its
Edwardian period buildings, is
the Cullinan Diamond Mine,
where the world-renowned
Cullinan diamond was
discovered. There are also
quaint shops in the village, a
great selection of restaurants,
outdoor cafés and a lovely
selection of guesthouses for
those who want to stay the
night.
Cullinan Tourism and History
is the only operator in town
that offers an underground
tour of the mine.
The Underground Mine Tour
(R550pp to the public and
R500pp STO rates), takes
visitors down the mine to see
how diamonds are extracted.
The tour price includes two
above-ground tours that can
also be booked separately
– the 90-minute Journey of
a Diamond tour, and the
Historical Village tour. The
Journey of a Diamond tour
takes visitors through the
surface workings of the mine
on a truck. The tour visits the
mineshaft where diamondbearing
ore is hauled to the
surface and then proceeds
to the crushers, sort house,
mine dumps and the big hole,
which is four times larger than
the Big Hole in Kimberley. The
public rate is R150pp and the
STO rate, R120pp.
On the Historical Village tour,
guests learn about Cullinan’s
fascinating history while being
transported through the village
on an old railway tram pulled
by a tractor. The public rate is
R80 and the STO rate, R65.
Ladies looking for new
places to explore, can visit the
GTA’s website, www.gauteng.
net, to find out what’s on
the go.
