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Gold Reef City – Gold Mine Underground Tour

Gold mine underground tour – gold reef city, underground gold mine tour – gold reef city – johannesburg gold mining in its heyday..

With Ekala – indeed more than simply a set time underground gold tour.

Gold Reef City – Gold Mine History

The Gold Reef City theme park is situated on a 10Ha site which surrounds the then number 14 gold mine shaft at Crown Mines. Indeed, this 19th century gold mine produced 1.4 million kilograms of gold before closing in the 70’s.   The shaft was opened in 1897, thus only 11 years after Johannesburg was established and was part of the gold reef stretching 100 km from east of Boksburg to Randfontein in the west.   This made the Gold Reef City shaft 14 the world’s richest producer of gold, 1.4 million kilograms over its 90 year life span.   This shaft was then at its time, one of the deepest gold mines and worked by 30 000 miners.
Gold mine tour takes you back in time with a first hand look at an old mining town, as well as the vibrant life of such a gold town.
A miner’s language (Fanagalo) was developed in 1910. This then enabled the miners from different cultures and languages to communicate. Fanagolo was simplistic consisting of only 2000 words relevant to gold mining, however 25% of these were swear words.   For miners, this was a tough way to earn a living with heat, dampness, darkness and additionally the ear shattering noise of drills.   Lighting was by candlelight, thus posing a continued risk of explosion due to the presence of methane gas.
Donkeys pulled the gold laden coco pans, staying down the mine for three months before then going blind.   There is gold remaining in the mine, however the price of gold at the time mine closed, made it uneconomical to remove.   The lower levels of the mine are currently flooded – 19th level to the 57th level. Thus, underground gold tours are conducted only up to 5th level.

Gold Reef City – Underground mine gold tour

Thus travelling down a Gold Mine shaft – Gold Reef City
Gold Reef Shaft No 14, in production for 84 years – 1887 to 1971 and indeed, at its time, deepest mine in the world.   Then travel down the Gold Mine shaft (under 5 years not allowed) in a large clangy lift to level 5 ( 720 feet – 226 meters) for a guided gold mine tour.   Walk down tunnels with a hard hat and torch in hand, so experience the tough conditions that gold miners had to endure.   Experience a short burst from a miners drill, this will accordingly give you an understanding as to why miners would go deaf without ear plugs.
Then see the mine manager’s office with the miner’s identity box. This then helped identify missing miners.   Follow the coco pan tracks past the red dynamite box and get a view up a 35 degree slope with little head room and then wooden steps that lead to the surface of the mine in the event of power failure.   Once back on the surface you experience daily demonstrations of pouring molten gold into gleaming bars of bullion and traditional miner’s gumboot dances on visiting the then mine manager’s house.   Additionally see how coins were pressed in the past and a museum dedicated to gold mining.

Gold Reef City – Mining Town Theme Park

The gold mining town has been reconstructed to capture gold rush era times of the then early Johannesburg.   Comprehensive depiction of life in a turn of the century mining town. Including period houses and colourful street entertainment, hence discovering for yourself as to how the gold miners worked and played.   Staff wear period costumes and you can additionally have your picture taken in a period costume. Enjoy a beer in the saloon, then take a stroll through the animal farm or a ride on a steam train.   In addition a penny farthing cycle and a horse drawn carriage around mine village.
The international appeal of the Gold Reef City amusement and theme park with its depiction of nineteenth century gold mining life is seen daily by a large number of tourists.   Johannesburg is one of the most populous cities in Africa and is also the continents economic powerhouse.
Its history is based solely around the discovery of gold and this park brings the gold tour to life with a glimpse into the economic development of Johannesburg and its gold mining. Travel back in time with a first hand look at an old gold mining town.

Gold Reef City – Gold Mine Underground Tour – Mining Town

South Africa Historical and Cultural:

Cultural diversity

Focusing history, people, and culture – non-invasive

Alexandra walking day – or driven as you require

Tourist multicultural day – Tribal ancestral village

Johannesburg:

Cultural trip of the city of Johannesburg

Pretoria city day travel – cultural diversity

History trip:

Historical day through Apartheid struggle

Johannesburg historical private day trip

Pretoria day journey – colonialism to democracy

Struggle against segregation/apartheid

Walk in footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa

Apartheid Freedom Struggle:

Mandela Apartheid Route – Freedom Route – South Africa

Liliesleaf Farm:

Nelson Mandela – Rivonia trial – Apartheid opposition

Apartheid Museum:

Racial oppression-guided Apartheid Museum

Constitution Hill:

Constitutional Hill + Constitution Court + Old Fort visit

Military/Battlefield

Isandlwana/Rorke’s Drift Battlefield

If you are going to Gold Reef City yourself for the underground gold mine tour – then you need to book directly with Gold Reef City.

Ekala only includes the underground gold tour in our specialised gold tours.

Not for someone travelling to Gold Reef City themselves.

The Gold Reef City complex is made up of various components.

  • Gold Reef City Casino.
  • Apartheid Museum – generally included as part of a Johannesburg and Soweto fully guided private tour.
  • Gold Reef City – Gold Mining town with Amusement and Theme Park.
  • Underground Gold Mine tour. Accordingly, included in Ekala’s gold tours – mining
  • Helicopter flight – Johannesburg CBD – Soweto – optional extra on a Johannesburg day tour

Gold Reef City – travel back to look at an early Johannesburg gold mine.

The only components that ekala eco tours may include in a day or multi-day tour:.

  • Apartheid Museum guided tour

Details on a separate page

  • Underground Gold Mine Tour – Crown Mines Shaft 14 – further information on gold mine tours.
  • Helicopter flight – Johannesburg – Soweto – only if accordingly requested/included/quoted as part of a Johannesburg multi-day package.
  • Consequently, depends on the actual tour booked with requirements/timing/time available. Accordingly, detailed on the quote or booking confirmation.

Private, professional, and reliable tailor-made gold mine underground tours

Early mine Coco pan

Different Gold Reef City mine tour options are available – hence with different prices.

Best ability to contact ekala for gold mining tours: [email protected].

Then will respond within 24 hours. Actually, in most cases less.

Gold Reef City Underground Tours.

Ekala’s gold tours are private – thus each Gold Reef City component that we cover can be uniquely designed/included in a Johannesburg gold mining tour for an individual experience.
Underground gold tour not available Mondays and Tuesdays. Nevertheless Ekala does still structure other mining tours on these days as the Cullinan Mine underground or surface tour or other items of our Johannesburg gold history tour.
A helicopter flight over Johannesburg and/or Soweto however, only available over weekends and holidays.

Inclusions for a day or multi-day gold tour package need to be detailed within the enquiry to enable us to accordingly structure the package as required.

Other options for mining tours – surface and underground and historical.

Mining – gold and diamonds:

Gold mines:

Gold mine – surface/underground.

Diamond Mine:

Cullinan surface – including new operations

Diamond Mine Underground:

Cullinan – underground in a working mine

Mining historical:

Village and mine historical

Cullinan Mine-surface tour

Transfer and safari options to add to any South Africa visit

Scenic and wildlife sanctuaries – South Africa Birding:

Cheetah Experience – day trip from Johannesburg

Elephant interaction visit, Hartbeespoort dam .

Bush baby monkey Sanctuary, Hartbeespoort Dam

Ekala Eco Birding – South Africa

Kruger and Pilanesberg National Parks Safari

Pilanesberg for the family

Overnight Pilanesberg private family safari

Ultimate Kruger National Park private safari

Eco tours and safari

Environmentally sustainable safari

Palaeo – Cradle of Humankind:

Maropeng and Sterkfontein Cave day trip

Scenic and Nature:

Graskop Panorama

Panorama route – en-route to or from Kruger

Botanical Gardens

Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden

South Africa Transfers – Airport transfers – Train transfers – Kruger transfers

Private point to point transfer service in South Africa

Layover transfer

Layover transfers – Pretoria/Johannesburg/Kruger

Kruger transfers

Transfer to Kruger via panorama route

Airport transfers

Airport transfers – Johannesburg O. R. Tambo airport

Train transfers

Johannesburg City Park Station transfers

Cullinan Underground

Gold tours:

Ekala’s Gold Reef City gold tours can be adapted to the client’s individual needs.

Accordingly, we accommodate specific mine tours and personal requirements.

Trip Logo

Tailor-made gold mining underground tour experiences that cater for solo travellers, couples, families, and group mining tours.

Historical Johannesburg gold mine - candle for light

Take a sightseeing Helicopter flight over Soweto and Johannesburg.

Helicopter flight over Johannesburg and/or Soweto. Great opportunity for photos and a great view of Johannesburg. Inclusion of this within tour generally only available over weekends.   Must be asked for in your tour enquiry, thus enabling us to structure the gold tour and price correctly.

Mine Headgear

A short selection of Ekala Eco Tours most popular package safari and tour options

Safari tour packages

Premier Mine (Cullinan) Early shaft

For multi-day safari tour package – Ekala Guest House

Johannesburg accommodation

Cullinan surface operations

  • Johannesburg

Gold Reef City Tour

Feel the rush and experience the Gold Rush

What to expect

The world famous yet uniquely South African Gold Reef City is just eight kilometres from the centre of Johannesburg. It's a theme park that is rich in history and a replica of old-time Johannesburg. Enjoy an incredible underground gold mine tour, gold pour demonstrations, traditional miners gumboot dancing, and more. Take a step back in time as you ride on a penny farthing and enjoy other rides too.

  • Duration: 4 hours
  • Includes: All transport and entrance fees are included, as well as services of an English speaking guide.
  • Excludes: Lunch, beverages and gratuities are excluded, though these are at your discretion.
  • Meals: Meals not included
  • Price: Price available on request

The beautiful Michaelangelo Towers in Sandton, Johannesburg

A view of Johannesburg's vibrant city lights, South Africa

The iconic Nelson Mandela Square, Johannesburg

One of South Africa's World Heritage Sites, the Cradle of Humankind

A charming landscape view of Pretoria, South Africa

Explore Gold Reef City

Get to grips with the history behind Johannesburg by visiting an underground mine and see gold ingots being made. And explore the Theme Park with an array of attractions for both adults and children.

Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 13:00 until 17:00

Departure times

Sandton 13:00

Rosebank 13:30

  • Relive the Gold Rush by visiting Mining Shaft 14
  • Go deep underground and see gold being poured
  • Ideal for adults and children with array of activities
  • Located next to the informative Apartheid Museum

You will be picked up from your hotel in the early afternoon and transferred to Gold Reef City. The complex contains a theme park, a number of hotels and restaurants and is ideal for families with activities for everyone. It has history too and you can go underground and visit Mining Shaft 14. If you are lucky you may see gold being poured and ingots being made! Your tour also includes an introductory film and a visit to three historic houses. You will be transferred in a luxury Microbus or Coach and your safety and security is assured. Throughout the tour, you have the services of an experienced local guide who can answer all your questions.

Johannesburg is South Africa's biggest and busiest city and it owes its existence to the discovery of gold on the Witswatersrand during the 1880s. The Gold Rush led to an influx of miners, labourers and their families as the settlement swelled dramatically. On this tour you can visit Mining Shaft 14 and actually go underground with the chance of seeing gold ingots being made! The rest of Gold Reef City is worth exploring with its theme park, Casino and entertainment.

Includes and Excludes: All transport and entrance fees are included, as well as services of an English speaking guide. Lunch, beverages and gratuities are excluded, though these are at your discretion.  

NB:  This can be done as a full day or half-day tour and tailormade as you wish. Don't delay -  Get free, no-obligation advice  to plan your tailormade trip!

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gold mine tour south africa

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Gauteng tourism menu, gauteng’s gold mine tours, neighbourhood stories , johannesburg news , the west rand news.

  • May 18, 2022

gold mine tour south africa

Follow in the footsteps of the earliest gold miners as they tracked the gold-rich veins of South Africa, by experiencing one of Johannesburg’s gold mine tours.

There’s a valid reason for Johannesburg being called Egoli, meaning “City of Gold”, as South Africa’s history, and more specifically Johannesburg’s history, is intricately linked to gold and mining.

The Witwatersrand area had the largest gold resources in the world, which is why South Africa is one of the world leaders in gold mining. The 1800s saw the start of South Africa’s gold rush and forever changed the course of the country’s history and heritage.

Johannesburg is South Africa’s richest and busiest city – its establishment is a direct result of the gold rush and the influx of people it brought with it. The late 1800s saw people from all corners of South Africa and the world make their way to this place, in search of untold riches lurking beneath the earth.

One of the first gold mines was the Kromdraai mine, which was initially a farm. In 1881 gold was first found on the farm, and in 1885 it was officially proclaimed a mine.

The Witwatersrand gold reef was discovered in June 1884 by prospector and explorer Jan Gerritze Bantjes. However, the immense wealth held within the Witwatersrand was only really uncovered in 1886, by George Harrison. According to scientific studies, the “golden arc” that stretched from Welkom to Johannesburg is thought to have once been a massive inland lake. The theory is that the lake’s gold and silt deposits from its alluvial gold settled in that area, forming the gold-rich deposits for which South Africa is famous.

To learn more about Johannesburg’s golden heritage and walk the gold trails of miners past, why not enjoy one of these gold mine tours?

Explore Africa Tours and Safaris offers full-day and half-day Old Kromdraai mine tours:

  • The half-day – Kromdraai Gold Mine Tour (three hours)
  • The full-day – Kromdraai Gold Mine/Sterkfontein Caves (five hours)
  • Kromdraai Gold Mine/Sterkfontein Caves/Rhino and Lion Park Tour (six hours)

A visit to the Kromdraai gold mine, located 7km from Sterkfontein in the centre of the Cradle of Humankind, will give you an unparalleled view of old mining methods. You’ll enter the old workings through a large opening in the side of the hill, and a short walk down the cocopan tracks through roughly worked tunnels and into the heart of the mountain, where you will marvel at the conditions that people had to endure while extracting the gold ore.

Gold Reef City offers Jozi’s Story of Gold , a tour that takes you down memory lane, lasting approximately two hours. Learn how Johannesburg came to be and how gold was discovered on the reef, descend 75m underground, and witness the magnificent glow of a live gold pour!

The tour consists of the following:

  • An underground mine tour, where you descend into the depths of the Earth and discover the riches of our history
  • Gold panning, which has you panning mud in freezing cold water by hand, and experiencing the euphoria of finding a shiny speck among the dirt
  • A gold pour, with nothing quite like the magnificent glow of molten gold
  • Museum houses, where you will see what a mining official’s life was like.

These are just a few of the places covered on  Ekala Eco Tours ‘ gold mine tour:

  • George Harrison Park: spot where the gold reef was found, and see Harrison’s original gold claim
  • Langlaagte Deep Village: one of the earliest remaining gold mining villages
  • Gold Reef City: the only remaining gold mine in the Johannesburg area that has an operational shaft, of the hundreds of original shafts along the east-west arc of gold-bearing rock south of Johannesburg (tourists only – not an operational mine)
  • Worker Museum: a workers’ compound not directly linked to the gold mines, but identical to those used on mines in early years of mining in Johannesburg and providing insight into mineworkers’ way of life
  • Ferreira gold mine stope: an excellently preserved original stope (the entrance to the Ferreira gold mine)
  • Kromdraai gold mine: a tour inside the historical mine

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gold mine tour south africa

MILLWOOD GOLDMINE TOURS: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Gold Reef City Mine and Amusement Park Tour

What you will do, gold reef city.

You do the Jozi story of Golf heritage tour. The Virtual tour will give you an experience of how prospectors panned Gold/separated gold particles from soil in a freezing cold water by hand. and the historical Victorian style museum homes, including the manager' s home housing the bioscope, show casing how life was during the mining period. The story of Gold doesn’t get more real than descending 75 meters underground to discover the riches of South Africa’s history on an underground mine tour or witnessing the magnificent glow of a live gold pour. Visitors participate on a variety of thrill rides at the end of the heritage tour- Anaconda, Jozi express roller coaster,Golden loop,River rage rapids etc. These rides will turn your world upside down literary. If your adventurous spirit is a little less,Gold reef city have memory making rides dedicated to families,4D Movies, Bumper cars and etc

Important Information

  • Pick up and drop off in a comfortable standard air conditioned vehicle
  • Guided tour
  • Entrance fee

Not Included

  • Items of personal interest from the shops.

Additional Information

  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness

Guide Options

  • Guide - English

Cancellation Policy

GoldReef-City

Jozi's Story of Gold

Experience the johannesburg gold rush.

Gold Reef City’s Heritage Tour offers unique insight into the historical world of Johannesburg’s gold rush. This interactive history lesson brings to life the founding of Johannesburg and the discovery of gold on the reef – it doesn’t get more real than descending 75 meters underground to discover the riches of South Africa’s history on an underground mine tour or witnessing the magnificent glow of a live gold pour!

Where does the Heritage Tour take you?

Join your Rich Beginnings virtual tour-guide Veli, a modern-day schoolboy as he takes you on a journey in the company of Joe, a well-weathered prospector from the late 1800s.  Pan for elusive specs of gold that hold the promise of wealth the way it used to be done in freezing cold water by hand and experience the euphoria of finding a shiny spec among the dirt.

And for a magical trip down memory lane visit our Museum Houses where you will find Mr Ohlthaver’s House, Dowse House and Oosthuizen House.

Rates - Theme Park Rides and a Guided Tour

Walk-in & STO (Rides & Tour)

Walk-in & STO (Tour only)

Billings STO (Rides & Tour)

Billings STO (Tour only)

General Admission & Mine Tour

*Pre-booking essential

Rates - Mine Tour Only (with no guide)

Mine Tour Only

*Please note that children under the age of 4 will not be allowed on the Mine Tour

Underground Mine Tour Restrictions The following is not permitted on the underground mine tour:

  • Children under the age of 4 years.
  • Expectant mothers.
  • Guests who are visually impaired, physically challenged, have a walking defect or have a prosthetic limb/s.
  • Guests who have a heart condition or afflicted with asthma.
  • Guests with high or low blood pressure.
  • Guests who have recently undergone major surgery.
  • Guests suffering from or having a tendency towards claustrophobia.

Please note : that the mine evacuation procedure in the event of a power failure, includes climbing more than 150 steps a 38-degree incline to the surface. All guests must be able to climb these steps in the case of an evacuation and we therefore do not recommend the following guests make use of the mine tour:

  • Expectant mothers
  • Guests with heart conditions.
  • Guests that have recently. undergone major surgery.
  • Guests suffering from asthma.

Please take note of the following rules:

  • School groups may only make use of the mine tour for children above the age of 6.
  • Children between the ages of 4 and 6 with families must be accompanied by an adult older than 18 years of age and must be able to walk unassisted and navigate evacuation. Children may not be carried.
  • No children under the age of 4 are allowed on the mine tour.
  • All guests with a severe visual impairment must be accompanied by a guest that can guide them while on the mine tour.
  • No visually intoxicated guests may go on the tour.

NOTE: Please note that the last tour will begin at 16h10

If you need more information, please contact guest services upon arrival, where a duty manager will be happy to assist you before you book your mine tour.

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Byron King

By Byron King Posted October 25, 2012

Let's Tour A South African Gold Mine...

Right around this time last week I was over 1,000 feet underground at the Modder East gold mine, near Johannesburg, South Africa.

Actually, for as “cool” as the visit was, the mine was kind of warm.

After a couple hours walking — and at times crawling — underground, my T-shirt was soaked with sweat. I skipped the hotel gym that day.

The Modder East mine is one of the newest gold mines in South Africa. In May 2006, the site was a wheat field. By late 2009, the shafts were sunk, equipment was installed and operators pulled the first gold out of the ground. By mid-2010 the mine was cash-flow positive. Easy, right? No. Not at all. No way!

There are innumerable angles to this story. For now, I’ll just say that despite what I told you in the last paragraph, it’s hard — and I mean REALLY hard — to mine gold. You’ve got to see it to believe it. But then, that’s why we publish letters like this one — because if you can’t get out into the field, I’ll do it for you…

Do you want to see real, deep, hard-rock, gold-chasing mining?

First, you suit up in safety clothing — Nomex overalls with lots of reflective patches and rubberized, steel-toed boots. Then you strap on about 25 pounds of other safety gear — headlamp, battery (one size — like a brick!), emergency breathing pack (one size — bulky) and more.

Suitably garbed in battle rattle, you go down an elevator shaft to the first level. The nonstop ride down takes you about as deep as the Empire State Building is high. At Modder East, you then travel through a long, dark, wet, rocky tunnel about 12 feet wide by 15 feet high — the main adit.

Eventually, you get to what are called “side panels,” where eight-men (and a few women) teams of miners chase “gold reefs” far into the crust of the earth. Using water-powered tools, they drill holes into the rock. Then a guy called the “blaster” comes along and emplaces charges. Twice a day, the earth shakes with energy from explosions.

After blasting is over, a few brave souls go in to check rock stability. Later, after the all-clear signal, miners move in to haul out the debris. At Modder East, the pay zone is called the “Buckshot Reef.” It’s a quartz pebble conglomerate heavily infused with gold-laced pyrite (and yes, of course, I have a sample).

Look at the photo above. Now consider that the Buckshot Reef ore zone is about 8-12 inches thick, at best. Sure, it’s rich in gold — around 40 grams per tonne (g/T). But you can’t just mine a 1-foot seam. There’s no technology for that.

You have to remove a lot of rock — mostly below the ore zone, just to get the pay dirt out. But you can’t dig out too much barren rock, because you’re paying for every hunk that you break up and move out. It’s all about cost per tonne.

Thus, this kind of mining involves digging relatively thin “panels” out from the side of the large main tunnel. How thick are the side panels? Well, just to get things started, there’s a very tight, perpendicular, man-sized hole where the driller stands.

This more or less perpendicular hole strikes out from the main tunnel. And off that hole, miners dig out into the ore zone, creating an opening about 4 feet high. All along, the miners have to support the roof with thick timbers.

During the mining and clearing process, large chunks of Buckshot ore (gold-infused pyrite) go straight into the mine carts, to be hauled to the surface. But after that, there’s a lot of fine detritus as well — it’s the remnant debris of the blasting-mining process.

This detritus is sandy, gritty stuff, but it’s also where a lot of fine gold settles out. That is, gold is much heavier than the rest of the minerals in the Buckshot pebble conglomerate. So gold tends to concentrate down toward the bottom of the sandy material — kind of like panning for gold in a stream.

Miners have to get down on hands and knees and literally shovel the fine stuff sideways for collection (see photo above). Still, it’s worth the effort because that gray sand is among the most valuable ore in the mine. It’s chock-full of gold (microscopic, to be sure). So by the time the side panel is cleaned out, the bottom surface has literally been swept with a broom, to get every grain and fraction of a gram.

Then the ore goes topside for crushing, separation and concentration. Modder East has no set schedule for final refining and pouring gold, because they don’t want to make it easy for anyone to plan a heist.

Still, it’s accurate to say that about once every week or so, they pour gold. Then the yellow metal is promptly picked up by a helicopter and transported to South Africa’s Rand Refinery for final treatment. That’s where the gold bars, ingots, Krugerrands and such come from.

Safety Underground

As a new mine, Modder East incorporates every form of advanced safety feature. From what I could discern, the mine owners spared no expense in designing safety into the system from the beginning — starting with a mine manager who embodies safety as an ethic and value.

For example, in terms of mine design, all human access is via dedicated elevators. And all ore is removed via separate access tunnels. Thus there’s much less likelihood of someone getting run over by a hauling truck in a dark tunnel.

In terms of operations, and for a variety of reasons that I won’t lay out in detail, the water-powered (hydraulic) equipment tends to be safer than pneumatic or electrical equipment.

On the human factors side of things, Modder East fosters a culture of safety, with an unstinting management focus on safe operations. At the heart of things, the entire pay and incentive system is designed around safe mining, versus a “hurry up” approach that leads to people cutting corners. Indeed, this particular pay scheme has become a model for deep mining across South Africa.

Topside, there’s a full-time doctor (a real MD) on site. The doc deals with every manner of medical issue — from worksite injuries to ailments like the flu or a skin rash. The idea is to instill a sense of medical respect — related to respect for safety — within the entire workforce.

There’s much more to say, but time constrains me just now. I’ll end by noting that the next time you want to bellyache about your job, consider coming to South Africa and trading places with some of these shovel-swinging miners for a couple of days.

You want hard, hot, sweaty physical labor? Where you’re stooped over for hours at a time, swinging a shovel full of heavy rock and grit? Hey, there ain’t no whining and crying in the mines, OK?

The foregoing is just a taste of what I learned on my visit to the Modder East Gold Mine. There’s more to say, later on. For now, let me thank my host, Gold One, Ltd, and mine manager Izak Marais, for allowing me on the property, and being so open to an inquisitive outsider. Many thanks, also, to my South African Agora colleagues from Fleet Street Publications — FSP Invest — who were instrumental in arranging the visit and tour.

Thanks for reading. Best wishes…

Byron W. King

Original article posted on Daily Resource Hunter

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Our Sweet Adventures

A First Timers Guide to The City of Gold – Johannesburg

A First Timers Guide to The City of Gold – Johannesburg

We had the great opportunity to visit Johannesburg twice during our layovers within Africa. There is so much to see and plenty of activities to enjoy in Johannesburg . During our few days in the city, we were able to do a lot of sightseeing, learn about the city’s history, eat delicious South African cuisine, and stay at two wonderful hotels. Needless to say, visiting Johanessburg is one of several reasons why you should travel to South Africa . Furthermore, Johannesburg is a great starting point to a South Africa itinerary . You can easily take a train from Johannesburg to Cape Town or a quick flight to Kruger National Park .

Here is my ultimate, first timers guide to one day in Johannesburg featuring some of the best places to visit, dine and stay based on my first-hand experience.

Full Disclaimer: I was invited by Joburg Tourism to explore the city and experience tours. My opinions of the city are my own. 

Table of Contents

Johannesburg, the City of Gold – tends to get a bad reputation as one of the most dangerous cities in the world. We are here to tell you, that is not the case. In fact, South Africa as a whole is one of the safest countries in Africa . Just like all major cities, there are growing and influential areas, suburbs, good school districts and more, but there are also areas of poverty and slum. Not once we did encounter any dangerous areas or incidents while in Johannesburg, what we did experience was pure culture and history.

Getting Around

I recommend two different ways to sightsee in Johanessburg, the City Sightseeing hop on-hop off bus or with Joburg Tourism where they can provide you with a private guide.

Hop On-Hop Off buses are always a popular way to see a new and unfamiliar city. The great thing about a hop on-hop off bus is the opportunity to stop at several destinations you wish to see for an entire day, while paying for a budget friendly price. Along the routes there are also audio guides to use at your disposal, so you can learn about the places you are seeing or visiting. For people who have a lot of time to enjoy sightseeing at their own pace, this is a great fit for you. If you enjoy a more intimate setting that goes based on your tight schedule, we recommend a private driver.

I was invited from Joburg Tourism to enjoy a private driver/tour guide. This was our first experience with a private driver/tour guide and we enjoyed every second of it, in fact, we do not think we can enjoy another group tour ever again. Our guide, Lucille from Cresco Tours, was very knowledgable about the city and was able to show around Johannesburg and educate us more about the city than we have ever imagined. It was also comforting to be able to sightsee and learn about Johannesburg on our own time. To know that we never had to worry about catching our next ride somewhere or continuing to switch tour guides at every site. We were able to make a strong relationship with Lucille and enjoy our time exploring Johannesburg. If you decide to book with Cresco Tours, be sure to ask for Lucille!

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City Sightseeing Hop On-Hop Off https://www.citysightseeing.co.za/johannesburg

Joburg Tourism http://www.joburgtourism.com http://www.joburgtourism.com/packages/standard

Cresco Tours http://www.crescotours.co.za/day_tours.php

In the Heart of Johannesburg

The heart of Johannesburg is the central business district. There are plenty of things to see, dine and stay in this area. In addition to some fun sightseeing, there is also a lot of culture and history that has defined the city of Johannesburg and South Africa as a whole.

Constituional Hill

If you only have time to do one thing in Johanessburg, we encourage you to visit Constitutional Hill. It was one of the most moving tours we have ever experienced. It reperesnts Johanessburg’s past, present and future.

Before the tour, there is a video that gives you a brief history of Constitutional Hill. The brief history is that black, white and colored men and women were prisoned here for speaking their minds of the harsh truth that was occurring in Johannesburg during that time. The treatment they were receiving was unbearable and inhuman. Walking through the prison cells, courtyard, torture chambers and isolation cells was depressing – we could not fathom the history that took place here. To see people be treated so inhuman because they were trying to get their freedom, equality and dignity was heartbreaking.

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Some exhibits within the tour had pictures, audio and video of ex-prisoners’ stories of the series of events that happened to them everyday. Constitutional Hill has three prison blocks – Number Four (for black, asian and indian “native men”), Old Fort (for white men) and Women’s Goal (for black and white female prisoners).

The tour has prison cells that showcase the prisoners living arrangements, which were very poor – they would cram in dozens of men in a small prison room. We were told that in the courtyard, the men would have to strip naked and receive brutal beatings.

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The isolation cells might have been the most heartbreaking of them all. Visitors can step into the isolation cells to see what it was like for the prisoners. The prisoners were only supposed to stay inside the isolation cells for no more than 30 days, but some stayed there for an entire year. Without even stepping into the isolation cells, we cannot begin to even imagine what it was like to be in their shoes.

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A lot of historical men and women of Johanessburg were imprisoned at Constitutional Hill, including two of the most influential leaders of our world, Nelson Mandela and Ghandi. In honor of these men, Constitutional Hill has dedicated one of the prison cells into a small msusuem of their history here and in life.

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Out of this tradegy comes hope. Johannesburg created their congress room in the center of Constitutional Hill and embraced their history for a better future. The bricks of the building are the same bricks the prisoners would mine. There is a small narrow window across the congress room where the judges can only see people’s legs walking by. This feature is to remind the judges that they sit in the chairs to help create a better world for all those people walking outside. We enjoyed the congress room a lot because of how much thought and meaning went into building the room.

1 1 Kotze St  Johannesburg, 2017, South Africa +27 11 381 3100 Open daily: 9am – 5pm Prices vary for age and type of tour, so please click here to get an in-depth page of prices. https://www.constitutionhill.org.za

Apartheid Museum

A visit to Apartheid Museum is a museum unlike any other, representing the rise and fall of apartheid in South Africa. Guests take an emotional journey through a series of 22 individual exhibition areas, which tells a story of a state-sanctioned system based on racial discrimination and the struggle the majority of people endured to overthrow the tyranny. South Africa does not shy away from their past, but embrace it to make a better future – the Apartheid Museum is South Africa’s beacon of hope to show the world who they really are. It is a museum not to be missed.

Northern Park Way and Gold Reef Rd Ormond, Johannesburg, 2001, South Africa +27 11 309 4700 Open daily: 9am – 5pm Adults: R85 Students, seniors and children: R70 https://www.apartheidmuseum.org

Top of Africa

To experience the best views of Johanessburg, head to the 50th floor of the Carlton building, also known as the Top of Africa. Why is it called the Top of Africa? Because it is THE tallest building in Africa! At the observation deck, guests can see the city and its surrounding landscape with 360 degree unobstructed views. Though we went on a hazy day, it did not deteriorate from the beauty of Johanessburg. We were able to see the business district, suburbs and of course, the mining grounds.

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150 Commissioner St CBD, Johannesburg, 2001, South Africa +27 (0)11 308 1331 Monday – Friday: 9am – 6pm Saturday: 9am – 5pm Sunday: 9am – 2pm Tickets can be purchased at the front desk, located behind the store “Studio 88”, one floor below ground level.  If lost, ask a security guard or a store clerk.  Adults: R15 Children under 10: R10

Gold Reef City

Gold Reef City has is a place for tourists of all ages – two hotels, a casino, a theme park and a mine tour! Guests must pay an entrance fee to enter the theme park regardless if they will partake in any rides. Guests wanting to actually go on rides must pay a higher price. To visit the mine tour will also cost an additional fee, but it is well worth it for those interested in learning how Johannesburg became The City of Gold! During the mine tour, guests will feel the cold air as they descend into the depths of the earth and discover the riches of South Africa’s history and gold. They will also have the opportunity to pan for gold in freezing cold water and watch gold being poured into golden bars!

Northern Pkwy & Data Cres Ormonde 99-Ir, Johannesburg, 2159, South Africa +27 11 248 5000 Closed Monday-Tuesday Wednesday-Sunday: 9:30am – 5pm Thrill Rider above 1.3m:  R210 or  R320  to include mine tour       Non-Rider above 1.3m:  R120 or  R230  to include mine tour       Guests under 1.3m: R130 or  R240  to include mine tour   Students and seniors 60+:  R175 or R285 to include mine tour Heritage Mine Tour: R340 Children under 3 years are admitted free of charge https://www.tsogosun.com/gold-reef-city-casino

Soweto is a the largest black town in South Africa and is known for its culture, history and the home of Nelson Mandela. Great local food can be found around town with an entertaining culture and lifestyle.

Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial

The museum was built in honor of Hector Pieterson and is located only two blocks away from where Hector was shot and killed.  For those who do not know the story, students were walking to the stadium to gather for a protest and were met by the police. The children threw stones at the police and the police responded with gunfire. Hector was the first one to be shot by the police. This tragic event started the 1976 uprising in Soweto and throughout the country. The museum is dedicated to all the children, women and men, whose lives were lost during the apartheid tyranny. Outside the museum is a beautiful memorial which represents the event of the students and police officers. The memorial is built with a fountain that flows to the streets – the water flowing symbolizes the blood shed from the children. The iconic picture of Hector dying in the arms of another Soweto resident with his sister next to them, is placed next to the memorial.

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Tip : If you are going to the Apartheid Museum, it is suggested not to visit the Hector Pieterson museum on the same day because of the amount of emotion placed upon the visitors. It is also said that a visit to the Apartheid Museum is enough to capture the history of the events, but if you want to learn more of what happened in Soweto then going inside the Hector Pieterson Museum is advised. Otherwise seeing the memorial with a tour guide to explain the symbolism of the event is enough.

8287 Khumalo Rd Orlando West, Johannesburg, 1804, South Africa +27 11 536 0611 Monday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm Sundays: 10am – 4pm Adults: R30 Students and seniors: R10 Children (ages 6 to 12): R5 https://www.gauteng.net/attractions/hector_pieterson_memorial_and_museum/

Orlando Towers

What was once used as a power station for over 50 years, is now South Africa’s largest mural painting in the country and a place to have fun. Soweto has a lot of culture and history, which the Orlando Towers signifies in their colorful painted murals that can be seen from miles away. For those seeking adrenaline, you can bungee jump, base jump or freefall from the top of the towers! After you enjoy your thrill of choice from the Orlando Towers, don’t forget to dine at Chaf Pozi (more info on the restaurant at Places to Dine ). Spending a day at Orlando Towers and finishing your evening at Chaf Pozi will be an experience you will never forget in Johannesburg!

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Chris Hani Rd, Soweto 1808 Johannesburg, 1809, South Africa +27 71 674 4343 Thursday: 12pm – 5pm Friday – Sunday: 10am – 6pm Prices vary depending on activity http://www.orlandotowers.co.za

Nelson Mandela House

Visiting Nelson Meandela’s House is almost a must when visiting Johannesburg! If you are fans of the legendary man, we highly recommend you visit his house. The house is full of gifts he received from leaders all over the world, in addition to awards he received throughout his life. Outside the house, visitors can see and feel with their fingers the bullet holes from people who shot at his house. Inside the house, visitors can see the last picture ever took of him before he was imprisoned next to the picture of him when he was released.

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8115 Vilakazi St & Ngakane St Orlando West, Johannesburg, 1804, South Africa +27 11 936 7754 Open Daily: 9am – 5pm Adults: R60 Students, seniors and children over 6 years: R20 children under 6 years: R5 http://www.mandelahouse.com

Playing Soccer with the Children

As we were driving throughout Soweto we kept seeing several children playing soccer in the middle of the streets. When we parked to visit the Nelson Mandela House, there were children playing in the parking lot. As soccer players, we could not resist playing with the children, so we joined them. It was a surreal experience that we will never forget. If you happen to find street vendors selling soccer balls, it would change the children’s world if you buy one for them, otherwise they will love it if you join them in a game or two!

Places to Dine

Homestead focuses on South African food using the freshest and local ingredients. Their speciality is called “bowl’d food” where guests pick their starch, meat, vegetables, sauce and salad – essentially all of the components are served in bowls and placed on a wooden tray. One of their starch options is pap, also known as mieliepap, which is a traditional South African corn porridge, similar to polenta, but prepared differently. We recommend guests to enjoy it with a meat stew served on top.

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58 Anderson St Marshalltown, Johannesburg, 2107, South Africa +27 11 689 1000 Monday – Saturday: 10am – 10pm Sunday: closed $$ – $$$ http://homestead.co.za

Aurelia’s Restaurant

A luxury dining experience at Peermont D’Oreale Grande at Emperor’s Palace. The ambience of Aurelia’s Restaurant during the night is romantic with its dim lighting, candles and fresh flowers on the table. Their dinner menu is quite extensive, which showcases the chef’s creative molecular gastronomy appetizers, entrees and desserts. The dishes have a little Mediterranean flare with some South African cuisine that can please any palate. To read our full review of Aurelia’s Restaurant, click here .

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64 Jones Rd, O.R. Tambo Kempton Park, 1627, South Africa +27 11 928 1727 Lunch served daily: 12:30pm – 4pm Dinner served daily: 6:30pm – 10pm $$$$ http://www.emperorspalace.com/things-to-do/restaurants/aurelias-restaurant

After you experience the Orlando Towers, dine at Chaf Pozi, an authentic South African Shisa Nyama (barbecue) cuisine restaurant at the base of the towers. At night, Chaf Pozi turns into a shebeen (live music and dancing), which is an integral part of South African urban culture and represents a sense of community, identity, and belonging.

Chaf Pozi Chris Hani Rd, Soweto 1808 Johannesburg, 1809, South Africa +27 81 797 5756 Monday – Thursday: 11am – 6pm Friday – Sunday: 9am – 2am $$-$$$ http://chafpozi.co.za

Sakhumzi Restaurant

Located across the street from the Nelson Mandela House is Sakhumzi, which serves local Soweto, authentic-home cooked cuisine. We have never encountered such a vibrant community during a dining experience. Everyone greeted us with a warm welcome as if we were family. Everything is made fresh from the kitchen and served as either a buffet or a la carte from the menu. The buffet has a great selection of authentic Soweto food, from traditional pap to lamb stew, sausage, tripe, cow tongue and more.

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6980 Vilakazi St Orlando West, Soweto, 1804, South Africa +27 11 536 1379 Monday – Thursday: 11am – 10pm Friday – Sunday: 11am – 12am $$ – $$$ https://sakhumzi.co.za/our-story/

Places to Stay

Johannesburg is full of several different types of beautiful hotels – boutique, eco-friendly, luxurious and more. We highly recommend two hotels, Peermont D’Oreale Grande at Emperor’s Palace and The Reef Hotel. Both hotels are amazing for different reasons.

Peermont D’Oreale Grande at Emperor’s Palace is a five star hotel and the perfect hotel for layovers, as well as, a phenomenal hotel for luxurious vacations. It is in between Johannesburg’s central business district and Soweto, so also great for location. Click here to read more about this hotel.

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The Reef Hotel is a four star hotel located in the heart of Johannesburg – the central business district. The hotel has some amazing features, such as a jacuzzi on their sun deck and a rooftop bar. Click here  to read more about this hotel.

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In addition to these two hotels, here are more fabulous hotels to stay at:

  • Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff
  • Hyatt Regency Johannessburg
  • The Peech Hotel
  • Saxon Hill, ranked as one of the Worlds Best Hotels in Travel and Leisure .

Book your hotel in Johannesburg by using our Booking affiliate search box! It does not cost you more, but we would receive a small commission for your booking. We would be very appreciative if you do book with us!

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Based on my experience, I suggest at least two full days in Johannesburg! Spend one day in the heart of Johannesburg and another day in Soweto. There is truly so much to see and experience in Johannesburg. It is not a city to be used as a layover, it is a city to be seen! I hope this guide has been helpful and given you a new and better perspective of Johannesburg.

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Friday 13th of July 2018

I'd love to get to South Africa someday. As you said, Johannesburg has a concerning reputation, but it sounds like you can safely travel there. How striking the contract between the noble name of Constitution Hall and its actual appearance and purpose. I am sure it was a moving tour.

Tuesday 21st of November 2017

Lovely post! Ill be headed that way in December. I hope its still as lovely then! Great tips and thank you for sharing!

oursweetadventures

Sunday 31st of December 2017

We hope you have a great time while you there! Share your experience as well

Agness of e Tramping

Monday 20th of November 2017

Wow! Johannesburg seems truly picturesque. Your guide is so detailed, exceptional and helpful, C+A. How many days would you recommend staying in Johannesburg to see all the highlights?

We would say that 2 days would be pretty good depending on what you want to see. Thank you for the nice comment

Sunday 19th of November 2017

Been planning taking a trip down South Africa but never considered Johannesburg at all. Have a change of heart now. Can we club any other city to visit along with Johannesburg?

Joburg was the only city we visited while in South Africa. We were in and out of a couple airports while there but that was it. We heard great things about Cape Town and Durban.

Johannesburg is a very interesting place but I do have to admit that the reason I haven't visited it yet is because I thought it was to dangerous. I am happy to read this is not the case. I would love to visit those places in Johannesburg one day.

There were areas that we felt maybe it is best to avoid but we also were getting tours in those areas and felt safe with our guide. In fact it seemed like everyone knew her and respected her very much. We would definitely go back to Joburg

Travel Cities

  • South Africa Travel Final Part: Gold Reef City: Gold Mine Museum

(continue from Part VII)

Friday, 2 Dec 2016

Gold Reef City: Gold Mine Museum

This Friday was our last day in South Africa before we went back to Malaysia, our homeland, in the evening. But we had one more place to visit in the morning. It was a gold mine museum which was in a theme park known as Gold Reef City that was located 7 km south-west of Johannesburg City. The museum offered an underground mine tour.

Map showing gold rich area, Witwatersrand, and Gold Reef City Theme Park

Map showing gold rich area, Witwatersrand, and Gold Reef City Theme Park

Underground Gold Deposit

Witwatersrand region around Johannesburg City has the largest underground gold deposit in the world. 50% of the world’s gold production is from this region.

When gold was first discovered in 1886 in this region gold prospectors from within and without South Africa rushed to the place and started drilling for the underground gold.

Crown Mines Group

Crown Mines Group, one of the gold prospectors, started mining in 1916 at the place known as Shaft 14 which is now located in Gold Reef City Theme Park. It closed Shaft 14 in 1977 when the depth of the mining level had reached 3293 metres below the surface. In 1979, it donated the land to Rand Mines which turned it into a museum.

Crown Mines owned Shaft 14 and the diagram shows that gold had been mined to the level, 3293 metres below the surface.

Crown Mines owned Shaft 14 and the diagram shows that gold had been mined to the level, 3293 metres below the surface.

Gold Mine Tour

After breakfast at Hotel Peermont Mondior that was near Johannesburg International Airport, we travelled to Gold Reef City, a theme park. When we reached the park, there were many people, young and old from all walks of life, waiting for the gate to be opened before they could go in and enjoy the kinds of thrills they liked inside.

Choo Chaw taking a photo at Hotel Peermont Mondior before leaving for Gold Mine Museum

Choo Chaw taking a photo at Hotel Peermont Mondior before leaving for Gold Mine Museum

People of all ages and from all walks of life waiting outside Gold Reef City where they could enjoy many thrills

People of all ages and from all walks of life waiting outside Gold Reef City where they could enjoy many thrills

Pictorial map showing the locations of different thrills and Gold Mine Museum Tour

Pictorial map showing the locations of different thrills and Gold Mine Museum Tour

When it was opened, we passed through it to get to the gold mine museum. The mine was originally owned by Crown Mines Group which started mining the place in 1916 and closed it in 1977 when the shaft known as Shaft 14 reached a depth of 3293 metres below the surface.

Entrance to Gold Reef City Theme Park and Gold Mine Museum which offers mine tour

Entrance to Gold Reef City Theme Park and Gold Mine Museum which offers mine tour

At the museum, a mine tour-guide greeted us and gave each of us a headlamp and safety-helmet. Then we followed him to Shaft 14, entered the shaft-cage or elevator which brought us to Level 2 that was 75 metres below the surface.

Headlamps and helmets were given to fellow-Malaysians before entering the underground gold mine.

Headlamps and helmets were given to fellow-Malaysians before entering the underground gold mine.

Shaft 14 of Crown Mines has two shafts for transporting miners, equipment and materials from 1916 until 1977

Shaft 14 of Crown Mines has two shafts for transporting miners, equipment and materials from 1916 until 1977

Fellow-Malaysians entering Shaft 14 for an underground mine tour

Fellow-Malaysians entering Shaft 14 for an underground mine tour

Head-Frame and Winder

The cage was lowered into Shaft 14 by a cable that went round a tall head-frame and to a hoist-machine or winder outside the shaft.

Head-frame for lowering or hoisting up shaft-cage or elevator with the help of hoist-machine

Head-frame for lowering or hoisting up shaft-cage or elevator with the help of hoist-machine

Air-compressor(green) for pumping air into shafts and shaft-winder for lowering or hoisting cage or elevator in shafts

Air-compressor(green) for pumping air into shafts and shaft-winder for lowering or hoisting cage or elevator in shafts

Acid Mine Water

Although the maximum depth of the mine was about 3293 metres underground, most of the shafts had been filled with acid mine water. The acid was produced when rain-water flowed into the shaft and reacted with sulfides of iron in the underground rocks.

Choo Chaw and wife visiting underground gold mine

Choo Chaw and wife visiting underground gold mine

Underground Mine Tour 

At Level 2, our mine-guide gave us a good lesson on mining, uses of machines, safety measures, first-aid given to injured miners, etc.

Adit or tunnel leading to a place or stope where gold-ore was excavated

Adit or tunnel leading to a place or stope where gold-ore was excavated

Mine tour-guide giving mining lesson to fellow-Malaysians at Level 2 of Shaft 14

Mine tour-guide giving mining lesson to fellow-Malaysians at Level 2 of Shaft 14

Fellow-Malaysians following the guide into the deep tunnel

Fellow-Malaysians following the guide into the deep tunnel

Gold-Bearing Rocks

The rocks in the mine of Crown Mines consist of conglomerate pebbles, mostly of quartz, in sandy matrix with abundant pyrite(iron sulfide) in the cement. It is the cement that contains the gold and not the pebbles. Less than one gram of gold can be extracted from one ton of gold-bearing rock in the underground mine. But this amount varies from place to place.

Gold-bearing rocks in a tunnel at Level 2

Gold-bearing rocks in a tunnel at Level 2

Relics at Level 2

There were several relics of the mine left behind at Level 2 for visitors to see, such as locomotive, wagons, explosives, fuses, mercury arc rectifier and a few more.

Locomotive for pulling wagons loaded with rocks and equipment

Locomotive for pulling wagons loaded with rocks and equipment

A machine for loading gold-bearing rocks into wagons

A machine for loading gold-bearing rocks into wagons

Explosives for blasting gold-bearing rocks

Explosives for blasting gold-bearing rocks

Mercury Arc Rectifier

An old mercury arc rectifier for converting alternating current into direct current for machines in the gold mine

Pump for getting rid of water in the underground mine

Pump for getting rid of water in the underground mine

Mine-Workers’ Jobs

In the mine dummies were used to show visitors the jobs mine-workers used to do, e.g. drilling, taking attendance of workers and loading rocks.

A dummy resembling a mine-worker drilling rocks to break them up

A dummy resembling a mine-worker drilling rocks to break them up

A clerk in the mine taking attendance of mine-workers

A clerk in the mine taking attendance of mine-workers

A space at Level 2 in the mine was used for treating injured workers when the mine was in operation.

A space in the mine for treating injured miners

A space in the mine for treating injured miners

Escape Routes

The mine tour-guide showed us the inclined shafts in the diagram which workers could walk up or down to go to another level or used them as escape routes for evacuation in case of explosion, tunnel collapse or other dangerous happenings in the underground mine.

The mine tour-guide showing the escape-routes for evacuation in the diagram at Level 2.

The mine tour-guide showing the escape-routes for evacuation in the diagram at Level 2.

Inclined shaft for going to another level or evacuation when there is a dangerous happening

Inclined shaft for going to another level or evacuation when there is a dangerous happening

After an educational tour of the underground mine, we went back to the surface and waited for a hot liquid gold pouring demonstration in a room.

Relics left behind on the Ground by Crown Mines 

While waiting for the demonstration, I looked around and saw some relics left behind by Crown Mines, e.g. locomotive, wagons, generators, water-pumps, winders, etc.

A locomotive for pulling wagons carrying rocks, equipment, workers, etc.

A locomotive for pulling wagons carrying rocks, equipment, workers, etc.

Pump used for pumping water out of mine

Pump used for pumping water out of mine

This machine pumped air into the underground mine

This machine pumped air into the underground mine

A wagon full of gold-bearing rocks

A wagon full of gold-bearing rocks

Old electric generator producing electricity for operating the mine

Old electric generator producing electricity for operating the mine

Gold Pour Demonstration

In the demonstration in a room, two men brought out a container of liquid gold from an oven with temperature of over 1063 degrees Celsius(melting point of gold is 1063 degree Celsius) and poured it into a mould. When gold solidified, it weighed about 12.5 kg.

Visitors watching a hot liquid gold pour demonstration

Visitors watching a hot liquid gold pour demonstration

Oven heating gold to its melting point of 1063 degrees Celsius

Oven heating gold to its melting point of 1063 degrees Celsius

Two men pouring liquid gold into a mould

Two men pouring liquid gold into a mould

Gold Ingot or Bar

After the demonstration, visitors were asked to see a gold ingot or bar in front. Everybody was eager to touch the precious, yellow metal. The bar was about 99.5% and weighed 12.5 kg. It was worth about USD540,000 at the rate of about USD43,000 per kg on 2 Dec 2016, the day we watched the gold pour demonstration.

Everybody wanted to touch the gold bar weighing 12.5 kg and worth USD540,000 at current price rate on 2 Dec 2016.

Everybody wanted to touch the gold bar weighing 12.5 kg and worth USD540,000 at current price rate on 2 Dec 2016.

Photo with Mine Tour-Guide

Before we left the gold mine museum for Johannesburg International Airport, my wife and I took a photo with the friendly mine tour-guide.

Choo Chaw and wife taking a photo with the gold mine tour-guide at the mine museum

Choo Chaw and wife taking a photo with the gold mine tour-guide at the mine museum

Johannesburg International Airport

At 10.30 a.m. we, finally, left the museum and headed straight for Johannesburg International Airport or O.R. Tambo International Airport named after Oliver Tambo, a former President of African National Congress, in 2006.

Fellow-Malaysians and Choo Chaw checking in and flying off at Johannesburg International Airport on 2 Dec 2016 for home

Fellow-Malaysians and Choo Chaw checking in and flying off at Johannesburg International Airport on 2 Dec 2016 for home

Departure for Homeland, Malaysia

After checking in and waiting for a few hours at the airport, we, at last, flew away from Johannesburg at 2.30 p.m. to return to our homeland, Malaysia.

Departure from Johannesburg to Malaysia

A Mauritius plane carrying fellow-Malaysians and Choo Chaw flying away from Johannesburg to their homeland, Malaysia, on 2 Dec 2016

Air-route from Johannesburg to Kuala Lumpur taken by a Mauritius plane that carried fellow-Malaysians and Choo Chaw

Air-route from Johannesburg to Kuala Lumpur taken by a Mauritius plane that carried fellow-Malaysians and Choo Chaw

An Unforgettable South African Tour from 28 Nov-2 Dec 2016

Well, that was an unforgettable tour in South Africa. We have gained quite a lot of knowledge about South Africa, like her landscapes, people’s way of life, wild animals, mining activities, and many more.

Thanks for reading about this tour and hope it is helpful to you, if you plan to make a trip there.

Written by Choo Chaw

Previous / Home

South Africa Travel Part I:       Air Flight from KLIA to Cape Town, Cape Town Shantytowns

South Africa Travel Part II:      Table Mountain, Malay Quarter, Castle of Good Hope. A & V Waterfront

South Africa Travel Part III:     Hermanus, Cheetah Outreach, Stellenbosch, Jewel Africa

South Africa Travel Part IV:     Maiden’s Cove, Hout Bay, Duiker Island(Seals), Boulders, Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope

South Africa Travel Part V:       Pilanesberg National Park(Game Drives/Safaris)

South Africa Travel Part VI:      Sun City Resort, Union Buildings, Vootrekker Monument

South Africa Travel Part VII      Kruger Museum, Church Square, Melrose House, Carnivore Restaurant

South Africa Travel  Final Part  Gold Reef City, Gold Mine Museum

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16 List Of Gold Mines In South Africa (2023)

South Africa is one of the countries making a lot of people rich via mining. The mining sector keeps contributing greatly to the country’s economy, and it is common knowledge that South Africa is blessed with important minerals and metals like diamonds, coal, platinum, and so on. Nevertheless, in this article, we are more concerned with Gold. 

There is a lot of gold in South Africa no doubt. In fact, according to reports about half of the gold in the world is located in South Africa. This should point to the fact that the country will have some of the biggest gold mines you can find anywhere. 

Gold is an important mineral, and it’s one of the things that made South Africa an important country too. It is a valuable metal worldwide, and mining activities in a country like South Africa is worth a fortune. The gold mining sector has employed a lot of people, and there are several of these mines in different parts of the country. 

List Of Gold Mines In South Africa

  • South Deep Gold Mine

The South Deep Gold Mine is actually situated in Witwatersrand Basin 45 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg and has a reputation for being the second-largest Gold mine in the whole world (it can boast of having around 39.1Moz of gold reserves).

It is one of the oldest mines in the country, and it used to be known as the Western Areas Gold Mine before it became South Deep Gold Mine in 2000. Additionally, it is known as one of the deepest mines in the world. There is a great amount of gold in the mine, and it was made known that mining activities could continue there till 2092.

Address: Old Vereeniging Road, Westonaria, 1780, SA

  • Mponeng Gold Mine

Mponeng Gold Mine is in Carletonville, owned and run by AngloGold, and it is actually one of the largest gold mines in the world (regarded as the tenth-largest). It was made known that the mine has around 13.81Moz of gold reserve, and it has the reputation of being the deepest mine in the world.

Its managers are one of the prominent groups in the world when it comes to the production of gold 

Address: 955 Park Avenue, West Wits, Carletonville, 2499, SA

  • Savuka Gold Mine

Here is another popular gold mine in South Africa whose depths reach close to 4km (which made it the third deepest of its kind in the whole world). Located in Gauteng, the Mine is also owned and managed by AngloGold Ashanti.

Address: South, Randfontein, 1764, SA

Gold Mines In South Africa

  • Blyvoor Gold Mine

Owned and managed by DRDGOLD, Blyvoor Gold Mine was founded in 1937 (although it started operations in 1942) and is situated in the Witwatersrand Basin, 70 kilometers from Johannesburg.

Location: Carletonville, 2499, SA

  • TauTona Mine

TauTona Mine is one of the deepest gold mines in the world and is one of the oldest in South Africa (mining operations started there as far back as 1962). The Mine’s depths are close to 4 kilometers, and it is also owned and managed by the popular AngloGold Ashanti.

Address: Carletonville, 2500, SA

  • Kusasalethu Mine

Kusasalethu Mine is managed by Harmony Gold Mining company and used to be known as Elandskraal Gold Mine. It was founded as far back as 1978 and remains a prominent gold mine in South Africa 

Address: Elandsrand Dr, Carletonville, 2500, SA

  • East Driefontein Mine

East Driefontein Mine started operations in 1952 and is owned by Sibanye-Stillwater. This is obviously a prominent gold mine in South Africa with a reputation for being one of the deepest mines in the world (it has a depth of 3.24 kilometers). 

Few years back, East Driefontein Mine produced 9.57Moz of gold. 

Address: Carletonville, 2499, SA

  • Barberton Gold CC

Barberton Gold CC is another center for gold in South Africa, located in Barberton

Address: 25 Taylor St, Barberton, 1300, SA

  • Agnes Gold Mine

Also in Barberton is Agnes Gold Mine – another important gold mine in South Africa. 

Address: Agnes Gold Mine, Barberton, 1300, SA

  • Transvaal Gold Mining Estates (Pty)

Here is another South African gold Mine that has also employed a lot of people. 

Location: Sabie, 1290 SA

  • Lydenberg Gold Field

Lydenberg Gold Field might not be as famous as the likes of Mponeng Gold Mine and Savuka Gold Mine, but it is also one of the gold mines in the country. 

Location: Lydenburg, 1120, SA

  • Energy Management Sibanya Gold

Energy Management Sibanya Gold is one of the South African gold mines in South Africa. 

Location: R501, Carletonville, 2499, SA

  • Asanko Gold

Located in Sandton, South Africa, Asanko Gold is another known gold mine in the country. 

Location: 1st Floor, Pebble Beach, Fourways Golf Park,, Roos St, Fourways, Sandton, 2055, SA

  • Blyvooruitzicht

Blyvooruitzicht is another South African gold mine in Carletonville.

Location: Medical Station 5, Gold Mineshaft, Blyvooruitsig, Carletonville, 2499, SA

  • Shiva Uranium and Gold

Shiva Uranium and Gold is also a gold mine that is in South Africa, and it is located in Hartbeesfontein

Location: 1 A BERG STREET, Hartbeesfontein, 2600, SA

  • Evander Gold Mine

Finally on this list is Evander Gold Mine.

Location: Evander, 2280, SA

It is necessary to add that the list of gold mines in South Africa is a pretty large and huge one because there are tons of other smaller mines in different places in the country that were not featured on the list. As stated before, there are different gold mines in different places in South Africa, since the country is blessed with the mineral. So, there are also some small players in the gold mining industry in South Africa, contributing in one way or another to the country’s economy. 

Mining activities have a long history in South Africa. Several years before now, some groups have been mining resources – but some of these mines were abandoned at one point or another. Nevertheless, the discovery of gold led to the birth of more mines in South Africa, and so, today, we discovered that there are more gold mines in the country than others. Here are the Gold mines in South Africa:

Listing The Gold mines in South Africa without the details

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You should have noticed that some firms own and manage more than one Gold mine in South Africa, as it is a quite lucrative venture. Additionally, Gold mining is important in the country, as the industry is a major pillar of the economy.

Cullinan Diamond Mine

Ashika D

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Mxmale

Cullinan Diamond Mine - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

  • Tour the Cullinan Diamond Mine (From $118.55)
  • Pretoria & Cullinan Tours-Full Day (From $110.57)
  • Diamond Mine Tour from Johannesburg (From $188.06)
  • Pancakes & Diamonds Tour (From $94.30)
  • Pretoria and cullinan mine day tour(surface tour) (From $105.08)
  • (0.29 mi) Gastehys JanHarmsgat
  • (0.41 mi) Cullinan Premier Hotel
  • (0.42 mi) Dolphin Whisper Guest House
  • (0.42 mi) Cullinan Backpackers
  • (0.50 mi) Cullinan Diamond Lodge
  • (0.10 mi) Piacere Restaurant Cullinan
  • (0.12 mi) The Cockpit Brewhouse
  • (0.13 mi) As Greek As It Gets Culllinan
  • (0.15 mi) Whispering Oak Garden Cafe
  • (0.16 mi) Cocopan Coffees & Trading Post

Cullinan Diamond Mine Information

South Africa's top gold miner boosts dividend after profit jumps

Reporting by Felix Njini; editing by Mark Potter and Chizu Nomiyama

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gold mine tour south africa

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IMAGES

  1. What are the largest gold mines in South Africa?

    gold mine tour south africa

  2. Mponeng Gold Mine, South Africa

    gold mine tour south africa

  3. Johannesburg: The City Built on Gold

    gold mine tour south africa

  4. How To Visit A Gold Mine For Free In Johannesburg!

    gold mine tour south africa

  5. Deep In A South African Gold Mine, Scientists Drill For The Heart Of An Earthquake

    gold mine tour south africa

  6. Celebrate South African heritage with Gold Reef City

    gold mine tour south africa

VIDEO

  1. Hidde Gold Mine tour in Colorado

  2. how to mine gold the right way

  3. abandoned gold mine tour

  4. Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour, miner Mike demonstrates equipment and tecniques

  5. Gold Mine Tour!

  6. #Africa. Gold Mining(The first Production)

COMMENTS

  1. Gold Mine tours

    Underground operational gold mine tours are currently unavailable. None of the operating gold mines in South Africa, (Gauteng or the Free State) will currently allow entry by the general public. Our full histories and fully guided tours through the area are certainly available - only, no access to the operating shafts.

  2. Gold Reef City gold tour

    Gold Reef City - Underground mine gold tour. Gold Reef Shaft No 14, in production for 84 years - 1887 to 1971 and indeed, at its time, deepest mine in the world. Then travel down the Gold Mine shaft (under 5 years not allowed) in a large clangy lift to level 5 ( 720 feet - 226 meters) for a guided gold mine tour.

  3. How To Visit A Gold Mine For Free In Johannesburg!

    Kromdraai is a gold mine that is really recommended to visit and is just 40 minutes north of Johannesburg. It costs 150 Rand (£8) to enter the old mine and you learn all about the history of the gold rush. Tours depart on the hour between 9am-3pm on weekends. Alternatively (and the most fun option!) you can visit Gold Reef City - a popular ...

  4. Gold Reef City Tour

    What to expect. The world famous yet uniquely South African Gold Reef City is just eight kilometres from the centre of Johannesburg. It's a theme park that is rich in history and a replica of old-time Johannesburg. Enjoy an incredible underground gold mine tour, gold pour demonstrations, traditional miners gumboot dancing, and more.

  5. Gauteng's gold mine tours

    Follow in the footsteps of the earliest gold miners as they tracked the gold-rich veins of South Africa, by experiencing one of Johannesburg's gold mine tours. There's a valid reason for Johannesburg being called Egoli, meaning "City of Gold", as South Africa's history, and more specifically Johannesburg's history, is intricately ...

  6. Gold Mine Underground Tour

    The Gold Reef City theme park is situated on a 10Ha site which surrounds the then number 14 gold mine shaft at Crown Mines. Indeed, this 19th century gold mi...

  7. MILLWOOD GOLDMINE TOURS: All You Need to Know BEFORE You ...

    South Africa's first ever goldmine - drive through our beautiful forests & enjoy a mine tour, a delicious light lunch & freshly baked scones & tea, also visit our interesting museum. Experience a piece of history the fun way. Suggest edits to improve what we show. Improve this listing. All photos (48)

  8. Gold Reef City

    Full-Day Soweto, Gold Reef City and Johannesburg Tour (From $105.89) Meander to South Africa's best kept secrets and experience Lesotho (From $2,397.95) Johannesburg & Apartheid Museum Tour (From $67.36) 1 Day: Bus & Soweto Combo (From $36.37) Gold Mine, Apartheid Museum and Soweto - "The Big 3" (From $59.28)

  9. Short underground mine tour

    Gold Reef City: Short underground mine tour - See 1,879 traveler reviews, 819 candid photos, and great deals for Johannesburg, South Africa, at Tripadvisor. ... See 1,879 traveler reviews, 819 candid photos, and great deals for Johannesburg, South Africa, at Tripadvisor. ... them to last year with the added bonus of little or no queues, A ...

  10. Gold Reef City Mine and Amusement Park Tour

    The site where Gold Reef City is situated is an old Gold mine and has been modelled to resemble the gold rush and the gold rich history. ... The story of Gold doesn't get more real than descending 75 meters underground to discover the riches of South Africa's history on an underground mine tour or witnessing the magnificent glow of a live ...

  11. Mine tour good but expensive

    Gold Reef City: Mine tour good but expensive - See 1,879 traveler reviews, 819 candid photos, and great deals for Johannesburg, South Africa, at Tripadvisor. ... This park is based on the Gold rush days of South Africa with lots to see and do. The kids love it for all the rides. Miners Revenge is a ride which will leave you screaming for more!

  12. Gold Mine, Apartheid Museum and Soweto

    Set out on a captivating journey through South Africa's tumultuous past with the 'Gold Mine, Apartheid Museum, and Soweto - 'The Big 3' tour. This immersive experience offers a unique opportunity to explore the country's rich heritage, delving into the story of its gold mining industry, the profound impact of apartheid, and the ...

  13. Mponeng Gold Mine

    Website. https://www.harmony.co.za. Mponeng is a gold mine in South Africa 's Gauteng province, it is an ultra-deep tabular mine of the Witwatersrand Basin. [1] Previously known as Western Deep Levels #1 Shaft, the underground and surface works were commissioned in 1987. It extends over 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) below the surface, [2] and is ...

  14. Jozi's Story of Gold ⛏️

    Gold Reef City's Heritage Tour offers unique insight into the historical world of Johannesburg's gold rush. This interactive history lesson brings to life the founding of Johannesburg and the discovery of gold on the reef - it doesn't get more real than descending 75 meters underground to discover the riches of South Africa's history on an underground mine tour or witnessing the ...

  15. Joburg/Soweto & Gold Reef City Full Day Tour

    The Gold Reef City theme park in Johannesburg has some of South Africa's fastest, biggest, most twisting and turning thrill rides. There is an abundance of adventures to be had at Gold Reef City. ... The Gold Mine tour takes 30-45 minutes; The Theme Park is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays except during Gauteng public school holidays;

  16. South African Gold Firm to Extend Life of World's Deepest Mine

    Harmony Gold Mining Co. said it will spend 7.9 billion rand ($410 million) to extend the life of the world's deepest mine, bucking the trend in South Africa's dwindling gold industry.

  17. South Africa-Johannesburg-Gold Reef City-Gold Mine Tour

    At Gold Reef City Theme Park, you can descend down a 220m Gold Mine shaft with a guided underground tour, also watch a 12.5kg gold pour.

  18. Let's Tour A South African Gold Mine...

    The Modder East mine is one of the newest gold mines in South Africa. In May 2006, the site was a wheat field. By late 2009, the shafts were sunk, equipment was installed and operators pulled the ...

  19. Gold Mine Tour

    We came here on the hop on hop off bus tour to see the gold mine, you have to pay entry to the theme park and then a further fee to get into the mine. We went down in the mine shaft lift, the guide was quite knowledgeable and it was an interesting tour. ... Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. 31 6. Reviewed March 30, 2016 . For the adrenalin rush.

  20. A First Timers Guide to The City of Gold

    Ormonde 99-Ir, Johannesburg, 2159, South Africa +27 11 248 5000 Closed Monday-Tuesday Wednesday-Sunday: 9:30am - 5pm Thrill Rider above 1.3m: R210 or R320 to include mine tour Non-Rider above 1.3m: R120 or R230 to include mine tour Guests under 1.3m: R130 or R240 to include mine tour Students and seniors 60+: R175 or R285 to include mine tour

  21. South Africa Travel Final Part: Gold Reef City: Gold Mine Museum

    Crown Mines Group. Crown Mines Group, one of the gold prospectors, started mining in 1916 at the place known as Shaft 14 which is now located in Gold Reef City Theme Park. It closed Shaft 14 in 1977 when the depth of the mining level had reached 3293 metres below the surface. In 1979, it donated the land to Rand Mines which turned it into a museum.

  22. 16 List Of Gold Mines In South Africa (2023)

    East Driefontein Mine started operations in 1952 and is owned by Sibanye-Stillwater. This is obviously a prominent gold mine in South Africa with a reputation for being one of the deepest mines in the world (it has a depth of 3.24 kilometers). Few years back, East Driefontein Mine produced 9.57Moz of gold. Address: Carletonville, 2499, SA.

  23. Cullinan Diamond Mine

    RecommendedTours & SightseeingLuxury & Special OccasionsCultural & Theme Tours. Tour the Cullinan Diamond Mine. 7. Historical Tours. from. $116.98. per adult (price varies by group size) Pretoria and cullinan mine day tour (surface tour) 4.

  24. Africa: South Africa Is Falling Behind in Africa's New 'Gold Rush'

    It's not easy to quantify the decline, though the Fraser Institute ranked South Africa only 57th among 62 global mining jurisdictions in its 2022 mining Investment Attractiveness Index. Botswana ...

  25. South Africa's top gold miner boosts dividend after profit jumps

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