Johannesburg has a wealth of museums and galleries to appeal to a wide range of interests.

The Museum Africa, the Art Gallery, and the excellent Apartheid Museum are included on most City Tour itineraries, or you can choose to visit them yourself independently.

Visitors deciding not to do an organised City Tour, or whose tour does not include the Apartheid Museum, could consider combining visits to Gold Reef City and the Apartheid Museum, as these attractions are right next to each other and share a car park.

Visitors wanting to go to Johannesburg Zoo can combine this and the South African National Museum of Military History, as these are also right next door to each other. 

Museum Africa

The Museum Africa is housed in what used to be the old Fresh Produce Market, originally built in 1913. 

The museum has been opened since 1994, and is a collection of several smaller museums all housed under the same roof. 

It is a must for anyone interested in the history and culture of South Africa.

As well as the permanent exhibitions, there are occasional visiting exhibitions to see as well. 

The Geological Museum, on Level 1, has a collection of over 25,000 specimens, including minerals, gem, fossils and rock formations. 

On Level 2, the Tried for Treason Exhibition documents the 4½ year trial of the 156 people arrested in December 1956 and tried for treason, including Nelson Mandela. 

Exhibits include the 'cage' in which the prisoners were held in the dock, as well as many photographs and newspaper cuttings of the trial. 

On Level 3, the Johannesburg Transformations tells the story of Johannesburg, from the early gold mining days, through to music, housing, and the 'Road to Democracy' which led to the 1994 elections.  Also on Level 3 is the South African Rock Art Museum, showcasing rock paintings and engravings.

Of particular interest is the 'Ghandi's Johannesburg' exhibition, which shows the places in Johannesburg associated with Mahatma Ghandi from 1903 to 1913, which shaped his views for his struggle for peace. 

The Bensusan Museum of Photography on Level 4 has a large collection of photographic memorabilia, including cameras throughout the years and interactive exhibits.  

The Photo Gallery has changing exhibitions. 

Johannesburg Art Gallery

The Johannesburg Art Gallery is an impressive looking building, right in the heart of the city, and is one of the very few art galleries which allows photos to be taken, albeit it without a flash.  

Whether you are an art connoisseur or not, it is an extremely pleasant way to spend an hour or 2.

The large South African art collection includes paintings, photographs and sculptures.   There is a separate exhibition of African drums, and it is impossible to resist the temptation to hit the skins when passing to hear the resounding beat. 

There are also 17th century Dutch and Flemish paintings, and 18th and 19th century French and British works, and a 3,000 piece print collection including works by Rembrandt, Daumier, Whistler, Toulouse-Lautrec and Dürer.

Outside in the Gallery grounds  is a collection of large-scale sculptures, and the gallery also hosts visiting art exhibitions throughout the year.

Apartheid Museum

Situated right next to Gold Reef City, the highly recommended Apartheid Museum tells the story of the rise and fall of apartheid.

It starts from its roots in the battles between the British, Boers and native inhabitants in the 19th and early 20th centuries, through to the struggle for freedom and first all-inclusive elections in 1994.

The museum successfully combines film, news reels and personal recollections to tell the story from a number of different perspectives, and the whole experience highlights just how far the country has come in the space of a few short years.

South African National Museum of Military History

The South African National Museum of Military History is one of Johannesburg's most popular museums, and from the quality and number of exhibits, it is easy to see why.

As the name suggests, the Museum is dedicated to the military history of South Africa throughout both World Wars. 

You don't have to be a military fanatic to enjoy the exhibits and displays, which include fighter aircraft (the main attraction being an Me 262 2-seater jet fighter - the only one remaining in the world), tanks and guns, uniforms, medals, and a German one-man submarine. 

Outside, there is a special area for children, where they are allowed to climb over a selection of the tanks and guns. Unfortunately, you have to be under a certain age to do this - and we are sure many fathers were watching their children enviously. 

The Fort at Constitution Hill

Constitution Hill is the former fort and gaol where common criminals and murderers were held alongside political activists such as Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Ghandi and the children who threw stones in the 1976 Soweto uprising. 

Built in 1898 originally as a fortress, it was later converted to a gaol.   It had 3 separate areas - the Fort for white men, the Native Gaol for black men, and the Women's Gaol for females. 

Today, it has been developed and is now a prime tourist attraction, housing the Constitutional Court.

The old prison cells have been converted into an interactive museum, and a state-of-the-art audiovisual system shows footage of former prisoners recounting their experiences in the jails.

Photographic, audio and video material has been put together to capture the rich heritage of the site. Artefacts of prison life are also on display, including recreations of the blanket and soap sculptures made by the inmates.

There are also 15 tour guides on hand to tell visitors about the 80 years of brutality in the Old Fort prison complex, about the miracle that is the country's transition to democracy.