On our first day in Johannesburg, we took a city tour, led by Joel. He took us to downtown Joburg, where we saw people buying and selling clothes and other goods right on the sidewalk, which seemed quite busy to us, but Joel said it was a slow day, being Sunday. Some men were piling blankets wrapped in clear plastic onto the back of a pickup truck. Joel said, "They are going to Zimbabwe."
Joel drove us to Museum Africa, recommended also by Fodors, which has a nice dis
play of African geology, as well as a reconstruction of two-room dwellings from an informal or squatters settlement. We stopped in a fan park next door, and watched part of a soccer game with a small crown of Johannesburg soccer fans. Joel drove past Nelson Madela's house, as well as the building that housed Mahatma Ghandi's law offices while he was in Jozi.
play of African geology, as well as a reconstruction of two-room dwellings from an informal or squatters settlement. We stopped in a fan park next door, and watched part of a soccer game with a small crown of Johannesburg soccer fans. Joel drove past Nelson Madela's house, as well as the building that housed Mahatma Ghandi's law offices while he was in Jozi.One of our favorite spots was the Rosepark craft market, with its sign, "This is Africa - we bargain." Abby asked the ladies at stall 27 if they had scarves that had the South Afrian flag on them. They did not, but promised to have five of them for 150 Rand each if we 
returned the next day. We did. Next door to the market was an African bank playing drums, marimbas and brass. What a great African experience!
returned the next day. We did. Next door to the market was an African bank playing drums, marimbas and brass. What a great African experience!Monday, June 14
One of the highlights of our visit to Johannesburg, also called Jozi or Joburg, was visitng the Cradle of Humankind. Dolomite limestone caverns formed about 20 million years a
go near Sterkfontein, about 25 miles outside of Johannesburg. As rainwater seeped into the dolomite, it left small openings in the surface. About 3.3 million years ago, an Austrolpithecus hominid now known as Little Foot fell through a small opening and dropped about 20 meters to the cavern floor. The fall was fatal. More importantly, limestone-rich water running through the cave turned his bones to fossils. Little Foot was discovered in the 1990's, making him famous.
go near Sterkfontein, about 25 miles outside of Johannesburg. As rainwater seeped into the dolomite, it left small openings in the surface. About 3.3 million years ago, an Austrolpithecus hominid now known as Little Foot fell through a small opening and dropped about 20 meters to the cavern floor. The fall was fatal. More importantly, limestone-rich water running through the cave turned his bones to fossils. Little Foot was discovered in the 1990's, making him famous.We hiked down 116 steps, most carved out of native limestone, into the caves, and took photos of the rococo cavern formations, as well as the openings in the surface that trappe
d Little Foot and other creatures. On the way out, we took pictures at an interesting opening that had trees growing around it.
Our driver, Sibusiso, then drove us to a museum at Maropeng, about 6 miles away. This was part Disney, and part paleo-anthropology, as it included a water ride as well as displays of ancient hominid and other fossils. As we entered the museum, our guide explained that all humanity originated from Africa, so her comment to us was, "Welcome home."
d Little Foot and other creatures. On the way out, we took pictures at an interesting opening that had trees growing around it.Our driver, Sibusiso, then drove us to a museum at Maropeng, about 6 miles away. This was part Disney, and part paleo-anthropology, as it included a water ride as well as displays of ancient hominid and other fossils. As we entered the museum, our guide explained that all humanity originated from Africa, so her comment to us was, "Welcome home."
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