I suggest you give yourself at least five hours and, if you're driving yourself, take advantage of the free, secure parking either at The Apartheid Museum or at the very nearby Gold Reef City Hotel.
I first did a City Sightseeing trip in Cape Town, my home, a city I know very well - or thought I did. I was incredibly impressed by the depth of insight provided by the commentary, in a whole bunch of local, international and kid's appropriate languages. The Joburg commentary is interesting and entertaining and I left feeling that I'd learned lots new about the city, its history and the politics.
A visit to The Apartheid Museum is essential for every South African but also, in fact, for anyone interested in what happens when one group has unbridled power over another. I really liked the way racial classification is randomly conferred as you purchase your tickets, forcing you to use the designated entrance. There is a particularly harrowing exhibit of hangman's nooses but the museum is also an experience of the triumph of the new South Africa and not as depressing, and shame-making, as I expected it to be. Give yourself at least an hour for the Apartheid Museum.
Constitution Hill is another worthwhile stop (the bus comes around every 20 minutes or so) but I enjoyed Braamfontein most. If you can get there on a Saturday when their Neighbourhood Market is in full flow, that is a real expression of vibrant Joburg but there are so many trendy coffee shops and local-design spots open all week around, that it is worth spending a good view hours in Braamfontein. I recommend you aim to have lunch somewhere there.
The roundtrip takes just over two hours which is the minimum time you need if you don't plan to get off.
There is a separate Soweto route which you can add on to your excursion when you stop at Park Station (where you meet the Gautrain). I will definitely do so on another visit.
Red City Tour stops also include all the top attractions such as Gandhi Square, the Roof of Africa at the Carlton Centre, the James Hall Transport Museum, the Mining District, the World of Beer, Origins Centre at Wits and Newtown.
The tour operates on a Hop-On, Hop-Off basis, which means you can climb off the bus at any of the stops along the route and then get back on to a later bus when you are ready.
Their Gautrain Park Station is open from 08h45 - 17h00. Connecting to the bus via the Gautrain is an easy way to start your sightseeing experience and if you arrive by Gautrain (find the bus by using the "Wolmarans Street" exit, City Sightseeing have an arrow in the station pointing the way).
If you have a six to eight-hour layover in Johannesburg between flights this represents a very cost efficient way to see Johannesburg directly from OR Tambo airport.
Even better news is that you can either use tickets from another City Sightseeing tour to get a discount on this routes or use full-priced tickets to purchase discounted ones elsewhere - anywhere in the world.
For more, go to www.citysightseeing.co.za
