Car & Van Hire - Johannesburg

Johannesburg is South Africa's glittering economic hub, and it packs hundreds of subcultures into every suburb. This is the Rainbow Nation, after all! Gauteng's Northern suburbs are best known for their luxuries, whether you find them on a Sandton shopping trip or a Fourways theatre show. Sandton Square and Sandton City are heaving with couture, but they're equally famous for their massive bronze sculpture of Nelson Mandela. You can't salute Madiba without saluting his eccentric shirts, and you can buy one of your own at Grey's in Sandton City – the very store that Mandela once shopped at.

Pick up your car rental in Johannesburg, then head straight on to Montecasino, an atmospheric destination with award-winning entertainment. Get to know the African Greys at the bird gardens or take a stroll through Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens. If you have children in tow, Fourways Adventure Golf has the most picturesque put-put in the country. As the sun sets, you might want to try your luck at the local casino or enjoy a show at the Pieter Toerien Theatre. The latter exudes local flavour, so it's not to be missed.

The Apartheid Museum is located in the Gold Reef City complex, which covers South African history from the gold rush all the way through to the apartheid era. There is a significant amount of ground to cover, so you might want to dedicate two full days to your history tour. The Apartheid Museum will absorb you for six to eight hours, but it's well worth the trip. If you still have extra daylight to use up, the Hector Pieterson Museum will complete your coverage of South Africa's darkest era.

No Johannesburg tour is complete without a trip to Soweto, Johannesburg's most colourful township. While it has its fair share of museums, you'll have a lot more fun on a quad bike and go-carting tour arranged by Soweto Outdoor Adventures. Get to know local cuisine and culture at Chaf-Pozi or dial up the luxury at Soweto's first four-star luxury hotel, Jazz Maniacs.

It's not South Africa until you've seen the lions. The Lion and Safari Park will bring you into close quarters to these regal beasts. There are guided and self-driven tours. A car or van rental in Johannesburg will allow you to truly immerse yourself in the experience. This is not the kind of trip you'll want to rush.

Johannesburg is passionate about its animals. There are plenty of creature-focused destinations on offer, from the Croc City Reptile Park to the decidedly friendlier Bunny Hop Haven.

Johannesburg is South Africa's economic hub and, like every big city, this means traffic can be quite heavy at peak times of the day. Rush hour is quite short, beginning at 16:00 and pretty much over by 18:00. Bear in mind Johannesburg's high crime rate and plan your route in advance to avoid certain parts of the city such as Hillbrow and the inner city, even in daylight. If in doubt, stick to the highways rather than inner city streets. Traffic police are vigilant and you will get a ticket if you speed or park illegally, so follow the rules.

Gillooly's Interchange can be a bit chaotic, but the city will soon relieve congestion via a new 35-kilometre highway. Until that happens, try to avoid the N3 South at peak hours. Driving in Johannesburg can be a stop-start affair, especially If you are behind a Minibus taxi. Stay alert and leave a good distance between you and them as they can stop quite abruptly to pick up passengers from the pavement.

Drivers don't always stop at pedestrian crossings so, if you are on foot, stop and check before you cross, even at a green light. Locals rarely walk and tourists are advised to avoid it unless they know the area very well. Public transport is also better avoided if you are unfamiliar with the city and taxis can be hard to find so a car rental really is your best option. Cars drive on the left side of the road and pass right.

There's plenty of paid and free parking throughout Johannesburg. Some lots are served by the local traffic department, and some are charged by commercial enterprises. Free lots are rarely free due to the informal "parking guards" who will watch over your car, so don't forget to leave a tip. They don't have set rates, but ZAR5 or ZAR10 is usually adequate.