For a Half Day
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens: ‘Best-kept secret' may be one of those tired clichés but it certainly applies to this spot, within a one-hour drive from anywhere in Johannesburg. Against the backdrop of the magnificent Witpoortjie waterfall, this garden covers almost 300 hectares (750 acres) and consists of both landscaped and natural veld (open savannah) areas. The natural vegetation is a mosaic of grassland and savannah, consisting of 600 naturally occurring plant species. There is also the chance for visitors to see a breeding pair of majestic black eagles nesting on the cliffs. A restaurant (Café Clivia) is situated at the heart of the gardens, in the shade of two magnificent white stinkwood trees. The gardens (tel: 011 958 1750; website: www.sanbi.org/sisulu/mainpage.htm) are located at the end of Malcolm Road, Poortview, Roodepoort, about 25km (15 miles) west of Sandton. Take the Beyers Naude exit off the N1 and follow the R564. The gardens are open daily 0800-1800 (no entry after 1700).

Johannesburg Lion Park: This is a 200-hectare (500-acre) lion reserve and breeding research station, featuring more than 80 lions (including a pair of famous white lions on loan from Johannesburg Zoo). Other animals include black wildebeest, gemsbok, impala, blesbok, zebra and ostrich and from 1200-1500 you can feed a giraffe from a specially built tower. There's a shop and restaurant at the entrance as well as Cub World, where for an extra fee you can cuddle a lion cub. The Lion Park (tel: 011 691 9905; website: www.lion-park.com) is located off the R55, between the R512 and Cedar Avenue, Nietgedacht, not far from Lanseria Airport. Most Johannesburg tour operators offer guided tours. It is open daily 0830-1800 in summer, 0830-1700 in winter.

For a Whole Day
Cradle of Humankind: This 47,000-hectare (117,500-acre) site, encompassing Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and the environs, starting 35km (22 miles) northwest of central Johannesburg and extending for another 20km (13 miles), was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1999. Dozens of limestone caverns, particularly the Sterkfontein Caves, have produced findings as remarkable as Mrs Ples (the first complete Australopithecus (southern ‘ape-man') skull to be discovered) and more recently, Little Foot - a 3.3-million-year-old hominid skeleton. The heritage area also encompasses the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve, as well as hiking and horse trails, craft centres, country markets and restaurants.For more information visit www.cradleofhumankind.co.za or www.valleyofancestors.com.

The Sterkfontein Caves (tel: 011 956 6342; website: www.sterkfontein-caves.co.za) are 50km (30 miles) west of the city on the R563, are open daily and tours run every half hour, 0900-1600. There's a new interactive exhibition centre plus a restaurant, and visitors are led along walkways within the caves.

The Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve (tel: 011 957 0106; website: www.rhinolion.co.za) is open daily 0800-1545. To get there, turn off the N14 at the Kromdraai sign and follow the signposts for 7km (4 miles). Far enough out of Johannesburg to feel that you are out in the bush, the reserve is home to 600 head of game from 25 different species including, rather obviously, rhino and lion.

Maropeng (tel: 011 668 3200, website: www.discover-yourself.co.za) is a superb new exhibition centre concentrating on the theory of evolution and what impact man has made on the world. It is 7km (4 miles) from the Sterkfontein Caves on the R24 and is open daily 0900-1700. The experience begins with a boat ride through a series of tunnels depicting volcanoes, icebergs, the earth's gases, and other basic elements that make up our planet. After this you are deposited at the beginning of time when the earth was created and then begin a journey through a series of exhibitions that bring the visitor to the present day. These include the formation of continents, the emergence of mankind, human development, population and global appetite, how we have changed the world and finally to the environmental and climate change issues that we face in the future. This is another one of Johannesburg's excellent new museums that uses cutting-edge technology.