#JoziRedBus – The best way to be a tourist in your own city!

Yesterday was EPIC!

The launch of City Sightseeing {Hop On Hop Off Johannesburg}.

The first time I ever heard about the Hop On Hop Off bus was on {CBeebies}, {Boogie Beebies} show.  The song was about a double decker bus and the bus was, of course, a Hop On Hop Off London bus.  I googled it, since I had never seen anything like it and once I had read all about it I wished we could have one in Jozi.  Looks like I got my wish!

{Gauteng Tourism}, Department of Transportation and City Sightseeing have revolutionised Jozi tourism.

Here are the basics:

• The buses travel a circular route with 12 stops along the way.

1.  Gautrain Station @ Park Departs: Safe, secure with parking (recommended starting point)
2.  Gandhi Square
3.  Carlton Centre
4.  Santarama Miniland
5.  James Hall Transport Museum
6.  Gold Reef City Tour Office Safe, secure with parking (another recommended starting point)
7.  Apartheid Museum
8.  Mining District Walk
9.  Newtown
10.  Origins Centre at Wits
11.  Braamfontein
12.  Constitution Hill
13. You end up back at Park Station to complete your journey.

• Tickets cost R150 per adult (R120 if you buy them online!) and R70 per child (5 – 15 years old), kids under 5 are free!
• Busses leave each stop at 40 minute intervals.  Starting at 9am at Park Station with the last bus arriving back at Park Station at 5:35pm.
• You can hop on and off as many times as you like during the day, stopping to visit any of the amazing attractions on the route.
• You each get a brand new set of headphones to plug into the onboard tour guide and you can listen in a variety of languages, there is even a special channel just for kids!
• If you dont get off at any of the stops the round trip will take you 2 hours and is filled with amazing stories about the City of Gold.
• Take plenty of sunscreen and a hat, especially if you intend to travel on the upper deck which is open!
• The following stops require an additional entrance fee if you decide to visit them:

Stop 3. Carlton Centre “TOP of AFRICA”
Stop 4. Santorama Miniland
Stop 5. James Hall Transport Museum
Stop 6. Gold Reef City Theme Park
Stop 7. Apartheid Museum
Stop 10. Origins Centre at Wit
Stop 12. Constitution Hill

I was totally blown away by the entire experience, the buses are clean and tidy, the tour staff are friendly and knowledgable and the onboard tour guide kept me enthralled the entire 2 hours we were traveling!

I cannot wait to take my family for a tour of our amazing city.  I think we will start early and park at Gold Reef City, hop on the bus, visit a few of the stops, come back to Gold Reef City and spend the afternoon at the theme park.

Head on over to the {website} for more information and to book your tickets!

Before I leave you here are some of the pictures I managed to snap with my phone!