THINGS TO DO
Staying at Midrand Conference Centre places you centrally to enjoy many experiences in the vicinity of Gauteng. Whether you are planning a self-drive trip, taking the Gautrain or need our coordinators to assist you in arranging transport, here are some suggested destinations to visit during your stay at Midrand Conference Centre.
Gold Reef City
Themed as an early South African gold rush town, Gold Reef City is home to Johannesburg’s fastest and most thrilling theme park rides. There are more than 40 rides to choose from varying from rip-roaring rollercoasters to family-friendly bumper cars. Visit the casino, movie house or theatre in the complex. You can also take an educational trip down the shaft of the original mine and learn about the history of gold mining in Johannesburg.
Getting there
Gold Reef City is approximately a 30-minute drive from Midrand Conference Centre.
Sandton City
Built in 1973, this iconic shopping mall has defined the landscape of ‘Africa’s Richest Square Mile’ for decades since. Home to the exclusive Diamond Walk where luxury brands abound, Sandton City offers a shopping experience deluxe. If shopping isn’t all you’re looking for, there are several outstanding restaurants to be found alongside Sandton City, at Nelson Mandela Square. Pose for a photo beside the majestic sculpture of South Africa’s former president, known to locals as Madiba.
Getting there
Sandton City is an 18km trip along the M1 Highway from Midrand Conference Centre Centre.
Mall of Africa – Waterfall City
South Africa’s biggest shopping centre offers over 130 000m2 of shopping space for you to browse. The award-winning centre, holding the title of ‘Coolest Mall’, has its focus on fashion. Built with the inspiration of Africa’s geological features and landscape in mind, the Mall of Africa is also home to the quarterly Africa Arts Collective with the largest showcase of African Art in South Africa.
Getting there
Mall Of Africa is a short 4.1km drive from Midrand Conference Centre via Pretoria Main Road and Allandale.
Montecasino
A world of fun and entertainment awaits you at Montecasino. Situated in Fourways, you have the option of a short trip on the Gautrain to, Sandton followed by an Uber to your destination.
Montecasino has all you need for a fun experience. Whether it be gambling or the Theatre, eating out or visiting the Bird Park, no trip to Johannesburg is complete unless you have visited Montecasino.
Getting there
Half an hour (18km) from Midrand Conference Centre via the N1 Western Bypass will take you to Montecasino.
Apartheid Museum
Learn about South Africa’s turbulent history under the apartheid system at the state-of-the-art Apartheid Museum. Displayed inside a strikingly designed building, museum exhibits include film footage, photographs, text, and artifacts, which transport the visitor back in time to this period in history.
Getting there
The Apartheid Museum is approximately a 30-minute drive from Midrand Conference Centre.
Cradle of Mankind
The Cradle of Mankind, a paleoanthropological site north of Johannesburg, is home to the largest concentration of human ancestral remains in the world. This is where the 2.3 million-year-old Mrs Ples fossil was found, as well as the location where the homo naledi fossil assemblage, one of the largest concentrations of human ancestral remains in the world, was found.
The impressive Maopeng Visitor Centre takes guests on a journey through time educating them on humankind’s development. The nearby Sterkfontein Caves, where many of the fossils were found can also be explored.
Getting there
The Maropeng Visitor Centre in the Cradle of Humankind is approximately a 1-hour drive from Midrand Conference Centre.
Nizamiye Mosque & Complex
Widely known as the largest Mosque in the Southern Hemisphere, the Nizamiye Mosque Complex, situated in Midrand, was built between 2009 and 2012. The impressive structure has a main dome that is 31m high and 24m wide and covered with lead. There are 4 additional half domes and 21 smaller domes. Inside the mosque, authentic Turkish ceramics adorn the walls, and calligraphy is inscribed on the ceiling. The dome is patterned with Turkish art and the custom-made carpet below reflects this. There are 4 minarets that are 55m high, with stairs that go up to three platforms. There are 232 stained glass windows in the mosque. Up to 6,000 people can be accommodated per service within the facilities of the central prayer hall for men and the prayer gallery for women. There are five wudhu facilities in one of the courtyards. On special occasions, the mosque is lit up in luminescent green and purple at night. There are some lovely Turkish Restaurants at the Complex to try out as well as a small Bazaar selling Turkish foods and goods.
Getting there
A short six-minute (2.6km) drive from Midrand Conference Centre you will find the Nizamiye Mosque Complex. Centre.
South African Lipizzaner’s
The magical Lipizzaner’s, a breed of horse known for its grace, elegance, and ability to be taught has come close to extinction more than once. Rescued from war torn Austria in 1944, a few horses were brought to South Africa. In 1951, Major Iwanowski bought his first Lipizzaner and by 1960, after having acquired more horses, realised his dream of opening a training school for the breed a short distance from here in Kyalami.
The SA Lipizzaner Centre offers lunging sessions for those wanting to experience the majesty of the breed. In addition to this, public performances are held regularly.
Getting there
Just short of a 14km drive from Midrand Conference Centre via Allandale Road/M39 you will arrive at South African Lipizzaner’s.
Centre.
Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit
The historic Kyalami Grand Prix circuit was built in 1961 and has played host to 20 F1 races since 1967. The complex graded circuit includes a 16-turn, 4.522km track with a challenging blend of fast sections and tight, technical corners. There’s also a handling circuit, a skidpan area and a 4×4 course. There are also several bike schools located at the complex and advanced driving experiences can be arranged.
Getting there
Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit is a 14-minute (8.5km) drive from Midrand Conference Centre via Richards Drive and Allandale Road.
SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium
World famous cricketer AB de Villiers calls SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium the best in the world. If you happen to be staying here during a time when SuperSport Park is hosting a match, be sure to visit the stadium to witness it in epic style.
Getting there
SuperSport Park is roughly a 24-minute drive from Midrand Conference Centre.
Lion & Safari Park
A ‘must see’ for tourists, the Lion and Safari Park is also popular with locals. Situated a casual 45-minute drive from Midrand Convention Centre, and just a short distance from Lanseria International Airport, the Lion and Safari Park awaits. Offering both self-drive as well as guided tours you are bound to see an abundance of wildlife on your visit.
The Lion and Safari Park is home to a vast selection of indigenous animals the highlights of which would surely be the Lion, Cheetah, Hyena, Leopard, and Wild Dog to name but a few.
Besides the game drives, there are several other activities that you can enjoy, including Horse Safaris, Kiddie’s Horse rides, Quad biking (ATV’s), 4×4 Trails, as well as Mountain Bike Trails.
Once you have finished with the activities, relax, and enjoy the scenery while dining at one of the renowned restaurants while viewing the many antelope that roam freely on the reserve. There is a children’s play area and also an opportunity to pop into the small animal enclosures or retail spaces to purchase mementos from your visit.
Getting there
The Lion and Safari Park is a 50-minute drive from Midrand Conference Centre.
Lory Park Animal & Owl Sanctuary
Starting out as a Bird Sanctuary for animal lover Eddy van Eck, Lory Park has grown into a well-sized animal and owl sanctuary.
Lory Park Animal and Owl Sanctuary is situated nearby in Midrand and offers the opportunity to get up close to the animals calling the sanctuary home. Visit on the weekend to experience an encounter with the owls and reptiles.
Getting there
A short 10-minute (5km) drive to Lory Park Animal and Owl Sanctuary from Midrand Conference Centre. Travel via Dale and Kruger Roads.
Gallagher Estate
Midrand Conference Centre provides accommodation for our own delegates for Gallagher Convention Centre
Getting there
Gallagher Convention Centre is adjacent to Midrand Conference Centre.
Gautrain
On the move to one of your chosen destinations? The Gautrain has a station close by with connecting busses to make your trip there as convenient as booking a ticket. This high-speed train network links Johannesburg, Pretoria, Kempton Park, and O.R Tambo International Airport. The service has 10 stations with connecting transport to various destinations.
Getting there
The Gautrain Midrand Station is 2km from Midrand Conference Centre. There is a bus service from the station which stops outside the entrance to our property.