Roughly 90km out of Joburg, the opulent structure sticks out like a lost city or ancient temple  in an Indiana Jones film. The only Buddhist Seminary in Africa also offers non Buddhists  meditation retreats  from beginner to more advanced disciples and annual traditional Chinese cultural festivals. It’s an hour out of the city  but the fantastic vegan meals and the serene peace and quiet, is totally worth the drive. When driving from Witbank to Joburg the sight of the spectacular main shrine shimmering over the dry highveld fields is like nothing on earth…

here is their official site

Roughly three and a half hours out of Johannesburg, Old Joe’s is an institution as far as guest lodges in Mpumalanga go. When travelling on the N4 (the massive highway eastbound from the DBD), after Middleburg, the N4 splits into two routes, both of which eventually join up before Nelspruit. The two routes are labeled as one being longer in distance and more scenic, where the other is quicker but ugly and filled with trucks.

If you have the time, the scenic route lives up to its name. In the winding Skoemanskloof valley, gems like Old Joes can be found. Financially, the set-up seems simple enough. For roughly R600, you get a night’s accommodation, an amazing four- course dinner, and breakfast the next morning. We’re not talking extremely fancy bushlodge, but definitely a standard that’s world class. Perfect for a romantic getaway, or just a getaway from Joburg. They cater for walks in the valley, and picnics out in the countryside.

here’s their good looking site

Growing up in Johannesburg, The Sterkfontein Caves were seen as the ultimate school roadtrip. It is a site of much celebration in that its where the famous Mrs Ples was discovered. For a little kid, it’s all about the Indiana Jones-esque adventure fantasies.

We have learned a few interstint things since i was a small boy: Mrs Ples is in fact a rather young Mr Ples, also Little Foot was found (an Australopithecus skeleton dating back more than 3-million years), which is one of the most complete of its kind ever found, forever changing the history of the caves…

Turns out, mankind as we know it, started roughly 20 minutes out of Joburg.

Immediately after this latest discovery, the surrounding area became a World Heritage site, and the caves themselves saw a massive upgrade in 2005. With this came the fancy-looking Maropeng Centre (which is great of you have kids in tow, but not so much as an adult).

The caves are very cool as a day trip, where one can lose oneself in the natural beauty of the caves, as well as the history and (in)significance of the human race.

The caves are open every day from 9 till 5, with the last tour departing at 4. Admission for an adult is R95.

check out this for more info

The Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens might just be one of the nicest and quickest get aways for anyone looking for some peace and quiet. You head out west of the city. Out to a land of nurseries vegetable gardens, and the occasional taxidermist. The gardens have forever been home to the famous family of black eagles that just below the mouth of the most picturesque waterfalls. Once just named The Botanical Gardens, the addition of Mr Sisulu’s name is welcomed warmly in the name of generating some heritage.

Go spend a whole day there!

here’s the official site

Pilgrims Rest is one of the few examples where a whole town is named a national heritage site. Out in the Mpumalanga countryside, lies this old turn of the century mining town. Roughly 3 hours drive from Johannesburg, its one of the most special and strangest getaways. Stay in old hotel, with frilly cutains and old bath tubs!

here’s their really dated but sufficient website