Eastgate Shopping Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa
Dubbed as the first-ever super-regional shopping facility in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, the Eastgate Shopping Centre is one of the favorite shopping destinations since its opening in the late 1970s. It was the biggest mall in the entire southern hemisphere during those times, and today, it is still one of the most prominent shopping centers in South Africa. The total space of the Eastgate Shopping Centre covers roughly 1.3 million square feet back in 2010 but is now expanded to over 1.5 million square feet. On Saturdays, the mall accommodates more than 80,000 shoppers, averaging to two million visitors in one month alone.
If you’re a history buff, you will definitely enjoy the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. The museum, which is located inside the complex of the Gold Reef City, is home to 20th-century historical artifacts and documents on the apartheid, the racial segregation of the country in the early 1990s. For nature enthusiasts, make sure to drop by the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary, a 29-acre nature reserve in the suburb of Pretoria. The reserve is home to over 170 native bird species, some of which are the black-crowned night-heron, thick-billed weaver, and the white-face duck, to name a few.
As for the accommodations, check out the Garden Court Eastgate and Mercure Johannesburg Bedfordview Hotel. The former serves a free full breakfast and is a mere 13-minute walk from the Eastgate Shopping Centre. Meanwhile, the Mercure Johannesburg Bedfordview Hotel is closer to the shopping center and features an airport shuttle, an outdoor pool, and an on-site restaurant.
