Under $100: Johannesburg

Johannesburg (or Jozi as the locals call it) is South Africa’s largest city, and with just more than 1,000 South African Rand, there are plenty of things to do on a budget. Unlike the rest of the country, Jo’burg lacks a significant presence of natural beauty. It is landlocked without mountains and is the largest city in the world that isn’t located on a waterway, making it less traveled by tourists compared to Cape Town and Kruger Park.

Jozi’s numerous markets area a great place to get breakfast or lunch. Market on Main is open on Sundays with numerous food stalls selling traditional South African fare priced for locals. Also open on Sundays is the Rosebank Finders Keepers Market, filled with plenty of great souvenirs ranging from old movie posters to artifacts from antiquity. If you want fresh local food, be sure to visit the Jozi Real Food Market, open on Saturdays selling organic food and spices from local producers.

Pillars of the Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg, South Africa © Rodney Jackson | Dreamstime

For 15 Rand, you can see all of Johannesburg by going up to the observation deck of the Carlton Centre, known colloquially as the “Top of Africa,” being the tallest building in the continent standing at 732 feet. You get a 360-degree view of the city, and the building houses a mall below if you want to do a little shopping.

South Africa had a system of apartheid in which the rights and associations of the majority black citizens were suppressed for nearly 50 years. The Apartheid Museum is a somber but informative visit that documents South Africa’s era of segregation, only ending two decades ago in 1994. Exhibits with film, audio and live accounts give visitors insight into social and political aspects of the apartheid system. Tickets are 60 Rand and the museum is open seven days a week, with guided tours on all days except Monday.

A rare white lioness of Lion Park © Demerzel21 | Dreamstime

Kruger Park gets most of South Africa’s fame for wildlife, but for a great day trip head west to Lion Park. Although it’s not as big as Kruger, this park is a sanctuary for several important species of Africa, including the cheetah, hyena, zebra, giraffe and antelope. There is also a collection of more than 80 white lions, a very rare breed whose population mainly live in zoos. Tickets start at 200 Rand for a self-driven tour, and there are other attractions that include a lion feeding, walking with cheetahs and a tour with the park’s lion trainer.