Sandton, located in Johannesburg, South Africa, is a convenient base for exploring many fantastic family-friendly vacation destinations both within South Africa and in neighbouring countries. 

Here are some suggestions for family vacations that tourists can take from Sandton:

JOHANNESBURG ZOO

For a family-friendly day out without leaving Sandton, consider visiting the Johannesburg Zoo. It's home to a wide variety of animals and offers educational programs for children.

SOWETO

Explore the history and culture of South Africa by taking a guided tour of Soweto. Visit the Apartheid Museum, take a bicycle tour, and experience the vibrant street life.

GOLD REEF CITY

The Gold Reef City offers a spectacular sight with countless theme park rides, historical antiquities, and marvellous golden exhibits. The unique spot hosts numerous edifices and businesses, including shops, stores, hotels, the Royal Theatre and Johannesburg's first stock exchange. For a family-friendly day out without leaving Sandton, Gold Reef City is approximately a 20-minute drive from Santon.

CRADLE OF HUMANKIND

Take a short trip to the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its archaeological discoveries and interactive museums. Maropeng Visitor Centre and the Sterkfontein Caves are must-visit attractions for families interested in human evolution

HARTEBEESPOORT DAM

This dam, also in proximity to Sandton, is a great spot for water sports, picnics, and family-friendly boat trips. You can also visit the Harties Cableway for panoramic views of the area.

MAGALIESBURG MOUNTAINS

Located just northwest of Sandton, the Magaliesberg Mountains offer hiking trails, adventure activities, and beautiful scenery. Families can enjoy outdoor activities like horseback riding, zip-lining, and hot-air ballooning.

PILANESBERG NATIONAL PARK

Located just a few hours' drive from Sandton, Pilanesberg National Park offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities for families. It is a great choice for families with young children. You can go on self-drive safaris or join guided game drives.

SUN CITY RESORT

Also, near Pilanesberg, Sun City is a popular family resort with a water park, golf courses, a casino, and various entertainment options. It's ideal for families looking for a mix of relaxation and adventure.

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

While it's a longer journey from Sandton (around a 4-5 hour drive or a short domestic flight), Kruger National Park is one of South Africa's premier wildlife destinations. It offers incredible opportunities to see the Big Five and other wildlife species.

VICTORIA FALLS

For a more extended family adventure, consider traveling to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe or Livingstone in Zambia. Witnessing the stunning waterfall and exploring the surrounding area is an unforgettable experience.

GARDEN ROUTE

ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK

Known formerly as the St Lucia Wetland Park, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park consists of Mkuze Game Reserve, the Kosi Bay Natural Reserve, the St Lucia and Maputaland Marine Reserves, Lake St Lucia, and the Coastal Forest Reserve. This wetland park is home to over 450 bird species including storks, pelicans, the Madagascar fish eagle, terns, and herons. The park also shelters umpteen varieties of animals including black and white rhino, waterbuck, impala, kudu, giraffe, buffalo, elephants, sea turtles, dolphins, whales, and the Nile crocodile. One of the favourite tourist places in South Africa among adrenaline seekers, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park offers a host of adventure activities including deep sea fishing, diving, game viewing, whale watching, horse riding, hiking, bird watching, estuary fishing, and rock and surf fishing. (Location: KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa)

BLYDE RIVER CANYON NATURE RESERVE

Spread across an area of around 29,000 hectares, the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve is a part of the Greater Drakensberg escarpment. This nature reserve is home to amazing natural wonders - Pinnacle Rock, God's Window, the Three Rondavels, and the Bourke's Luck Potholes. The reserve shelters over 1,000 endemic, endangered, and rare species of flora along with a wide variety of wildlife creatures including hippos, crocodiles, primates, Oribi, Kudu, Klipspringer, and Grey Rhebuck. The Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve allows adventure junkies to indulge in a myriad of exhilarating activities, including white water rafting, abseiling, fly-fishing, horseback riding, hiking, biking, boating, kloofing, and hot-air ballooning. (Location: R543, Ehlanzeni, South Africa)

ROBBEN ISLAND

Merely 2 km away from Cape Town, Robben Island is often known as the place of banishment. It is believed that during the Apartheid times, social outcasts were forcefully fleeted to this spot. With its close link with the brutality, cruelty, and discrimination being practised during the Apartheid times, Robben Island holds utmost significance among Africans. Moreover, this site also used to be a prison for freedom fighters who dedicated their entire lives to the freedom struggle of their country. With so much historical significance, this island site has been now converted into a museum that attracts a plethora of history buffs throughout the year. If you are eager to explore the best historical places to visit in Cape Town, Robben Island is your go-to spot. (Location: Table Bay, Western Cape province, South Africa)

TWO OCEANS AQUARIUM

Lose yourself in the underwater world, as you revel in the beauty of the stunning displays of marine life in the Two Oceans Aquarium. Meet the crabs, the waddling penguins, streamlined and sleek predators, adorable crown fish and the giant sea turtles as huge as toddlers. If you are wondering why the Aquarium is called Two Oceans is because Cape Town is inimitably positioned at the confluence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The cold and warm currents mingle and give rise to an unimaginable diversity. Hence the Aquarium showcases this phenomenal array of marine life just like Cape Town’s coastline which is swarming with life. Home to over 200 species and 8000 creatures you get an opportunity to come face to face with the adorable monochromatic-feathered African Penguins, the grotesque & jawless hagfish, and several other endemic species like the leopard toad, spotted gully shark, and puffadder shy shark. Behold the otherworldly Ocean Exhibit, filled with 1.6 million litres of seawater, and watch the gentle stingrays alongside languid turtles, glide gracefully aloft. Fall in love with the shapeshifting jellyfish here, appearing to be blobs within a lava lamp, imparting a glow-in-the-dark effect. (Location: Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa)

Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, offers a wide range of tourist attractions and activities for foreigners to enjoy. Here are some of the top tourist attractions in and around Johannesburg: