It’s big. It’s red. It’s happening.

It can only be one thing: Jozi’s very own City Sightseeing bright red bus. At the official launch of Johannesburg’s red bus last week at Gold Reef City spirits were high, the food was great and the day was a scorcher. I even managed to take some of the bus home with me with my newly found bright red shoulders.
The launch started off on a hilarious note with MC Alan Committee giving us his opinion on the red bus. There wasnt a dry eye in the room, from laughing of course.
As a Capetonian familiar with the red bus I was excited to see what Joburg had to offer and to say I was blown away is an understatement. The tour runs along a fascinating route through the Johannesburg CBD that stops at Gandhi Square, the Roof of Africa at the Carlton Centre, the James Hall Transport Museum, the Apartheid Museum and Gold Reef City, the Mining District, the World of Beer, the Carlton Centre, Santarama Miniland, Newtown Precinct, the Origins Centre, Wits Campus, Braamfontein and Constitution Hill.
The recorded commentary throughout the trip is thoroughly informative and enjoyable and I learnt about people and places I knew nothing about.
As with all City Sightseeing tours, Joburg operates on the world renowned and hugely popular Hop-On, Hop-Off basis, which allows sight seers the chance to get off the bus at any of the designated stops along the route and then get back on to a later bus at their leisure – guaranteeing frequent, safe and reliable transport that is cost effective, informative and fun for the entire family.
Buses run on a rotational basis, stopping at all of the designated points along the route regularly, and City Sightseeing highly recommend starting your tour either at the Gautrain Station at Park Statuib (Bus Stop 1) or at Gold Reef City (Bus Stop 6) although one can join the tour at any of the stops along the route. Tickets can be purchased from the City Sightseeing Tour Office inside Gold Reef City; online at www.citysightseeing.co.za or on the bus using a credit card.
The City Sightseeing tour will change peoples perceptions of the inner city of Johannesburg into a tourism friendly zone and thereby continue to grow the tourism footprint and associated spend of tourists to the benefit of local businesses, says Claus Tworeck, CEO of City Sightseeing South Africa. There are twelve stops along the route and the service will run between 9 am and 5.30 pm seven days a week. The commentary on the buses, in multiple languages, will tell the story of Johannesburg through the many historic buildings, landmarks and attractions along the route.
Read more about the red bus in the March/April 2013 issue of Meetings SA.