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Johannesburg’s green spaces and open-air landmarks sit far apart: Emmarentia and Zoo Lake are southwest of Sandton, while Maboneng and the Mandela Bridge are downtown. Treat these as separate outings and plan transport between them.
Browse 5 free-entry places with official visitor links. Check hours, access and booking rules before your visit.
01 IN JOHANNESBURG
CHECK ENTRYFrom Emmarentia Dam, follow paths past rose terraces, the herb and Shakespeare gardens, then return through the park lawns.
Photo: “Johannesburg Botanical Garden Rose01.JPG” by Hentie Joubert · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP for this site.
CHECK ENTRYWalk the lake edge past the Coronation Fountain, picnic lawns and boat activity in this long-running Saxonwold park.
Photo: “Boats on Zoo Lake, Johannesburg.jpg” by Ossewa · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP for this site.
FREEPause in Sandton’s open-air piazza beside the six-metre Nelson Mandela statue and the adjoining city-centre complex.
Photo: “2014-11-20 Johannesburg Nelson Mandela Square 01 anagoria.JPG” by Anagoria · CC BY 3.0. Resized and converted to WebP for this site.
FREEExplore Maboneng as a downtown neighbourhood, with murals, galleries, shops and cafés around Fox and Kruger streets.
Photo: “Maboneng Art Installation Median.jpg” by Gsalamander · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP for this site.
FREECross the cable-stayed bridge between Braamfontein and Newtown on its reserved pedestrian walkway above the rail yards.
Photo: “Mandela Bridge, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.jpg” by South African Tourism · CC BY 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP for this site.
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