Set Off on a Captivating Cultural, Historical and Culinary Journey with Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff and the Jozi Experiences Guide

Local and international guests alike are invited to explore the city of Gold with Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff and its expertly curated experiences centred around the culture, history and the fabric of what Johannesburg was founded upon more than a century ago. Renowned for being South Africa’s main economic hub, Johannesburg is steeped in history, architecture and music, and is brimming with beautiful surroundings, world-class museums, and contemporary art galleries. Most of the city’s must-sees are right at the Hotel’s doorstep or a few miles away.

Willem du Toit, Hotel Manager at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff explains: “South Africa is a popular destination with a plethora of elevated experiences offering great value stays across the country. While there are exceptional parts of the country to explore, we want to encourage travellers to stay a little longer in Johannesburg because it represents more than a stopover destination, and you don’t have to venture far to discover so much.”

During the month of September, South Africa recognizes and celebrates its rich heritage and cultural wealth. This is marked by Heritage Day on September 24, when South Africans celebrate and remember the cultural heritage of the many cultures that make up the “rainbow nation.”

Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff takes this opportunity to launch these wonderful Jozi experiences from art galleries and museums to family-friendly entertainment, active leisure activities, culinary delights and other best-kept secrets. It is the curated aspect that offers a unique perspective to the curious traveller. In addition to the compendium of things to do, the guest experience and concierge team delivers tailored experiences for each guest to indulge in what they are most interested in while highlighting the main elements that placed South Africa on the map and Johannesburg as the most important economic hub in southern Africa.

“Scratching beneath the surface a little reveals a veritable treasure,” explains du Toit. “We explored all previous guest requests and developed these together with selected partners, city experts and artists to create half or full-day experiences aligned to what guests either want to learn about or never aware existed but have great interest in.”

He continues: “Johannesburg is truly a delight for all art aficionados, from established galleries to up-and-coming artists carrying the same vibrant energy the city is known for. Some guests are surprised to learn that Johannesburg is the largest man-made forest in the world or that it is home to the Cradle of Humankind. Of course, most notably, there is the emotional exploration of the dark past of apartheid and the peaceful transition to a democratic nation, that resets minds and perceptions for local and international guests alike.”

The carefully crafted experiences are a way to discover incredible things to do in the Johannesburg area where each experience will surpass one’s wildest expectations. Specially curated experience packages can be tailor-made to the guest’s needs and time they have available aligned to the following four themes: Art, Anthropology, Apartheid and Wildlife Adventure.

An Artistic Journey creates a wonderful voyage beginning in the bountiful galleries of Rosebank through to Johannesburg’s newest and most intriguing art centres, the Johannesburg Contemporary Art Foundation, Roger Ballen’s Inside Out Centre for the Arts, neighbouring the Hotel, before taking guests to experience the hub of burgeoning artists to Victoria Yards in Lorentzville, and Maboneng on the fringes of the Johannesburg Central Business District. For art afficionados, it is an eye-opening journey exposing collectors and creators to completely new markets for art.

Anthropological Wonders invites guests to learn more about the oldest humanoids on the planet, found in caves just outside of Johannesburg. This fascinating exploration can be curated as a half-day experience closer to home at the Wits Origins Centre or as a full-day excursion out to the Cradle of Humankind under the expert guidance of one of the leading guides in this field, Paul Zille.  

Apartheid and the transition to the rainbow nation is something that stunned the world in the 1990s and several experiences are available for guests curious to learn more on this part of the South African history. These explore Soweto, home to the largest community of black citizens under the apartheid regime and the epicentre for several pollical uprisings, to the history and background of apartheid at the emotionally moving apartheid museum, culminating in a visit to Constitution Hill, which is a living museum of the controversial transition from colonialism to apartheid to democracy.

Countless Adventures exist just beyond the urban jungle of Johannesburg with many opportunities to experience the wonder of Africa less than an hour from Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff. From curated half-day to full-day trips, guests can select from balloon safaris, big five safaris or even brisk encounters with the wild cats and other wildlife in the Magaliesburg Mountain Range. The ones willing to let their inner adventurer roam free can off-road cycle, hike to the many waterfalls around the city or experience the thrill of bungee jumping.

South Africa is one of the most picturesque countries in the world and guests are reminded that Johannesburg – founded on the back of the gold rush just over 125 years ago – has so much more to offer than one can imagine.

Explore the city’s cultural and historical wonders with Four Seasons Hotel the Westcliff Johannesburg to undoubtedly unlock new perspectives to all that South Africa has to offer.