Top 13 Things To Do In Benoni, South Africa

1. Relax at Homestead Dam

Homestead Dam is a great place to go if you’re looking for a place to just sit back and relax. With its abundance of fish in the water, this park offers a nice treat for fishermen. The park’s vast space allows for other outdoor activities to be enjoyed including areas where you can have a picnic. There are also play areas where the kids can enjoy themselves.

Past visitors have noted how safe, serene, and clean the park is, with some even noting that the waters are great for kayaking.

Homestead Dam

Address: 78 Wilge Rd, Kleinfontein AH, Benoni, 1501, South Africa

2. Relax in CR Swart Park

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

A lovely place to chill, CR Swart Park offers a vast space for you to have a picnic, relax, play outdoor games, and even take your dog out for a nice walk. The park’s waters also allow for people to go fishing. Visitors praised the park’s cleanliness and serene atmosphere with some saying that it’s a great place to go jogging and lakeside picnicking.

If you simply want to sit down for a bit and just appreciate your surroundings, CR Swart Park is a great place to stop by.

CR Swart Park

Address: Vlakfontein 69-Ir, Benoni, South Africa

Opening hours: Open 24 hours

3. Go shopping at Northmead Mall

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Built in the 1970s, Northmead Mall is one of the first community malls built in Benoni. Its former dark interior and dated design have been updated to a more modern and bright aesthetic. From groceries to electronics to home decor, the mall houses a wide variety of shops that are sure to catch your attention.

Visitors have noted that the sheer number of people going to the mall is a testament to its popularity in the area with one visitor stating that it is one of the best family malls to go to.

Northmead Mall

Address: 1st St, Northmead, Benoni, 1501, South Africa

Website: Northmead Mall

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 6pm; Sat: 9am - 5pm; Sun: 9am - 4pm

4. Try Piatto Farrarmere's delicious food

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Praised by customers for the quality of its food and great atmosphere, Piatto Farrarmere is a Mediterranean restaurant located at The Square at Farrarmere. The restaurant offers a plethora of food for you to choose from.

It offers so much that the menu is divided into six parts. It has a Piatto, sushi, breakfast, kids, set, and cocktail menus that all offer a sizable amount of food. With all these options, your stomach is guaranteed to be grumbling just by reading about them.

Piatto Farrarmere

Address: Shop no 80, The Square, Farrarmere, Benoni, 1501, South Africa

Website: Piatto Farrarmere

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 9am - 9pm; Fri: 8am - 8pm; Sat: 8am - 10pm

5. Watch the races at The Rock Raceway

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Racing fans are in for a treat in The Rock Raceway. Located in Brakpan, right off Benoni, this motorsport facility hosts oval, drifting, and drag racing competitions. It hosts several events as well, with the most regular being “Wicked Wednesday” which is held every week. Customers have stated that the Wednesday events are epic and one-of-a-kind experiences. Some have noted that the events and atmosphere give them an adrenaline rush especially if you watch these races at night.

Finally, you can also enter the oval races as a competitor if you’re confident in your skills behind the wheel.

The Rock Raceway

Address: 18 Main Reef Rd, Gov Gold Mine Areas Cons, Brakpan, 1540, South Africa

Website: The Rock Raceway

6. Admire wildlife at Benoni Monkey and Bird Park

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

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Among locals, Benoni Monkey and Bird Park is a popular venue for birthday parties. There will be monkeys and birds to observe, but there’s more for tourists. It is one of the best places in the world to get to know an alpaca more personally. The park’s generous guides will start the day’s lesson by telling you there are two breeds–one of which has long hair in comparison to the other. They will also warn you about their habit of spitting, but only when annoyed. While you get acquainted with an alpaca, your kids can get up close and personal with lemurs and bunnies on a supervised interaction. The park’s able staff will be there to make sure the children and the animals are happily engaged. If you forget to pack a snack, then just go ahead and sit in comfort at the tea garden for refreshments.

Benoni Monkey And Bird Park

Address: 244 Swallow Rd, Rynfield AH, Benoni, 1514, South Africa

Website: Benoni Monkey And Bird Park

Opening hours: 9am - 4:30pm (daily)

Price: 2.7 USD (adults), 1.6 USD (children 2 - 16 yrs); Free (children under 2)

7. Spot a bullfrog at Bullfrog Pan

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Bullfrog Pan is a place for cycling, swimming, and bird-watching. One of the most rewarding things you can do while in South Africa is to observe the local flora and fauna. At Bullfrog Pan, you’d find spur-winged geese, marsh owl, and flamingos. If you can’t spot a bullfrog, as they camouflage well, you can look for cosmos flowers. They’d be easier to spot because they will dress the area in bright pinks, reds, and oranges in full bloom. Bring a camera and you’ll be bringing home excellent captures of nature at its finest.

Bullfrog Pan

Address: 170-, 172 President Brand Rd, Benoni, 1514, South Africa

8. Rewind a century at Benoni Museum

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Benoni Museum opened to the public in 1994. The museum chronologically presents the events that took place in the 1922 Rand Revolt at the Witwatersrand region. Benoni served as the headquarters of the white miners who staged an open revolt against the police and South African army from 28 December 1921 to16 March 1922.

Benoni Museum

Address: Administrative Building, Corner of Elston Ave and Rothsay Street, Benoni, East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa.

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 4pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

9. Plan a day at Korsman Bird Sanctuary

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Sewage spills, invasive species, air pollution, and indiscriminate littering are some of the challenges besetting Korsman Bird Sanctuary. The natural pan is located in the midst of Westdene, a residential area, and Korsman Conservancy is doing its best to keep the fenced-off preserve in pristine condition for the wildlife that calls it their home. You can visit Korsman on the East Rand for free and learn more about their birds, mammals, insects, grasses, and wildflowers that thrive there. Ask for the litter pick-up schedule if you want to contribute to their cause. There is a perimeter walk where you can enjoy the fresh air but keep to the right. Cyclists have the left side and must ride counter-clockwise.

Korsman Bird Sanctuary

Address: The Dr, Westdene, Benoni, 1501, South Africa

Website: Korsman Bird Sanctuary

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 8am - 5pm; Sun: 8am - 5:30pm

10. Head to Northmead Square

Shoppers can head out to the community center for personal, business, and household needs. Recent redevelopment has given Northmead Square a modernistic appeal, which makes it a true leisure and convenience center. The family-run complex of stores made history in 1998 for bringing the movies back to the residents of Benoni. When the last cinema closed in the 1980s locals had to make the trip to Jo'burg to watch the latest flicks!

Northmead Square

Address: 14th Ave, Northmead, Benoni, 1501, South Africa

Website: Northmead Square

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am -6pm; Sat: 9am - 5pm; Sun: 9am - 1pm

11. Grab a chilled beer at Cool Runnings

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

The vibe is great at Cool Runnings (remember the movie?) and the staff are very nice. The pizza comes highly recommended, and beer is aplenty. If you’re 18 years and above, then you can see for yourself how a Caribbean-themed pub and grill looks like. It is a family restaurant where children can dine before 6 pm. However, once the sun goes down the kids must stay home. It’s the time for cocktails and all sorts of stimulating beverages to come alive.

Cool Runnings (High Road)

Address: 49 High Road, Norton’s Home Estates, Benoni 1501, South Africa

Website: Cool Runnings High Road

Opening hours: 10am - 1am (daily)

12. Get recharged at McGintys Irish Pub

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

A pub in Northmead Square that offers brunch, lunch, and dinner with comfortable seating and table service is all you need after a long day in the outdoors. Spending hours at Benoni’s wildlife sanctuaries can sap your energy. McGinty’s menu should be able to restore you for the next leg of the itinerary.

McGinty's Irish Pub

Address: Northmead Square, 14th Ave &, O'Reilly Merry St, Northmead, Benoni, 1501, South Africa

Opening hours: Fri - Wed: 10am - 11pm; Thu: 10am - 10pm

13. Spare a moment to visit OR Tambo Cultural Precinct

In October 2006, Johannesburg International Airport was renamed the O.R. Tambo International Airport. Oliver Reginald (O.R.) Kaizana Tambo was a teacher, lawyer, politician, and revolutionary. He served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1967 to 1991. The precinct in Wattville is a proud exhibition of the legacy of O.R. Tambo, a comrade of Nelson Mandela, and his fight against apartheid. It is a National Heritage Site that features a museum, craft center, environmental education center, and amphitheater.

OR Tambo Cultural Precinct

Address: 3061 Tame Ave, Wattville, Benoni, 1501, South Africa

Opening hours: 8am - 5pm (daily)

Swing by Benoni for a unique getaway

Benoni may be a small town, it may not be a giant metropolis like Jo'burg, but it could take you by surprise. There are pockets of nature amid urban sprawls. There are a number of places where you can sit down to re-energize and tell your travel tales to an attentive audience. Moreover, you have ample opportunity to learn more about the history of the people you meet. Benoni is the place to be, so go for it!