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Lose yourself in the 7 best immersive experiences in Johannesburg!
Sometimes, you just need an escape from the grind of everyday life. When you’re feeling like the hustle and bustle of reality has got you down, an immersive experience is a great way to get away from it all!
Immersive experiences aim to create a controlled environment that stimulates multiple senses and blurs the boundaries of reality. This is often done either through physical installations that truly engage visitors or through virtual reality spaces.
When I feel like taking time away from the real world, I find that a good immersive experience does the trick. Here are some of the best ones I’ve been to in Johannesburg
Wits Anglo American Digital Dome
Media from: @wits_university
Website: https://digitaldome.wits.ac.za/
Address: East Campus, University of the Witwatersrand, Yale Rd, Braamfontein
Phone: +27 11 717 1390
Price: $
The University of the Witwatersrand has taken to converting what may be the quintessential immersive experience into a digital dome. They’ve transformed their classic planetarium into a full 360-degree audiovisual experience with state-of-the-art projectors, surround sound speakers, and a meticulously planned auditorium.
The Wits Anglo American Dome focuses on immersive experiences that revolve around scientific discoveries throughout the cosmos. These are beautiful, jaw-dropping displays that talk about the beauty of the universe in great detail, often narrated by famous actors like Harrison Ford and Whoopi Goldberg.
I took my nephew, who really loves outer space, to see the “Passport to the Universe” show. It was an audiovisual experience about the sheer unprecedented scale of the universe and the progress we’ve made in trying to unravel it.
It was a gorgeous show, with stunningly crisp and vibrant visuals of the cosmos and easily intelligible narration. My nephew loved it and learned a ton too, nearly tearing up towards the show’s emotional and evergreen conclusion.
| Pro tip: The Digital Dome is closed on Mondays for maintenance and upkeep, so plan your trip accordingly. |
Museum of Illusions Johannesburg
Media from: @ms_smartypantss
Website: https://moijoburg.co.za
Address: The Zone @ Rosebank, 177 Oxford Rd, Rosebank
Phone: +27 10 541 0314
Price: $$
Stepping into the Museum of Illusions feels like stepping into a fascinating alternate dimension where nothing quite makes sense. The museum prides itself on its mind-boggling, mesmerising artworks, exhibits, and illusion rooms that have confounded visitors for years.
While there are multiple branches of the Museum of Illusions throughout South Africa, the Johannesburg branch is notable for its relatively larger size compared to others. There are over 60 different displays and exhibits to witness, all of which are meant to blur the line between reality and art.
My family and I visited a while back, and we came out of it puzzled but deeply impressed and spellbound by the exhibits. My personal favourite was the Reverse Room, which had you standing on the ceiling of an upside-down room and left you feeling like a sleeping bat.
| Pro tip: The Museum of Illusions has a big party room and also functions as an event space, so it’s a great place to hold your next birthday party or corporate gathering. |
Apartheid Museum Immersive History Tour
Media from: @apartheidmuseum
Website: https://www.apartheidmuseum.org/
Address: Northern Parkway, Gold Reef Rd, Ormonde
Phone: +27 11 309 4700
Price: $$
While immersive experiences can serve as a great vehicle for escapism, sometimes they can also serve as powerful, educational experiences. This is especially true for the Apartheid Museum, whose immersive tour will give you a strong look into the country’s troubled past.
The museum’s immersive tour takes visitors on a curated, narrative-driven trip through real artefacts and installations that represent the fight towards ending oppression and protecting civil rights. It’s an emotional, powerful look into the country’s history, and there are also special exhibits for Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
I’ve attended this immersive tour multiple times, both as a student in college and as an adult now, and it never fails to make me emotional. Seeing these old signs of segregation and racial violence that happened in Johannesburg streets served as a sobering reminder of how far we’ve come in the fight for equality and progress.
| Pro tip: The Apartheid Museum is only open on Wednesdays to Sundays, as well as on national holidays. On some holidays, like National Women’s Day, admission is free. |
Blue Ocean Virtual Reality Experience Centre
Media from: @blueoceanvr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueoceanvr/
Address: Cnr Smith Rd and Van Der Linde Rd, Shop F2, Bedford Square, Bedfordview
Phone: +27 72 733 5346
Price: $$
If you’re less into blurring the lines between reality and immersive environments and just want to enter an entirely new world, virtual reality might be for you. On that end, Blue Ocean Virtual Reality Experience Centre offers an innovative virtual reality system that transforms any room into an immersive 3D gaming space.
Virtual reality gaming, while popular, requires a lot of space, preparation, and even more money to get into. Blue Ocean aims to bridge that gap by doing all the dirty work for you, so you can enjoy immersive games like the thrilling Batman: Arkham Shadow and the rhythmic, enthralling Beat Saber VR.
My boyfriend took me to the centre, since he’s a really big fan of VR games and wanted me to experience them too. I had a blast playing Beat Saber, a rhythm game that has you hitting blocks to the rhythm of songs.
| Pro tip: Blue Ocean’s VR experiences are booking only, and sessions last from 30 minutes to an hour per booking. |
This is Hillbrow Walking Tour
Media from: @dllanje
Website: https://dlalanje.org/book-tour/this-is-hillbrow-walking-tour-johannesburg/
Address: Hillbrow, Gauteng
Phone: +27 (67) 082 8168
Price: $$
Sometimes, an immersive experience can also mean seeing places you’ve never visited before. Dlala Nje’s Hillbrow Walking Tour exemplifies this by giving tour-goers a deep dive into the realities of one of Joburg’s most misunderstood inner-city suburbs.
While it may seem strange and even dangerous to choose an inner-city suburb as an immersive experience, I can’t stress enough just how compelling it was to see a side of Jozi most people would avoid because of their preconceptions.
The tour is led by residents, who offer profound insights, stories, and opinions on life in the area.
The walking tour took us around Hillbrow’s many historical monuments and street food spots, offering a captivating look into the area’s rich cultural history and community. Our tour guides were friendly and made us feel safe the whole time, too.
| Pro tip: Be sure to carry some cash with you on this tour, as the street food vendors usually only accept cash. You’ll want to try them out, too, with the shisa nyama (barbecue spot) being a particular favourite of mine. |
Gold Reef City Theme Park Virtual Reality Zone
Media from: @goldreefcitysa
Website: https://www.goldreefcity.co.za/entertainment/family-fun/virtual-reality-zone/
Address: Northern Pkwy & Data Cres
Phone: +27 11 248 5000
Price: $$
Gold Reef City Theme Park is already renowned for being one of the most fun and exciting spots in Joburg, so it only follows that their virtual reality experience would be worth a visit. The theme park hosts an immersive VR arcade jampacked with games and experiences.
Their Virtual Reality Zone uses state-of-the-art gyroscopic chairs, racing simulator setups, and other amenities to truly immerse players in the game.
My personal highlight from their selection was their VR racing game, which really made me feel like I was speeding through classic race tracks like the Nurburgring and Seneca Speedway.
It was incredibly fun just getting to compete with my friends and watch them fiddle around with their headsets on.
| Pro tip: The Virtual Reality Zone operates on a fixed rate, with visitors having to pay R50 for every game they want to play. |
Candlelight Concerts
Media from: @samsays_sa
Website: https://candlelightexperience.com/
Address: 138 Rivonia Rd, Sandown, Sandton
Price: $
If you’re a live music fan who loves symphony orchestras, Candlelight Concerts are a unique, memorable way to experience your favourite songs in, literally, a whole new light. They’re most notable for their beautiful, enchanting set design, using candles to create beautiful stages and an intimate, immersive audiovisual experience.
Candlelight Concerts specialise in tribute concerts to legends of music and popular culture, from bands like Queen and The Beatles to film soundtracks like Spirited Away and Interstellar. Their renditions of classic songs are bewitching, played by some of the finest local musicians and ensembles in Johannesburg.
As a big fan of Queen, I knew that I couldn’t miss their tribute concert at the NH Johannesburg Sandton Hotel. It was an enchanting experience getting to hear (and quietly sing along to) their renditions of my favourite songs, all while feeling illuminated by the shimmering candlelit stage.
| Pro tip: While most Candlelight Concerts are held at the NH Johannesburg Sandton Hotel, the venue can also vary depending on the performers. For instance, their Coldplay tribute concert is held at Shepstone Gardens. |
