The Top 5 Biggest Malls in South Africa
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Have you ever spent an afternoon wandering around a mall, pretending to window shop, and secretly judging other people’s clothing tastes? If you haven’t, then you probably haven’t visited many malls. Because that’s precisely what they are: buildings packed with shops in which ordinary human beings go to judge the taste of others. If you don’t believe us, look at the top 5 biggest malls in South Africa and see for yourself. These places are packed with shops catering to every kind of person imaginable — stores for teenagers and older adults; stores for rich people and stores for poor people; stores selling groceries and shoes; bars, restaurants, and cafes; clothes shops and bookstores… You get the picture. These are the biggest shopping centers in South Africa right now – if you know of any bigger ones, let us know!
Carnival City, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Carnival City is the biggest shopping mall in Africa and the 14th-largest in the world! This means there are bigger shopping centers worldwide, but they aren’t in South Africa. It’s a pretty impressive feat for a building in Braamfontein, which is about 10 minutes away from the nearest airport. Plus, as the largest mall in Africa, Carnival City has all the usual stuff that you’d expect from a mall of this size: a multiplex cinema, a bowling alley, an indoor go-kart track, a casino, bars and restaurants, a daycare center, a crèche, a library, a medical center, a helipad, and even a chapel! You could get married here!
Sandton City, Johannesburg
Sandton City is the second-biggest mall in Johannesburg. It’s also one of the most centrally-located malls in the city, which is probably why it’s so popular. Sandton City is a one-stop shop for all your retail and entertainment needs. It has a multiplex cinema, a bowling alley, a casino, bars and restaurants, and a multistory car park. There’s also a small park next to the mall, where you can go for a walk or a jog or sit and relax on a bench, pondering the mysteries of life. The mall is so central that you could walk to work if you wanted to!
East Rand Mall, Matshedi Shaa-Ramji Mall, Evaton
This mall is in a very south-easterly part of the country, which is why it’s not that well-known. It has five floors, each devoted to a different kind of shop — you can find everything from clothing to food and even furniture in this place. The mall also has many other attractions, like an aquarium, a movie theater, a bowling alley, and restaurants. There’s also an amusement park not too far from the mall, where you’d want to go if you have kids. And, if you want to go for a drink after work, there are several bars and clubs in the area.
Anchor Shopping Centre, Durban
If you live in Durban, this is the mall for you. This shopping center has everything you could ever want or need, including a multiplex cinema, bars and restaurants, and shops for almost every kind of person imaginable. There are even a few hotels in the mall, so if you want to spend an extended time here, you can stay! There’s also a small park at the back of the mall, which is nice if you want to take a break from shopping. And if you have kids, there’s a kids’ play area where they can run around and get out some excess energy.
Gateway Shopping Centre, Durban
This is the only mall on this list that isn’t in Johannesburg. It’s located in Durban. The mall itself is OK; nothing too special. It hosts several different entertainment venues, like a multiplex cinema, bowling alley, and a few bars. What sets Its location mall apart from the others on this list is it’s located right next to a major highway, so it’s easy to get to by car.
Conclusion
There are a lot of malls in South Africa, and some of them are pretty huge. If you live in one of the major cities and want to go for a stroll, visit a museum or avoid work for a few hours, there’s probably a massive mall near you. And if you’re looking for something to do on a day off, or if you want to avoid the heat, these places are perfect: they’re air-conditioned and filled with shops and restaurants. Plus, you get the bonus of being able to judge other people’s tastes in clothing! Now, you must decide which mall you want to visit first.
