It's our first trip to Africa. We're got a 9 hour layover in Johannesburg from 10am to 7pm. We've got two kids, 8 and 11. Is it possible/worth it to leave the airport? Any suggestions on what we should see? I'd rather see one or two really great things than lots of little things. The other option might be some sort of tour bus thing where we just drive around and see a bunch of stuff? Also, what time should we get back to the airport to make our 7pm flight to Frankfurt?

Your layover seems to be realisitcally about 11:00 am until about 4:30 pm or 5.5 hours of actual tour time. You'll want to eat sometime during that time frame as well. The kids might be up for 2 meals.

I'd suggest Soweto, unique to Johannesburg. I used Wilro for a several hour trip from Joburg, and went to Rhino and Lion Park, which is another possibility, depending on what kind of safari activities you've already done.

If you do take a tour of Soweto, make sure you do it with a reputable tour company; and you can also visit the Apartheid Museum nearby-it is excellent. Otherwise, a trip from the airport into any of the suburbs to shop or whatever can take 45 minutes (depending on traffic) and cost a pretty penney

I am not sure whether I would undertake the efford to leave the airport at all with kids at that age.
Now the airport has a wonderful food courts as well as entertaintment for the kids. So instead of rushing back and forth - particularly with kids! - I would rather stay there and relax.

Happy travels!

SV

It might reasonable to take the free shuttle over to the Emperors Palace complex, 10 min ride. It has eating places, shops. You might even get a day bed there at the Peermont Hotel for not much $$$.

regards - tom