What exactly the top 5 shopping malls in S.A can be considered to be subjective so for this article, I will provide you with my top five and the reasons why.
1: Gateway Theatre of Shopping
This huge shopping centre in Umhlanga, Durban is a shopping addicts dream. It is nearly a kilometre long and has every chain store you can think of. In addition to the chain stores, there are a number of boutique stores which cannot be found anywhere else in South Africa and offer some exquisite clothing. This is one of the three biggest shopping centres in the Southern Hemisphere so even if you aren’t a shopaholic, a visit to this centre is a prerequisite when visiting Natal. With over 400 shops you will definitely be able to find anything that you are looking for. In addition to the amazing variety of shops, this shopping centre got its name from the fact that it does not only offer great shops, but an experience in itself. There is a huge Ster Kinekor with over 20 cinemas so you can watch the latest movies any time. In addition to this, Gateway offers it visitors the following additional activities for you to take advantage of:
- Cinema Nouveau
- Imax Theatre
- Skatepark
- The Rock – a huge rock climbing wall
- Wavehouse – a function venue with a wave simulator for those of you who want to learn how to surf or just want to try something new.
- Nissan 4 x 4 Track
- Barnyard Theatre
- ScienCentre
- Fantasy Forest
2: Victoria and Albert Waterfront
Situated in Cape Town, this is one of the most well known shopping centres in South Africa. This is a fashionistas dream with shops like Louis Vitton, Jimmy Choo, and a host of other big fashion label stores. This shopping centre is situated in Cape Bay and has spectacular views of the ocean which many of the restaurants have capitalised on. This means that after a long day shopping in some of the finest stores from around the world, you can sit back and relax whilst taking in the beauty that is Cape Town. This centre additionally portrays the culture of Cape Town perfectly to any tourists with shows from local artists constantly taking place. You almost feel like this entire shopping centre is just one big theatre of beauty. In addition to this, the amazing aquarium offers some of the most spectacular fish and marine life and all in a beautiful setting. Visiting the V&A Waterfront definitely is an excursion that you wont forget.
3: East Gate
Although East Gate is situated in the East of Johannesburg and many Joburgers like to mock people from the East Rand, this shopping centre offers great size stores and a wide variety for everyone to choose from. The Mr Price in East Gate is definitely one of the best that I have been too and the shoe shops that can be found here are amazing.
4: Sandton City
Situated in the heart of Sandton, Johannesburg, this is one of the most popular shopping centres in Johannesburg. All in all, there are there shopping centres situated one on top of the other which means that you can find anything from Cartier, to Jay Jays. Sandton City includes the following three centres:
- Sandton City
- Nelson Mandela Square
- Michelangelo Towers
All three offer different stores and this is the place to be seen at in Johannesburg
5: Maponya Mall
Although many South Africans are still stuck with backward thinking, there are some that have realised that Soweto is a cultural hub and a very exciting place to be. As a result, Maponya Mall was built and is one of Johannesburgs newest landmarks. With a great variety of shops and being situated in one of South Africa’s cultural landmarks, this really is a must see for all and deserves it’s spot on my list of the top 5 shopping malls in S.A.