Last week, I visited a brand new museum in town, with family and friends. Read along to unlock the magic and let’s explore together the Museum of Illusions In Johannesburg.
A little history about the Museum of Illusions
The Museum of Illusions, a global chain of interactive museums, invites visitors into the fascinating world of optical illusions and sensory experiences. Since its founding in 2015 in Zagreb, Croatia, the museum has expanded to over 30 cities worldwide, captivating audiences with its unique blend of education and entertainment. Each location features exhibits that challenge your perception, play with your senses, and make you question reality.
In Johannesburg, the Museum of Illusions which opened its doors in July this year, offers the same intriguing experience. Located at The Zone Rosebank Mall, this museum brings the world of illusions to life through various immersive exhibits and mind-bending installations.
This is how our visit went:
Upon arrival, a friendly staff member greeted us and quickly checked us in. As we entered the venue, the adults in our group hesitated for a moment, unsure of where to begin. Meanwhile, the kids were already hopping excitedly from room to room, engaging with every installation they encountered. Their enthusiasm was our cue to embrace our inner child and join in the fun.
Standard Installations
From my research about the museum, most installations are standards across the countries. I’ve came across a blog post describing the Illusions museum in Charlotte (USA) and the experience felt very similar. Thus, some of their most popular attractions include:
The Infinity Room: A seemingly endless space created by mirrors and lights, where you can lose yourself in an infinite reflection.
The Ames Room: A mind-bending optical illusion that distorts the perception of size, making one person appear much larger or smaller than the other.
The Vortex Tunnel: A rotating tunnel that tricks your brain into thinking you’re losing balance, even though you’re on solid ground (P.S: Although the kids ran through this one multiple times, I couldn’t go through it).
Tips to plan your visit the Museum of Illusion in Johannesburg:
Book your tickets online
Although tickets can be purchase at the door, it’s recommended to book online in advance, especially during weekends and holidays, to avoid long wait times.
Arrive approximatively 15 minutes earlier
We had booked for the 12 pm slot and between looking for parking space, and finding our way through a crowded mall, we arrived a couple of minutes late. Give yourself 15-20 minutes extra in your traveling time to find the venue without stressing too much. This is necessary when your group include young kids as ours.
The visit takes approximately 45-60 minutes
The museum is not your typical large arts or science museums. The visit can be wrapped up in about 40 minutes to an hour. We visited the museum on a Saturday during school holidays so it was reasonably crowded with families. Sometimes we had to queue to be able to experiment an installation. Because of this, I didn’t properly experiment some exhibits, especially the mind-bending wall arts. But, after an hour, all of us felt like we had seen and enjoyed most of the museum.
Pair your visit with a more relaxing activity, such as a family lunch
The visit time was just enough to get the kids interested and engaged. We wrapped up the visit with a nice lunch at a pizza family restaurant in the mall to rest our brain neurones.
Come with a fully charged phone and take plenty of pictures
One of the appeal of this kind of museum is that it’s a literally a mini-shooting session. The museums offer a lot of photo-worthy installations, and some illusions are only seen after your captured them via your lenses. We all left with a lot of fun and memorable photos. Also, The Illusions assistants are very helpful. They help visitors enjoy the exhibits and they double as photo-assistants which is great!
Some bonus tips:
Location and Pricing
The Museum of Illusions Johannesburg is conveniently located at the Zone, Rosebank, a vibrant area known for its shopping centres, restaurants, and entertainment options.
N.B: The museum can be difficult to find, especially if you’re not familiar with Rosebank Mall/ The Zone. It’s easily accessible by the lifts from the Parking near Newscafe (opp. Starbucks). You will find the museum opposite the department store, Egg Beauty.
Address:
The Zone @ Rosebank,
177 Oxford Rd, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196
Pricing:
- Adults: R190
- Children (under 15): R150 Family Ticket (2 Adults + 2 Children): R540
- Seniors and Students: R150
You can get more info on their website.
Whether you’re looking to explore the science behind illusions, enjoy a fun day out with family or friends, or capture Instagram-worthy photos, the Museum of Illusions is an unforgettable destination. furthermore, the venue can be a great choice for birthday parties, school outings and more (Group discounts are available for bookings of 10 or more people).
Have you been to the Museum of Illusions in Johannesburg or anywhere in the world? Did you enjoy it?
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