Johannesburg
Outsiders travelling to South Africa tend to be familiar with major cities like Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg. Cape Town is an elegant coastal town with Table Mountain as her focal point; Durban is famous for its blue flag beaches and surfer culture, but Johannesburg is an African city like none other. Though it’s not renowned for its natural spectacles like the other two cities, it has a diverse array of cultures, is steeped in rich history, and has an atmosphere that is both electric and vibrant in every pulse.
Since the 1880s when the first gold rush occurred, Jozi – as it is now affectionately known – has continued developing and growing, attracting all kinds of travellers eager to explore this multi-faceted city that lays claim to being its country’s economic and commercial hub. Johannesburg’s CBD has started a revival after years of rising crime and outdated buildings left it desolate and collapsing; the Newtown Cultural Precinct has radically transformed the surrounds of the Market Theatre and has started drawing tourists in again. However, it is Jozi’s eclectic variety of suburbs especially in the north that really attracts attention.
Tourist hot spots here include trendy Parkwood, chic Melville, the high life of Greenside, and of course affluent Sandton, which is home to the iconic Nelson Mandela Square and Sandton City. Johannesburg has much to see with visitors spoilt for choice; popular options include Gold Reef City and Montecasino, while nature lovers can enjoy the likes of Zoolake, Emmarentia Dam, and the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens. If this is not enough, Johannesburg enjoys a very central location meaning travellers have direct access to Pretoria, Sun City and the world-famous Kruger National Park.
