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Located in the province of Gauteng – a Sesotho word meaning “place of gold” – Johannesburg is the glittering city of gold, and where your flight to South Africa is likely to arrive, so spending a couple of days enjoying all this vibrant and exciting city has to offer is worth considering. It is the main hub to reach Cape Town or the Greater Kruger area through its international airport, OR Tambo International Airport.
Johannesburg is a vast, multicultural city and is the most populous one in South Africa. Created in 1886, following the discovery of gold on a farm, it has grown into an economic, financial, and cultural hub. It’s a hip and happening place with excellent theaters, live music venues, and great markets too. The city was founded in 1886 after a gold reef was discovered. Some attractive yellow mine dumps are still visible. Revitalization schemes have created great pockets of culture with cafes, museums, markets, and inner-city living. It’s also one of the greenest cities in the world, and the suburbs turn glorious purple in November when avenues of jacaranda trees bloom. A cosmopolitan mix of people from all walks of life characterizes it.
Key attractions in the area are the Sterkfontein caves near Krugersdorp, the site of the discovery of the skull of the famous ‘Mrs. Ples’ is an estimated 2.5-million-year-old hominid fossil, and ‘Little Foot’ is an almost complete hominid skeleton of more than 3.3 million years old.
A guided tour of Soweto leaves a lasting impression of this vast community’s life and struggle against apartheid and The Apartheid Museum tells the story of the legacy of apartheid through photographs, film, and artifacts.
Discover the home Nelson Mandela lived in before and after (just for 11 days) imprisonment. A noteworthy feature is bullet holes and fire damage left by petrol bombs used during police raids are still visible.
To understand what Johannesburg looks like, go to the Carlton Center. It is one of the tallest buildings in Africa, and its top floor offers a stunning 360° view of the whole city. It might look a bit run down, but it is worth the visit, especially in the late afternoon or early evening.
Jozi also offers a wide range of museums to visit within which the Apartheid Museum is a must. This museum, created in 2001, shows the rise and fall of the Apartheid, a system of social segregation, politic and economic discrimination that emerged in South Africa in 1948 and lasted until early 1990s. This is a ‘must do’ to understand not only the city of Johannesburg but the whole of South Africa.
From Constitution Hill, you will discover a stunning view of the city as well as have an opportunity to visit the prison where several opponents battling Apartheid were held prisoners. A museum is available on site and the Constitutional Court is open to the public.
Johannesburg is a fantastic golf destination! Choosing which courses to play will be more difficult than your club selection on the 1st tee. You must play two courses: the Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate course, designed by the one and only Jack Nicklaus, and the challenging Dainfern Estate course, designed by golfing legend Gary Player.
Just 90 minutes from Johannesburg, The Cradle of Humankind is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which was named for the 15 fossils sites of the area that have produced more hominin fossils than any other site in the world! You can explore Sterkfontein Caves, home of the famous ‘Mrs. Ples’, the most complete skull of Australopithecus Africanus ever found in South Africa, and ‘Little Foot’, a nearly complete Australopithecus fossil skeleton found in 1994. Also popular is Cooper’s Cave, a museum displaying hundreds of fossils.
A stay in Johannesburg provides visitors the opportunity to visit Soweto. Soweto stands for South Western Township and was originally distinct from Johannesburg, populated mainly by native African workers from the gold mining industry. These non-white areas during the Apartheid were the epicenter of conflicts between governments and black communities.
Soweto is highly symbolic of the anti-Apartheid era, and now offers attractions such as the Nobel Laureate Walk, a unique street in the world as 2 Nobel prizes laureates lived here: Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. In this vibrant neighborhood you will also find The Nelson Mandela National Museum and the Orlando Towers, from which you can bungee jump! Also in Soweto is the Hector Pietersen Museum and Memorial and much more.
Soweto will redefine your preconceptions of townships and is a must see!
A stay in Johannesburg gives you the opportunity to enjoy its popular neighborhoods such as Braamfontein and Rosebank, or one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world, Maboneng!
Rosebank is a great part of Johannesburg to discover by foot with numerous coffee shops, art galleries, and vintage shops! Braamfontein is a trendy part of Johannesburg where you will find many coffee shops, pop-up shops, as well as the Neighbourgood market on Saturday mornings where artisan food, clothing stalls, and crafts are available. Lastly Maboneng, a no-go zone until the end of Apartheid in 1994, is now a unique area where arts, bars, and galleries are plenty.
Johannesburg still has plenty to offer from Gold Reef City, a park offering rides and a museum taking you to a gold mine. Or visit the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, a piece of nature in the city where you can find a stunning waterfall.
The city is a great all-year destination. Situated on the Eastern plateau of South Africa, Johannesburg’s temperature tends to stay mild throughout the year thanks to its elevation – the city peaks at 5,751 feet above sea level.
Winter, from May to September, is dry and the average maximum temperature at this time is around 61°F. Night can get quite chilly and occasionally go below freezing, however snow is a rare occurance.
Summer, from October to April, has temperatures rising to a maximum average of 78.1 °F during the daytime. In the afternoon thundershowers are quite common and evenings are cooler. Be careful of the sun though – because of it’s height, the city escapes burning hot temperature but the UV index is very high!
Pack casual and light clothes as the weather is generally warm, and don’t forget a jacket for cooler evenings. An umbrella can be useful during summer months!
As with any large city, visitors should be aware that Johannesburg isn’t an exception when it comes to crime and you are advised to be careful. The city is, however, much safer than a few years ago, thanks to the economic stability. With a few precautions the vast majority of visitors enjoy a stay without any fear or trouble. Keep in mind that poverty is one of the main motives for attacks, therefore you should avoid showing wealth and expensive belongings – keep them in a safe – carry the minimum amount of money you need, be confident but don’t show off.
We advise you to avoid walking at nights unless you are in a populated and well-lit area and listen to the local’s advice on security – even though they can be extra careful! During daytime you can walk in busy neighborhoods but remain aware of your surroundings and avoid narrow alleys. If you feel uncomfortable, follow your instinct and leave the area.
Being multicultural, Johannesburg is also very welcoming and its inhabitants very friendly and always happy to help. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice or information.
Easy to reach, welcoming to tourists, offering all the best of what South Africa has to offer, and with access to World Heritage Sites, unique museums and a wide range of food and cafés, Johannesburg is firmly on the map and a beautiful way to spend time during your trip to South Africa.
