Johannesburg has a population of 3.2 million people (South African 2001 census), half of which live in Soweto and adjacent suburbs. Black people form an overwhelming majority of 2.4 million residents (mostly concentrated in Soweto), while whites represent 500,000 residents (although the number is likely to be higher) and 300,000 Coloured and Asian residents. Unlike other South African cities, no language group dominates, although English is the established lingua franca.
The city is the economic hub of South Africa, and increasingly for the rest of Africa. Although estimates vary, about 10% of sub-Saharan Africa's GDP is generated in Johannesburg. Yet the city is also one of the most unequal in the world. Its riches are not evenly divided upon its people and the city is an interesting contrast between the First World and Third World. The contrast between rich and poor has led to one of the highest crime rates in the world. The haves tend to live in houses with a high level of security by western standards, whilst the have nots live in shacks or cheap housing. The traveller should not avoid Johannesburg because of its crime, since it is possible to have a safe and enjoyable stay if precautions are taken. Many South Africans elect to live here over other, safer parts of the country. Throughout the city, mine dumps are a reminder of the city's legacy of gold mining. These dumps are fast disappearing as new gold extraction techniques have made it profitable for mining companies to reprocess these dumps.
With around 6 million trees, Johannesburg is most likely the world's largest man-made urban forest. The city is certainly one of the greenest in the world, considering that the natural landscape is savannah. Jo'burg is also the largest city in the world not on a coastline or major river. The weather is generally regarded as excellent, temperatures reach the mid-30s Celsius in summer with little to no wind and occasional spectacular afternoon thunderstorms. Temperatures in winter can go into single digits but snow is extremely rare.
PLACE TO VISIT
Top of Africa, Carlton Centre, 8AM to 7PM daily. Get a panoramic view of the city from the top of Africa's tallest building R7.50.
Johannesburg Planetarium, See their website for upcoming shows. From R16 to R25, depending on show
Johannesburg Art Gallery,The biggest gallery on the African continent with a good collection of local and international work on display. And its free.
Mandela Family Museum in Orlando West, Soweto (Mandela's first house).
The Apartheid Museum, A very moving and informative trip through South Africa's turbulent past and present. It takes at least a half day to go through and includes video, pictures and many artifacts that you can easily spend a day looking through. It is located alongside Gold Reef City and is simply a must see.
Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, 9AM to 5PM Mon to Fri and 9AM to 4:30PM weekends and public holidays. Adults: R20, children: R10.
Standard Bank Gallery, Open 8AM to 4:30PM Monday to Friday and 9AM to 1PM on Saturdays. Entrance is free.
South African National Museum of Military History, Open daily 9AM to 4:30PM. A good collection of military hardware, including one of very few ME 262 jet fighters from WW2 still in existence. There is also a South African build G6 self propelled, 155mm howitzer on show. A snack shop as well as a shop selling genuine and reproduced vintage military equipment is located within the museum. R20 entrance fee.
James Hall museum of Transport, Open Tue to Sun 9AM to 5PM. Largest museum dedicated to transport in South Africa. Free entrance.
Origins Centre - The South African Museum of Rock Art: A Museum in Africa for the people of the world. An excellent multimedia display of the rock art and the origins of humankind. Good curio shop, book shop and coffee shop. 9AM to 4:30PM. Students R35. Adults R65
WHAT TO DO
Cloud 9 Spa Tues to Sat 10:30 to 19:00. Cloud 9 is a small spa offering massage, floatation and other spa therapies. From ZAR200.
Go on a Township Tour to Soweto
Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, One of the last green areas remaining within Johannesburg. Lots of birds, including the endangered Black Eagle. There is a restaurant situated within the grounds as well as picnic and braai areas. R18 per person, discounts for students and pensioners.
Take a trip to Constitution Hill, site of the notorious Old Fort prison complex.
South African Lipizzaners, Other than Vienna, this is the only place you will ever got to see performing Lipizzaners recognized by the Spanish Riding School. Booking can also be done via Computicket
Lesedi Cultural Village, Traditional dances and food in authentic Zulu, Sotho, Pedi, Xhosa and Ndebele villages.
Lion Park, The entrance ticket entitles you a visit with the lion cubs (yes, you get to touch them) and a self drive game viewing through the lion camps and game area (antelope, zebra, giraffe and others live here). The Lion Park can be very busy over weekend and public holidays. If you want some quality time with the lion cubs, rather go during the week when it is not so busy. If you are going to drive through the lion enclosures, make sure that there are no loose objects on the outside of your vehicle and keep your windows closed. The lions are especially fond of 4x4 spare wheel covers, so remove those before you enter. R80 per person.
Montecasino Bird Gardens, Open weekdays from 8:30AM to 5PM and weekend from 8:30AM to 6PM (Shows at 11AM and 3PM daily with additional 1PM shows over weekends). Many birds and other small wildlife. Also look out for the 2500 year old tree located near the parrots.
Gold Reef City, An amusement park with a casino. The visitor can also learn about gold mining and go into a mine here. Unfortunately Gold Reef isn't a theme-park of international standards so if you are expecting "Disney Land Africa" give it a miss.
HOW TO REACH
By car - A high number of highways from everywhere in South Africa go to Johannesburg, like the N1 from Cape Town and Bloemfontein or the N3 from Durban making it an easy to reach destination.
Traffic can be particularly bad during peak hours (M-F 7.30AM-9AM and 4PM-6.30PM) so plan your journey accordingly. Due to the increasing number of cars sold traffic in Johannesburg has progressively got worse and travel times during the Monday to Friday need to consider this. As the city is spread out and large getting around may require covering large distances e.g. from Midrand to Soweto is in excess of 45 km.
By plane - OR Tambo International Airport in Ekurhuleni is located just east of Johannesburg and is the major airport in South Africa.
Other airports, such as Lanseria Airport or Rand Airport are preferred by charter operators and small airlines. There are regular flights from Lanseria to Cape Town.
By train - Spoornet operates regular inter-city trains to destinations all over the country, including Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth, East London, Pietermaritzburg, Nelspruit and Polokwane.
MetroRail operates frequent commuter trains to many suburbs and outlying towns.
Johannesburg's central station (called Park Station) is in the city centre between Rissik (west), Wolmarans (north), Wanderers (east) and De Villiers (south) streets - it occupies several blocks. Whilst the station itself is quite safe, the areas around it may not be ; be careful and try to organise onward transport prior to arrival. All long-distance Spoornet trains are quite safe, as are most MetroRail trains,
By bus - Long-distance buses arrive at Park Station (see "By train" above). All major bus companies provide a service to and from Johannesburg.
