Sasha In South Africa

"So, where are the guys with the guns?"

May be your first thought on arriving in Johannesburg. Whilst Joburg has a fearsome reputation and people like speaking about how many times they've been killed there, in reality it's not too frightening. For most people the closest sign of the potential violence are the bricked up walls hiding beautiful residential houses, with electric fences and razor wire above them and a sign indicating "armed response". 

Johannesburg represents the spirit of South Africa, and in some ways a visit to the country is not complete without an introduction to the city. It is the capital of Gauteng province and the largest city in the country; and is endearingly known to locals as Joburg, Jozi or Egoli (place of Gold). Indeed, mine dumps are never far away, rubbing shoulders with the fruits of its labour - shiny modern skyscrapers intermingled with 19th century architecture, Indian bazaars & African muti shops (where traditional healers dispense advice & traditional medicine). 

Johannesburg is the largest city in the world not situated on a lake, navigable river or by the coast (the only reason that it was born was because of gold). It is home to Africa's tallest building, the Carlton Centre...

Top 10 things to do in Johannesburg

1. Visit "Mrs Ples" and "Little Foot", at the Sterkfontein Caves at the Cradle of Humanity, Maropeng.

2. Pet the lion cubs at the Rhino & Lion Park and visit the Elephant Sanctuary near the Hartebeespoort  Dam. 

3. our of Soweto (cycle, drive or walk) , including seeing the Hector Petersen memorial and museum, sampling a grilled sheep's head, locally known as a "smiley", bungee jumping from the Orlando Towers and eating at Wandie’s restaurant in Dube. . The Hector Pieterson museum focuses solely on the 1976 Soweto uprising, when police opened fire on school children and killed many, including the 12-year-old Hector Petersen.

4. The Apartheid Museum which you enter through either the whites or the non-whites entrance. 

5. View the city from the top of the Carlton Centre or via a Helicopter trip.

6. Gold Reef City amusement park, which is built on an old gold mine, with one of the rides dropping you from the top below ground level down into the shaft. 

7. Shopping or theatre. Shopping at Sandton, 44 Stanley, the Design Quarter, Rosebank Rooftop Market (open Sundays) or 4th Avenue (Parkhurst) . Theatre at the People's theatre (011-403-1563) or the Johannesburg Youth theatre (011-484-1584) or the Ubunye theatre at Emperor's Palace (011-928-1937.

8. Play a round of golf at Houghton Golf Club OR break in your hiking boots at the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve OR Watch a game of rugby at Ellis Park OR watch cricket at the Wanderers Cricket Ground OR watch football at Soccer City, South Africa's largest stadium. 

9. Walk through the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens on the West Rand.

10. Hot Air Ballooning at the Hartbeespoort Dam.

 Some of my clicks in Johannesburg:

 

Getting to and from Johannesburg

By air

OR Tambo International Airport (previously known as "Johannesburg International" and also previously known as "Jan Smuts") is South Africa's major hub, with frequent flights from overseas and within South Africa to all major cities.

By bus

Translux, Greyhound, Intercape and the Baz Bus connect Johannesburg to the major South African cities.

By car

Johannesburg is connected via the N1 national road to Cape Town and Pretoria. Johannesburg is connected via the N3 to Durban. If you rent a car in Johannesburg, then watch out for hijackings.

By train

The train station offers connections to Durban, and Cape Town.

 

***