Johannesburg hasn’t typically been known as the tourist destination in South Africa but is however the city you can not miss since it is the transit point for hooking up flights to Cape Town, Durban, and also the Kruger National Park. Consequently, most international visitors to South Africa pass through Johannesburg at least one time on their Holiday.
It is the largest city in South Africa and is the capital of Gauteng province-the wealthiest region of South Africa. It houses the constitutional court of South Africa that handled all crimes of Apartheid and racism in South Africa. The city is the source of a large-scale gold and diamond trade, due to its location on the mineral-rich Witwatersrand range of hills.
Johannesburg South Africa is additionally famous for it notorious suburbs like, for Soweto and Alexandra. Most visitors to Soweto have to visit the Mandela Museum that is situated within the former home of Nelson Mandela. Soweto, which was a separate city from the late 1970s was an original acronym for “
South-Western Townships
” home ot many native blacks during the apartheid regime until 1990.
Tourist Attractions
The
Cradle of Mankind
a UNESCO World Heritage Site is 25 kms (16 mi) towards the northwest from the city. The Sterkfontein fossil site is known for being the earth’s wealthiest hominid site and created the very first adult Australopithecus africanus and also the first near-complete skeleton of the early Australopithecine. The Roots Center Museum showcases the roots of mankind in Africa, and houses a comprehensive assortment of rock art.
The town has several art museums, like the Johannesburg Art Gallery, which featured South African and European works of art. The Market Theatre complex achieved prestige within the seventies and 1980s by staging anti-apartheid plays, and it has now be a center for modern South African playwriting. Recent refurbishments has been centred on historical museums, like the Apartheid Museum and also the Hector Pieterson Museum.
The Johannesburg Social Theatre is South Africa’s foremost “receiving house” of live entertainment-showing world class theatre, both local and international.The And surrounding suburbs of Melville, Newtown, Parkhurst, Norwood, Rosebank and Greenside are popular for his or her bohemian atmosphere, street existence, and several restaurants and bars.
Additionally a large draw for vacationers is
Gold Reef City
, a style park that provides a depiction of mining existence in the turn from the nineteenth century, including an subterranean mine tour other points of interest incorporate a large amusement park along with a popular Tribal Dancing show. Other points of interest in this region range from the Lesedi Cultural Village, while Magaliesburg and also the Hartbeespoort Dam are popular weekend (and holiday) locations for Johannesburg citizens.
Wildlife in Johannesburg
The Johannesburg Zoo is among the biggest wildlife centre or Zoo in South Africa. The Lion Park reserve, near Lanseria, hosts over 80 lions as well as other game, as the Krugersdorp Character Reserve, a Game Reserve, is really a forty minute drive in the city center. The Lion Park can be very busy over weekends and public holidays. If you want some quality time with the lion cubs, it is better to go during the week when it is not so busy.
The Rhino & Lion reserve located in the “Cradle of Mankind” on 1200 ‘ of “the normal highveld of Gauteng” also runs a breeding programme for endangered species including Bengal Tigers, Siberian Tigers and also the very rare White lion.
Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens is one of the last green areas remaining within Johannesburg housing Lots of birds, including the endangered Black Eagle. Montecasino Bird Gardens is open 8:030h to 18h00 every day for those tourist that love birds like theparrots
Getting there
Johannesburg is served by O.R. Tambo International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in Africa and a gateway for international air travel to and from the rest of Southern Africa. There are weekly/daily flights from Johannesburg to Cape town with cheap flight tickets for South Africa Holidays, Honeymoons and Beach holidays. More recently Lanseria International Airport has started international flights, and is situated conveniently on the opposite side of the metropolis. Get direct South Africa flights from London heatherow with South Africa Airways and other renowned international airlines.
Park Station
is Johannesburg’s central station and is in the city center between Rissik (west), Wolmarans (north), Wanderers (east) and De Villiers (south) streets, it occupies several blocks. Trains run from Johannesburg and Germiston outwards to Springs, Pretoria, Soweto and Krugersdorp. You can visit the city with a hired car, using minibuses or public transport means like buses and taxis.
Hotels and Accommodation
There are several places to stay in Johannesburg including five star intercontinental South Africa hotels, apartments, chalets, bed and breakfast, Guesthouses and others. There are many near the Tambo Jo’burg airport and scattered in all parts of the city.
Offers include a wide range of options to suit all pockets and requirements, ranging from the super luxury to the standard en suite room. Get tourist facilities for Johannesburg South Africa Hotels such as air-conditioned rooms, wireless internet access, gift shop, spacious lounge, Bernoullis Restaurant and Wine Bar, beauty salon and in-house gymnasium are available. Among the services provided are dry cleaning and laundry, secretarial and business services.
Shopping
Shopping is frequently well-liked by vacationers, because the city offers a variety of venues and encounters, from numerous upmarket shopping malls for example Sandton City and
Nelson Mandela
Square, to numerous marketplaces and flea marketplaces, like the Oriental Plaza and also the Rosebank Flea Market the second are popular for souvenirs and African Art.
There are many craft markets in Johannesburg and the surrounding areas. You will also find plenty of beautifully crafted beadwork and wirework being sold on the roadside and at intersections. Though you will be able to bargain with the locals, give a thought to the crafters who are often unemployed and rely on sales to support themselves and their families
