Introducing Johannesburg

Johannesburg, Jozi, Joburg, Egoli, City of Gold.  This city of many names and faces is a vibrant commercial and cultural powerhouse and home to over 3.5 million people.  As South Africa's largest city and financial capital it is no wonder that visitors flock here for both business and pleasure.

Johannesburg grew from a small nugget of a mining settlement established on the Witwatersrand reef in 1886.  From its inception, gold shaped the city's growth and development. Today it sits in the country's wealthiest province of Gauteng boasting not only some of the best shopping centres in Africa, but also the largest man-made forest in the world.

At its heart is the central business district, including Newtown to the west and Braamfontein on its northern outskirts. To its South, Soweto sprawls outwards, offering an intriguing mix of history and culture that has sparked a thriving tourism industry. North of Braamfontein lies Johannesburg's 'other' centre: Sandton CBD. Greater Sandton is home to some of Johannesburg's wealthiest suburbs. The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality encompasses the suburbs to the east of Johannesburg's heart, including Kempton Park and Benoni. Joburg is an energetic metropolitan laced with fascinating sights, tastes and sounds, whether you want to eat, shop, party, learn, relax, do business or be enriched by Jozi heritage.

Essential Attractions

Buy Joburg

Collect African curios at Rosebank African Market; go green at Bryanston Organic Market; invest in contemporary art on Rosebank Art Strip; boost your bling at Sandton City; decorate your home at Design Quarter, Fourways.

Chill Joburg

Lose yourself in Brenthurst Gardens; picnic beneath a waterfall at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens; float in a boat on Emmerentia Dam; clear your head at Gillooly's Farm; hit the Moyo deck at Zoo Lake.

Eat Joburg

Moyo for African ambience; The Green Peppercorn for fascinating fusion; Browns of Rivonia when you mean business; La Cucina di Ciro for slow food; Wandie's Place for Soweto staples; Moemas for plump little tarts.

Jive Joburg

Try your luck at Emperors Palace; listen to the sounds of music in The Teatro at Montecasino; watch a local play at Market Theatre; jazz into the Sowetan night at Backroom Lounge; catch a live performance at The Blues Room (Village Walk).

Learn Joburg

Brush up on African history at MuseuMAfricA; experiment with science at Sci-Bono Discovery Centre; let off some steam at Heidelberg Transport Museum; experience freedom at the Apartheid Museum;  go back to your roots at the Origins Centre.

See Joburg

Dig deep at Gold Reef City; join the historic dots on Newtown's Heritage Trail; stand behind bars at Constitution Hill; unearth the truth at Liliesleaf Farm; take a tour of Kliptown.

Wild Joburg

Cuddle a lion cub at the Lion Park; spend a night at Johannesburg Zoo; walk on the wild side at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve; tee-off Egoli style at The Country Club Johannesburg; bungee jump off Orlando Towers.

Transport in and around Johannesburg, Gauteng

Air

Johannesburg is serviced by two airports - O.R. Tambo International Airport to the east of the city and the smaller Lanseria Airport to the northwest.  Lanseria deals largely with domestic flights and is the closest airport to Sandton, Westrand and Midrand. O.R. Tambo sees around 17 million passengers a year from both domestic and international flights. http://www.airports.co.za.

Rail

Construction of a rapid rail link - Gautrain - between Johannesburg and Pretoria is well on its way. Currently, the Gautrain connects O.R. Tambo International Airport with Sandton central business district. www.gautrain.co.za.

Bus

Metrobus covers about 80 scheduled routes throughout greater Johannesburg. www.mbus.co.za.  Rea Vaya is a new Bus Rapid Transit system being introduced into the city. It currently runs between Soweto and Johannesburg CBD, with an excellent inner city circular route also in operation. www.reavaya.org.za.

Car

Car rental companies abound at O.R. Tambo International Airport. Although car hire affords greater independence, do expect traffic congestion and extended rush hours. A GPS is recommended for city driving.

Taxi

A number of metered taxi services are available to visitors, but these must be called for in advance rather than hailed in the street. Ask at your hotel for recommended service providers or visit www.corporatecabs.co.za; www.rosetaxis.com and www.cabsforwomen.co.za.

Essential Information

Climate

Johannesburg has a temperate climate with blue skies and sunshine most of the year round. During summer (October to April) afternoon thundershowers can be experienced, but winter days are dry, sunny and mild with cold, sometimes frosty nights.

Language

English is spoken throughout Johannesburg, as well as Afrikaans, Sotho, Tswana, Xhosa and Zulu.

Important Telephone Numbers

• Dialling Code: 011
• Flying Squad: 10111
• Ambulance: 10177
• Emergency Medical Response: 082-911
• City of Johannesburg Emergency Connect: 011-375-5911 (24-hour)
• Time Zone: GMT +2
• Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. Round three-pin plugs are standard