Johannesburg
The bustling metropolis of Johannesburg may not seem all that big when compared to cities like New York and London, but by South African standards it is not only the largest and most populous city – it is the epicenter of the country. This massive urban area is very cosmopolitan in nature, with people from different nationalities, cultures and countries coming together here to share their ideals and dreams. Johannesburg enjoys a vibrant lifestyle that its inhabitants revel in at every opportunity. This is the place where life all comes together in one colorful hodgepodge mixture of life.
It all started in 1886 when a farmer named George Harrison discovered gold on his farm “Langlaagte”. Suddenly dreams of instant wealth brought hordes of gold diggers and fortune hunters to his door and before long a tent town sprung up to accommodate this assortment of people. Initially it was each man to his own, but before long people realized that it was those with more money for digging tools and manpower that were achieving the most success with their mining ventures. So partnerships and coalitions were formed and before long more gold was discovered. This lead to the formation of even larger mining corporations and soon, the temporary tents were being replaced by more permanent and luxurious structures. It was these structures which steadily became the city of Johannesburg.Today the city is a far cry from these humble beginnings. It is a massive sprawling cornucopia of wealth and diversity, stretching out to meet the horizons on virtually every side. The city features massive shopping malls and entertainment complexes, the largest airport in the country, a great permanent theme park and much, much more. This largely built-up city offers visitors a chance to experience life in the South African concrete jungle. There are more than 2000 superb restaurants to choose from in and around the city which feature splendid cuisine and prices to suit every budget. Some of the countries top museums, such as the Africana Museum, the Geological Museum, the Museum of African Rock Art and the Railway Museum and Museum of Transport, can be found here.
Other attractions include the Johannesburg Art Gallery, the Johannesburg Planetarium, the Florence Bloom Bird Sanctuary, the Johannesburg Zoo, the Melrose Bird Sanctuary and the ever-enchanting Monte Casino. In addition to this there are a number of theatres, cinema complexes, shopping complexes and lakes and dams where you can participate in water sports or enjoy a picnic. Of course, no trip would be complete without a visit to Gold Reef City – a theme park with an interesting historical twist. You can also enjoy day tours of Pretoria and Sun City that start and end in Johannesburg.
Of course, as with every big city, there is a dark side that should be carefully avoided. Crime can be a major problem and visitors – especially foreigners – would do well to travel with locals who know how to avoid the dangers that present themselves in Johannesburg. It would be wise to avoid pursuing a ‘true African experience’ here, choosing to rather stick to the better known and clearly safer areas, instead of trying to be adventurous and exploring areas that you have been warned against. If you do attempt a tour of an area that has a reputation for being somewhat unsafe, make sure that you do so in the company of a certified guide who will be best prepared to keep you safe. However, don’t let this put you off visiting Johannesburg altogether. After all, more than three million people cannot be wrong. Johannesburg is a probably one of the best places to learn more about contemporary South African culture and to experience the vibe that this culture delivers.
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