a relentless quest to expose the
cheapest flights
in, to and from South Africa
a relentless quest to expose the
cheapest flights
in, to and from South Africa
Johannesburg"Err...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, the capital of Gauteng province, is the largest city in the country; and is nicknamed 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.
1 |
Pet the lion cubs at the Rhino & Lion Park |
2 |
Tour of Soweto, including seeing the Hector Petersen memorial and museum, and sampling a grilled sheep's head, locally known as a "smiley". 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. |
3 |
The Apartheid Museum which you enter through either the whites or the non-whites entrance. |
4 |
View the city from the top of the Carlton Centre. |
5 |
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. |
6 |
Helicopter trip over the city |
7 |
Shopping at Sandton OR watch 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 |
9 |
Botanical Gardens on the West Rand |
10 |
Johannesburg Zoo (011-646-2000, the Zoo often has educational programmes for children and adults) OR go to the Bird Show at Montecasino. |
The view from the top of the Carlton Centre 
1 |
Gingko Restaurant (011-486-3361) in Parkview - organic vegeterian & child/pet friendly |
2 |
Assaggi |
3 |
Moyo |
4 |
Pigalle (011-884-8899) in Michelangelo Towers in Sandton |
5 |
Backroom in Soweto (African cuisine) |
6 |
the Saxon |
7 |
Ivorian cuisine in Yeoville |
8 |
Le Soufflé in Fourways |
9 |
Somali cuisine in Mayfair |
10 |
Col'Cacchio (011-463-5034) in Bryanston, for pizza |
11 |
Osteria Tre Nonni (011-327-0096) in Craighall Park - old school Italian |
12 |
Chefs in Motion |
13 |
Ethiopian food in Jeppe Street |
14 |
Harrison's (011-807-0825) on 12th Avenue in Rivonia |
15 |
Auberge Michel |
1 |
"Smacked" by Melinda Ferguson |
2 |
"Midnight Missionary" by Kleinboer |
3 |
"Welcome to our Hillbrow" by Phaswane Mpe |
4 |
"Room 207" by Kgebetli Moele |
5 |
"People who have stolen from me" by David Cohen |
6 |
"People like ourselves" by Pamela Jooste |
7 |
"Ponte City" by Norman Ohler |
8 |
"The Restless Supermarket" by Ivan Vladislavic |
9 |
"Laduma" by A.K. Thembeka |
10 |
"Sad at the Edges" by Joanne Richards |
13 Aug 2009 |
Science fiction film about aliens in Johannesburg. |
Sunet in Midrand, Johannesburg |
|
order home-made chocolate in Johannesburg |
For accommodation in Johannesburg, see our list of Johannesburg hotels.
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.
Construction has begun on a new central terminal building, which will provide a central passenger-processing unit for both domestic and international passengers - construction is on track for completion by December 2009. Construction is being planned to handle the larger and wider new Airbus A380 aircraft. Four new contact stands are to be built with dual air bridges to facilitate the boarding and disembarking of passengers through both the upper and lower levels of the plane. The new facility will be connected to the planned Gautrain Rapid Rail Link.
Translux, Greyhound, Intercape and the Baz Bus connect Johannesburg to the major South African cities.
Johannesburg is connected via the N1 national road to Cape Town and Pretoria. Johannesburg is connected via the N3 to Durban.
The train station offers connections to Durban, and Cape Town.
On Sunday, the 30th August 2009, the Rea Vaya coaches had their inaugural trip from central Johannesburg to Soweto. At the bus stations queues of people waited to board, singing singing 'rea vaya' (we are moving) and some waving South African flags. The bus/coaches have been constructed to be friendly to the disabled, and some people on wheelchairs got on the buses.
Travellers should be vigilant at all times, especially at bus stations, airports (especially Johannesburg International Airport) & traffic lights as organised gangs are known to operate there. Visitors should be especially vigilant in the central business district as muggings and carjackings are prevalent.
Derek Luke |
"I don't know, I guess I thought a camel would be at the airport to take me to my tent or something," says Luke, only half-joking. "But guess what? They have rental cars, good hotels, big buildings. Just like New York - only with nicer people." Derek Luke speaking about the filming of the apartheid movie "Catch a Fire". |
Derek Luke |
"When I got there it was a bit like finding roots, or a heritage, because I knew nothing of Africa. I went there ignorant of everything except the script I was doing. I didn't know what I would encounter. I didn't know if I would be living in the bush. Phillip (Noyce) said we'd be living as if on safari, and I got very excited. So I get out there, and Johannesburg looks like New York!" Derek Luke speaking about the filming of the apartheid movie "Catch a Fire". |
Johannesburg contributes over a third of South Africa's GDP (11% of Africa's GDP).
Suburbs |
Auckland Park |
Bertrams |
Glen Austin |
Hillbrow |
Newtown |
Randburg |
Sandton |
Soweto |
With some 10 million trees, Johannesburg contains the largest man-made forest in the world. Many of the trees were planted in the 19th century in Joburg's northern suburbs to provide wood for the mining industry.
Johannesburg's weather is characterised by wet warm summers and dry cold winters. If you love electric storms, then Johannesburg in summer is for you. Unfortuanately, there is often a thick layer of smog over Johannesburg.
New York & Johannesburg - Sister Cities |
|
New York |
2003 |
Cry the Beloved Country |
by Alan Paton |
29 December 2007 |
|
12 August 2007 |
|
12 August 2006 |
