Johannesburg Travel Guide
Travel guide to Johannesburg, South Africa with comprehensive information about events, shopping, and major Johannesburg sporting events to help you enjoy your visit more.
Johannesburg Overview
Not that many people actually visit Johannesburg itself any more; it has become little more than an arrival point into South Africa, and a waiting room for tourists before they head on to more convivial surroundings. A place to change planes and move on as soon as possible before getting to a final destination somewhere else. From Jo'burg, the attractions people head for are varied: The Kruger National park for safari; the spectacular Sun City Resort; and of course the Garden Route and Cape Town.
It is a pity that people leave so quickly though, because with its great climate, and many attractions close by, Johannesburg has a lot to offer for tourists, including the best museums and galleries in the country, not to mention plenty of great historically important sites. A few days touring the city is a real eye-opener to and shows the true contradictions of modern South Africa.
No matter why you visit South Africa, whether you want to see the animals, or the natural beauty, to laze on the beaches near Durban, Johannesburg will usually be your first port of call. A Place that is worth taking a little time to see, because as the largest city in the country, it is in the slums and townships rather than the manicured resorts where you will see the real friendliness and optimism of South Africa.
Top Johannesburg Attractions
The main attractions for any visitor to Johannesburg are to be found away from the city itself. The popular Sun City resort is a couple of hours away to the north, and offers holidaymakers the chance to enjoy a sanitised version of Africa complete with heavily manicured golf courses and an impressive water park.
For your chance to see the wildlife for which Africa is most famous, there are many reserves in central South Africa within reach of Johannesburg, and most famous of these is the mighty Kruger National Park. Home to all of the "Big Five" animals, Kruger National Park also offers a range of options when it comes to picking out a place to stay with accommodation of every conceivable standard available in the park.
Shopping in Johannesburg
The main area for shopping in Johannesburg is to be found in the upmarket suburb of Sandton. There you can choose from a number of glamorous shopping malls and take advantage of the low cost of living in South Africa to pick up some real bargains.
Away from the city - particularly in the national parks, prices are much higher than in the city, so it pays to stock up on essentials before you leave town. A handy tip to bear in mind in South Africa is that if you plan to do a lot of shopping and then go on Safari, most hotels will store your things for you so you can pick them up after your trip.
Johannesburg Sporting Events
In Johannesburg itself, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in sport with jogging trails and swimming pools at most hotels. Golf is popular in South Africa, and there are a number of well-designed courses available around the city for you to choose from.
Out in the wilderness, should you want to get back to nature, most game lodges will arrange game walks and even horse riding trips through the game reserves.
Hunting animals is a contentious issue, although it is considered important to the economy of the country, and a number of companies will allow you the opportunity to stalk and kill to your heart's content. Just don't expect people to like it.
