Johannesburg

Affectionately dubbed Jozi, Johannesburg is a young, vibrant, and exciting city, showcasing the best that South Africa's urban culture has to offer.

Built on the wealth of gold beneath its streets, the remarkable city of Johannesburg mushroomed from nothing to a modern metropolis in just over a century. There are wonderful restaurants, township tours, fantastic shopping opportunities, and the chance of exciting excursions to such diverse attractions as safaris, prehistoric fossil fields and world class museums.

The city also illustrates the desperate income inequality that still characterises South African society, and the combination of palatial homes in glamorous suburbs and sprawling shanty towns can be challenging for visitors.

Johannesburg is a good place to learn about South Africa's apartheid history, with some excellent museums and tours dedicated to the subject. The city is also the gateway to South Africa's top game parks. Many who enter the country here would be well-advised to spend a few days in the City of Gold to experience this vibrant city before or after they hit the bush.

What to do in Johannesburg

• Take a tour of Constitution Hill - the seat of South Africa's Constitutional Court -for an insight into South Africa's repressive and ultimately proud constitutional and legal history.
• Explore the fascinating city within a city that is Soweto.
• Visit the Apartheid Museum, one of the country's most renowned attractions.
• Enjoy the vibrant cultural and nightlife hub that is the Newtown Cultural Precinct.

Beyond Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the most common entry point for foreign visitors to South Africa and is well-situated to be a travel hub, particularly to the country's biggest and most popular national parks, which attract tourists wanting the safari experience. The Kruger National Park, undoubtedly one of the best game viewing destinations in the world, is a short flight or a five-hour drive from Johannesburg. For those interested in the origins and history of the human species, the Cradle of Humankind, just outside of Johannesburg, is a must.

Did you know?

• Johannesburg is one of the youngest major cities in the world.
• About 40 percent of the planet's ancient human ancestor fossils have been found in the Johannesburg area.
• With more than 10 million trees, Johannesburg often tops lists of the most treed cities in the world.

Weather

The weather is generally regarded as excellent; temperatures reach the mid-30s Celsius (95°F) in the summer months (Dec-Feb) with little to no wind and with occasional, spectacular afternoon thunderstorms. Temperatures in winter can drop into single digits Celsius but snow is extremely rare..