Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the economic powerhouse of Africa.  A dynamic city ‘Joburg’ has great places to eat, good shopping, interesting sites to visit and a good range of quality places to stay.The best thing about Johannesburg is its very central and accessible location.

The OR Tambo International Airport is where most international flights arrive, making Johannesburg the ‘Gateway to Africa’. From there it’s a short hop onward to your next destination. You can be in a top safari destination like the Kruger National Park or the Madikwe Private Game Reserve within an hour, or Sun City is a quick 2.5 hour drive and the most luxurious train in the world, Rovos Rail, departs from Pretoria on most days.

Gold was discovered in the region in 1886 setting off a mass migration of people to Johannesburg to try their luck at finding this treasure. A city literally built on gold, the new settlement was named by two men, Johannes Meyer and Johannes Rissik, both involved in land surveying. It is believed that the two, sharing the same first name, chose to call the new region Johannesburg in honour of themselves.

Johannesburg is the economic powerhouse of Africa.  A dynamic city ‘Joburg’ has great places to eat, good shopping, interesting sites to visit and a good range of quality places to stay.The best thing about Johannesburg is its very central and accessible location.

The OR Tambo International Airport is where most international flights arrive, making Johannesburg the ‘Gateway to Africa’. From there it’s a short hop onward to your next destination. You can be in a top safari destination like the Kruger National Park or the Madikwe Private Game Reserve within an hour, or Sun City is a quick 2.5 hour drive and the most luxurious train in the world, Rovos Rail, departs from Pretoria on most days.

Gold was discovered in the region in 1886 setting off a mass migration of people to Johannesburg to try their luck at finding this treasure. A city literally built on gold, the new settlement was named by two men, Johannes Meyer and Johannes Rissik, both involved in land surveying. It is believed that the two, sharing the same first name, chose to call the new region Johannesburg in honour of themselves.

It is not often that we actually put Johannesburg in an itinerary but many times it is necessary to spend one or two days in the city as it is the main air traffic hub of Southern Africa. The majority of people that do spend their time exploring Johannesburg while staying there really do enjoy it and may even want to stay longer the next time round – it is truly a vibey place! It may seem overwhelming to a first-time visitor as the area is relatively flat with few natural landmarks and therefore we do suggest an airport transfer to get to your hotel. Most visitors stick to the more affluent northern suburbs of Johannesburg that have inviting shopping malls, good hotels and top eateries.

One of the most popular day trips in Johannesburg is a tour of Soweto, where you can visit struggle monuments, artists in their studios or a range of informal taverns and music venues.

Enquire with one of our Travel Experts on how best to go about planning your stay in Johannesburg, and what accommodations will most suit your taste and budget. They will also be able to advise and help you with planning the rest of your African holiday itinerary.