Introduction to Johannesburg
Johannesburg, or Jo’burg as it is has become known, is probably not the first place you think of visiting when planning a trip in South Africa. The city has a history of civil unrest and in the 1970s and 1980s was certainly a dangerous place to be. However, much has changed since the elections of 1994 and, though visitors still need to be wary of crime, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the warmth of the welcome you’ll receive and the quality of accommodation and eateries to be found in the city.
Most visitors to Jo’burg stay in the wealthy Sandton area where accommodation ranges from luxury hotels to comfortable and very affordable guest houses to the wonderful Cape Dutch country manors. Sandton is also one of the best places to go shopping in the city. The Sandton City and Sandton Square shopping malls are two of the biggest in Jo’burg and are right next to each other, so you can literally shop til you drop. There are also a number of good restaurants in the square where you can refuel after a morning spent trotting around looking for bargains.
For a more relaxed and quirky shopping experience, make your way to the Brightwater Commons complex which is built around a large artificial lake. As well as a good selection of fashion retailers and quaint little curio shops, it is also home to a busy flea market that sells everything from clothing to Chinese food.
One of the most popular day tours on a trip to Johannesburg is a visit to Soweto. Despite its violent history and the poverty that was rife until fairly recently (the area was only wired for electricity in 1985), the township has become much safer since 1994 and is now a bustling city in its own right. Two places certainly worth visiting on a trip to Soweto include the house that Nelson Mandela lived in before his imprisonment and the excellent Apartheid Museum, which provides an insight into the recent history of the city. By and large, visitors receive a very warm and genuine welcome from the people living there, however there are still parts of Soweto where crime is rampant, so under no circumstances should you venture into the area without a guide.
While Johannesburg may not be the highlight of a trip to South Africa, if you give it a chance, are wary of crime, and don’t venture off the beaten track without a local guide, you’ll be surprised at how much this city has to offer.