Travel to Johannesburg

Travel to Johannesburg

Johannesburg has many affectionate names including Joburg, Josi, Joeys and Egoli, the latter being Zulu for place of gold. Nowadays, with the last of Johannesburgs mines having run out of gold-bearing ore some decades ago, the city is a vibrant, colourful, eccentric, fast-paced and sometimes unpredictable place, which still carries the burden of its troubles in the modern era, yet does so with a positive vision of the future.

Transportation to Johannesburg

Johannesburg International Airport consists of six terminals, and it is the main transportation hub of South Africa. There are direct flights to major cities around the world, providing access to Johannesburg from almost anywhere. Frequent train services run from neighbouring countries and from Cape Town and Durban, while buses and minibuses also service Johannesburg from both far and near.

What to see

The historical path through the apartheid era is obviously an area of great interest and the city offers an all-consuming array of museums, exhibits and memories about this troubled time in the countrys history. A good live music scene, colourful and abundant nightlife is complemented by excellent accommodation facilities and cosmopolitan dining choices. For many, Johannesburg offers a unique insight into African life.

Daytrips

Joburg offers plenty of daytrips, with possibly the best being a tour around the notorious Soweto. These days, the former township is a rejuvenated tourist attraction and much has changed since the fall of apartheid. A modern and fascinating museum dedicated to those troubled timesmakes fascinating viewing in Soweto. Other trips include a visit to the amusement paradise of Gold Reef City, or perhaps a trip to a cultural village to see tribesmen and women at work.

Activities and leisure

The vast city of Johannesburg is home to many golf courses, racing tracks and football, cricket and rugby stadiums, making it a haven for sports lovers, whether spectating or competing. There is a wide range of shopping opportunities, with perhaps the best of them being at the local flea markets. Johannesburg houses several museums and galleries, where much of the content is centred around the apartheid era.

Safety issues

Much has been said about safety issues in Johannesburg in the last decade, but in truth, crime is on the decline. Thats not to say that Johannesburg is a safe city, as dangers do exist here and extreme care should be taken at all times, especially at night. Joburg is free of malaria, a disease that plagues much of the African continent.