Introduction
Johannesburg lies on the southern slopes of the Witwatersrand, in the Transvaal, which is the northeastern region of South Africa. It is thirty miles south-southwest of Pretoria. A mining town founded in 1886 when gold was discovered on a white-settlers farm - Johannesburg became the hub of South African gold mining through World War II, and an important industrial, as well as financial centre thereafter.

What to do
Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest and most vibrant city. It offers the tourist a lot to choose from including recreational facilities, historical sites, nature escapes, botanical gardens, mountain trails, and vibrant wildlife.

City at a Glance

Latitude 26°11’ S Longitude 28°3’ E Population 1,800,000 (Approximately in 1995) Language Afrikaans, isiZulu, English Religion Christianity Telephone Code 011

History
‘History has shown all its colours’ - is all, one can say while talking about the past of Johannesburg. The present site of the city and suburbs of Johannesburg was a marshy land occupied by a sparse population of semi-nomadic Bantu speaking tribes till as late as 1800 AD. The migration of Boers (descendants of early Dutch, French and German immigrants) from 1837 onwards and the subsequent accidental discovery of gold by an Australian mason named George Harrison changed the fortune of this region. The government of Transvaal quickly realising that the gold reefs in the Witwatersrand, usually called the Rand, were fantastically rich, decided to raise a town on a triangular swatch of land between the three Boers farms. This new town got the name of Johannesburg after the two men who determined the site.

Johannesburg attained its full character as a well-developed mining town by 1886. The next three years saw a boom in the mining activity of this town as almost 500 companies got involved in this work. All this was however cut short by the sudden discovery of a layer of phyric ore, which made gold mining tough and uneconomical. A solution to this was found in the Mac Arthur - Forrest cyanide extraction process that facilitated the process of extraction of gold from the layers of phyric ores.

This renewed upswing in the mining trade attracted the British. As a result, in 1894, Prime Minister Cecil Rhodes of the Cape colony annexed several territories bordering on the Transvaal, to stop the Boer expansion. The hostilities continued though and finally resulted in the famous Anglo-Boer War of 1899 in which the British got victory, though not without some tough resistance from the ranks of the Boers.

Since then the history of Johannesburg is one of booming mining trade troubled here and there by some major protests by the mineworkers who were dissatisfied with their poor living and working environments. The labour unrest of 1913 is a clear reminder of this.

World war I saw the gradual transformation of Johannesburg into an industrial centre. The Great Depression of the 1930’s, temporarily halted development in and around Johannesburg. However a few important decisions of Prime Minister Hertzog mattered, to the extent, that they pulled this region out of this crisis.

Ever since the late 1940’s, mining has moved further away from Johannesburg. This can be easily reflected from the fact that in 1951, 34% of the city’s population worked in the mining industry, which dropped to a meagre 9% by 1970.

Johannesburg like other regions of Suth Africa has been witness to the unrest and protests of the anti apartheid days

The abolition of apartheid in 1994 has brought about some changes in the social dimensions of the city. However, the future of Johannesburg under black rule is still uncertain. Since 1990, the Rand has been torn by violent clashes, on both sides, between members of the African National Congress and their rivals in the Inkatha Party.

Despite all - this Johannesburg, the largest in the country and one of the largest on the continent, is the major industrial and financial centre of South Africa.

Weather and Best Season to Visit
Johannesburg is a great place to visit anytime of the year. Summers are warm and humid. Winters are moderate. The city has so much to offer all throughout the year that climate and weather conditions can take a back seat while deciding on the plans to visit this city.

Attractions
Gold Reef City
This stands out as one of the major landmarks of Johannesburg. Built at Crown Mines, the City has been designed to give the feel of what Johannesburg was like at the turn of the last century. You will find a number of fully furnished mining houses, museum exhibits, a hotel with staff attired in yesteryear gear, as well as quaint streets with penny whistlers. The biggest attractions here, off course is the 220 meters deep historic underground shaft, which held the World Shaft Sinking record in 1916 and was, during its heydays, one of the richest gold mine in the world.

Museums and Theatres
Speaking of museums, there are a whole lot of them in and around Johannesburg; including the SA National Museum of Military History near the Johannesburg Zoo, the James Hall Museum of Transport in La Rochelle, SA National Railway & Steam Museum, Bensusan Museum of Photography, Bernard Price Institute Palaeontology Museum, Barnberg Fashion Museum, Museum Africa, and the Madiba Freedom Museum.

Randburg Waterfront
Randburg Waterfront offers a relaxed harbour like setting fringing a man-made lake fed by the Jukskei River. Restaurants, pubs, metro cinemas, entertainment areas, and a golf course line the waterfront making it one of the best sites to visit in Johannesburg. Over 40 retail stores cater to every need ranging from casual to chic. Besides, you can also indulge in water sports like scuba diving and water skiing; or let your adrenalin flow by going bungee jumping or go-carting.

This place is also famous for some of the most spectacular displays of liquid fireworks, musical fountains, and magic shows.

Johannesburg Botanical Gardens
Covering an area of 365 acres - the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens is famous for its enchanting walks, amidst amazing gardens abound with nature’s bounty. The biggest attraction within the garden is a 24 acre rose garden, believed to be the largest rose garden in the world. Other attractions include a bonsai garden, herb garden and Shakespeare garden.

African Adventures
Johannesburg is a haven for adventure lovers. Once here you can go on an African adventure package that includes mountain biking, fly-fishing, hiking, bird watching, game viewing, micro light flying, river rafting and canoeing. These apart, game walks, game drives, country rides, bird parks, animal farms, flora farms, nature trails, and jewel gardens are some of the other options to choose from.

African Adventures
Johannesburg is a haven for adventure lovers. Once here you can go on an African adventure package that includes mountain biking, fly-fishing, hiking, bird watching, game viewing, micro light flying, river rafting and canoeing. These apart, game walks, game drives, country rides, bird parks, animal farms, flora farms, nature trails, and jewel gardens are some of the other options to choose from.

Johannesburg zoo
A perfect jungle- the Johannesburg zoo is a living classroom. Open very day of the year, from 0830 to 1730 hours it is a perfect place for people of all ages to relax and learn. For those interested in nocturnal wildlife, the park authorities offer a three hour tour which includes a short talk and slide show on the adaptations of night animals, a fun moonlight ride on the Zoo Ferry and short walks to visit the animals.

Joubert Park
Take a walk down memory lane through the City's oldest park, granted by the Volksraad in 1887. Once here you can also visit the Wolmarans, King George and Twist Streets, and the Johannesburg Art gallery and conservatory that border it.

Others
There is virtually no end to places you can hang around in Johannesburg. The Newtown Cultural Precinct, the Oriental plaza, Diagonal street, Africa cultural centre, Market Theatre, SA Breweries Centenary Centre, Planetarium, St Mary's Cathedral, Randjeslaagte Beacon, Carlton Panorama, Crafters Marketplace, Gallagher Estate, Mine Workers Memorial and the University of Witwatersrand are some of the other places worth a visit.

PLACES NEARBY
Strekfontein Caves
Lying west of Johannesburg, these caves are one of the world heritage sites. This apart, they are one of the richest and most productive paleoanthropological sites in the world.

Among the most remarkable discoveries made here, Mrs Ples, the famous 2,5 million year old skull; the first complete Australopithecus ever to be found - is of significant importance. More recently "Little Foot", a 3,3 million-year-old almost complete ape-man skeleton was also found in the same caves. More than 500 hominid (early man) fossils; thousands of animal fossils; over 300 fragments of fossil wood, and over 9000 stone tools, have been found at 12 sites in this area.

Lesedi Cultural Village
If you want to get a taste of rural Africa and its people, this is the best place to go. Set between Johannesburg and Pretoria, it is a collection of traditional family units housing elders, wives and children from various southern African tribes

Nature and Game Reserves
The Pilanesburg Game Reserve is situated northwest of Johannesburg, near Rustenburg, is home to many different animals -- lions, elephants, white rhinos zebra, giraffe, impala, warthog, and cape buffalo, among others.

Just thirty minutes drive northwest of Johannesburg lies the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve. Set in the beautiful Kromdraai Conservancy, this nature’s haven boasts of the white rhino, lion, buffalo, hippo and more than twenty other species of game. All told, over 600 head of game will satisfy even the most avid game viewer

Important Festivals and Exhibitions
Various trade expos, fireworks shows (Fantasy of Light), arts festivals and sports festivals are held every year.

The Crocodile River Arts and Crafts Ramble takes place during the first weekend of every month. It offers an exciting assortment of pottery, watercolours, oil paintings, hand woven garments, and sculptures

After Hours
Johannesburg is one of the most happening cities of South Africa. Needless to say, its streets thrive with nightlife manifested in its many glittering pubs, discos, theatres, and exhibitions. One has therefore, all the options available to suit ones taste and requirement.

SHOPPING
There are innumerable shopping plazas and places to look for mementos and other unique items. Special products worth buying in the city are antiques, clothes, handicrafts, china glass, etc. Supermarkets and cafes, liquor stores, fairs and shopping malls abound here.

VAT (Value Added Tax) is levied on most services/goods purchased. Non-resident foreign passport holders on a temporary visit to South Africa qualify for a VAT refund upon leaving the country at Johannesburg International Airport. For further information contact the VAT Refund Administrators 011 484 7530

HOTELS
Accommodation is easily available at Johannesburg and is suited for all budgets ranging from five stars to youth hostels and guesthouses. Also, there are game lodges and resorts to stay in and around Johannesburg

TRANSPORT RESOURCES
Air Travel resources
TBeing the largest city in South Africa, Johannesburg is connected to places all around the world by regular flights of the leading airlines. Johannesburg International Airport is the main gateway to enter South Africa. Other airports are Grand Central Airport, Lanseria Airport, and Rand Airport.

Johannesburg International Airport
Arrival/Departure Enquiries: Tel - 011 975 9963
International Arrival: Tel - 011 394-0860
Reservation: Tel - 011 978 1111

Grand Central Airport
Tel - 011 805 3166

Lanseria Airport
Tel - 011 659 2750

Rand Airport
Tel - 011 827 8884
Tel - 011 824-4475

Land
Travelling by road to Johannesburg is easy as there are lots of bus services available. Bus services are available from Johannesburg to important cities like Harare, Maputo, Margate etc.

Bus Enquiries
City Buses: Tel - 011 403 4300
Magic Bus: Tel - 394 6902
Municipal: Tel - 838 2125
Intercape: Tel - 333 5213
Greyhound: Tel - 830 1400
Translux: Tel - 774 3333
Rand Coach: Tel - 333 3813
Panthera Azul: Tel - 337 7409
Silverbird (JHB-Harare): Tel - 337 7215
Malundi Intercity (JHB-Margate): Tel - 914 4021

Local Transport
An abundance of car rentals and taxi services makes travelling within the city quite easy and comfortable. Most car hire firms have depots at the airport. International Drivers license and identity documents are required. For more information on car rental services contact:
Budget Car Hire: Tel - 27 11 392 3929
Imperial Car Hire: Tel - 27 11 337-2300
Tempest Car Hire: Tel - 27 11 397-1850
U-Drive: Tel - 27 11 331-3735

TRAVEL RESOURCES
Tourist information
Johannesburg Tourism Offices Head / Marketing & Sales Office: Tel - 011 784 1354
Information Office: Tel - 011 331 2041
Soweto Office: Tel - 011 982 1050
Park Station: Tel - 011 773 3994

Currency
One Rand (R) = 100 cents (c). Notes issued in the denomination of R200, R100, R20, and R10. Coins issued R5, R2, R1, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c and 1c

Foreign currency
Foreign currency may be purchased at commercial banks, American Express and Rennies Travel. On leaving the country, one is permitted to take out up to R 500 in SA Reserve Bank notes, thereafter a 20% levy is charged on additional funds.

American Express: Tel - 011 359 0200
Diners Club: Tel - 011 482-6992 Fax 011 358-8400
Master Card: Tel - 011 498 4699
Visa Card: Tel - 011 498 4699

Banks
Banks, located throughout the city are open on weekdays from 0900 hours to 1530 hours, and from 0900 hours to 1100 hours on Saturdays. Banking services at Johannesburg International Airport are available two hours before and after the respective arrival and departure times of international flights, on a 24-hour basis.

Automatic Teller Machines
(ATM's) are situated outside most banks and in shopping centres and are open 24 hours a day

Postal Services
Post offices are open from 0800 hours to 1630 hours on weekdays. On Saturdays, the working hours are from 0800 to 1200 hours. Branch offices however, close between 1300 to 1400 hours. Priority Mail service between Johannesburg and major cities of Britain, France, W Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and the U.S.A are available here.

Medical services
Johannesburg has an extensive range of emergency and medical services. Visitors should obtain medical insurance prior to their arrival. There are many help lines, aid lines, ambulance and fire brigade services.

Hospitals
Johannesburg: Tel - 011 488 4911; Emergency: Tel 642-8000
J G Strydom: Tel - 011 489 1011
Southrand: Tel - 011 435 0022
Hillbrow: Tel - 011 720 1121
Baragwanath: Tel -011 933 1100
Coronation: Tel - 011 470 9000