Johannesburg Tourism

Johannesburg is one of the 40 largest metropolitan areas in the world. It is located in the province of Gauteng in South Africa near the capital of the country called Pretoria. The financial and business core of Africa is located in this city and people from all over the world are drawn to Johannesburg because of its many economic opportunities available and it is known as one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. The mild climate is also another thing that draws people to this city as there are many sunny days, but during the summer you can expect thundershowers and some rain.

History of Johannesburg
An Australian prospector named George Harrison is the first person to discover gold in a farmland known as Witwatersrand in 1886. He sold his discovered gold for 10 pounds and thus selling of gold got started and Johannesburg became known as “The City Of Gold”.

Things to see in Johannesburg

Apartheid Museum
One example of hyper reality is The Apartheid Museum due to its advanced simulations and reflection of the Apartheid era. The entrance to the museum is dominated by large photographs and screens depicting the past evils of Apartheid. The museum has several interactive exhibits, one of which is a ‘Kasper’. This ‘Kasper’ is a large, armored police vehicle painted in blue and yellow and inside you can watch actual video footage taken while it was on active duty. There is also a display of the assorted, unpleasant, weapons, which the security forces used to enforce the Apartheid ideology.



The Soweto Food Festival
The festival showcases both international cuisine and local food side. Cultural cafes demonstrate the preparations such as Venda, Tswana etcetera. Chef’s kitchen demonstrates tastes and techniques from around the globe without having to travel to other countries. The idea is to generate cultural exchange with food being the platform.

If you enjoy beer or wine tasting, you will find plenty of opportunities. For beer lovers, the Beer Garden is the best place to visit. If you prefer wine tasting, a relaxing drive along the wine route will acquaint you with the best wines in South Africa. If you happen to be traveling with children, there is a location with lots of fun activities available, where you can drop off your children before you begin your adventure.

Word’s deepest pub
A large noisy lift can be taken 226 meters underground to a bar, which has been converted, from a donkey stable. Donkeys were used to pull coco pans, filled with gold-laden rocks, to the surface for removal from one of the world’s deepest and richest gold mines.

Gold Reef City
Travel 6 kilometers south of the city to Gold Reef City where you can find historical information on mining and how the mines was operated in the past. There are more things to do than visit an old mine though. The city offers the Gold Reef City Hotel, eateries and cheap jewelry stores such as the SA Mint that’s offering silver and gold items. Also, there are daily performances of live music in the town square.

Any tourist who wants to engage in the “South African Vibe” will not want to miss the science center. A visitor can experience plenty of cultural diversity by visiting the hands-on science center and performing scientific experiments, or by braving the 28 amusements rides which includes the Tower of Terror and the River Rapids.

Johannesburg rose from the level of a puny mining city to that of an important, lively industrial city having a high grade of cultural variety. No doubt, it is a good choice for any visitor that wishes to indulge in the South African ambiance.

Tourists will also find the cheap Johannesburg car rental deals very attractive.