Johannesburg South Africa
Johannesburg is located in the Gauteng province, on the north east side of South Africa. Pretoria is the capital city of South Africa and it is located almost 80 kilometers on the north side of Johannesburg. This is one of the forty biggest metropolitan locations in the world and it makes up the financial and business section in Africa. Johannesburg draws a diversity of people from everywhere in the world because of its economic opportunities and this make it one of the nation’s best cosmopolitan cities. The city’s weather is somewhat mild, with sunshine nearly the whole year but it rains and thunders in the summer.
History of Johannesburg
In 1886, an Australian prospector known as George Harrison first discovered mineral wealth on a piece of ordinary-looking farmland called the Witwatersrand. After this discovery, he sold his claim to the land for 10 pounds. This marked the beginning of the “City of Gold” which Johannesburg is known for.
Things to see in Johannesburg
Apartheid Museum
When you go to the Apartheid Museum, you will be completely immersed in the alternate reality of black experience under Apartheid in South Africa. The evidence of repression and violence will be all around you, including a collection of the weapons police used to enforce “justice” in the townships, and an example of the intimidating “Kaspar”, the armored vehicle used by security forces. The reality that these items hint at is reinforced by huge photographs on all the walls, upsetting movies taken inside the townships, and metal cages where black prisoners were held, all of which illustrate the evils that the blacks endured under apartheid.
The Soweto Food Festival
Both international cuisine food and local food are exhibited in the Soweto food festival. Cultural cafes explain the preparations involved in making meals from various cultures such as Venda, Tswana etcetera. An interactive Chef’s Kitchen demonstrates tastes and techniques of around the world. The festival also has a taste zone featuring latest food trends that thus makes the Soweto local people to enjoy and taste food of different countries of the world, without traveling to that country. The whole idea is to make cultural exchange through food.
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 huge, clingy lift enables the tourist to reach 220 meter underground to a donkey-stable in which donkeys were made to pull coco pans filled with gold-laden rocks, which were to be removed above the ground. This donkey-stable serves as a bar now and is held in one of the world’s richest and deepest 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.
A hands-on science centre is a good place to test yourself on various machines and experiments. The brave tourists can go for 28 rides, which includes the tower of terror and the river rapids.
Johannesburg, which was a small mining town earlier, is now a vibrant capitalist city with highly qualitative cultural diversity. Thus the city is the right option for the tourist to engage with the South African vibe.
Tourists will also find the cheap Johannesburg car hire deals very attractive.
Tags: Johannesburg, Johannesburg tourism
