Sandton is the financial and commercial heart of Johannesburg, often described as “Africa’s richest square mile”. It is home to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), major South African banks and the headquarters of numerous multinational companies. At the centre of the district is...
We had a lovely afternoon in Rosebank, a vibrant, modern and surprisingly walkable commercial and residential suburb. It is one of the city’s most popular shopping and entertainment districts, with major retail centres including Rosebank Mall, The Zone @ Rosebank and The Firs. The area...
Towards the end of our stay in Johannesburg, we took a guided tour (🎟️ 380 ZAR) of the famous Ponte Tower. This 54-storey cylindrical skyscraper has had an extraordinary history, transforming from a symbol of apartheid-era luxury into one of Johannesburg’s most notorious buildings, before...
We weren’t really sure whether Gold Reef City (🎟️395 ZAR) was worth a visit. Built around a former gold mine, this unusual combination of amusement park and historical attraction recreates life in Johannesburg around the turn of the 20th century. The site commemorates the discovery of...
We spent some time at the Apartheid Museum (🎟️240 ZAR) in Johannesburg, one of the city’s most powerful and essential cultural institutions. The museum tells the story of the rise and fall of South Africa’s apartheid regime, from its origins and implementation to the decades of resistance...
Soweto is one of Johannesburg’s most famous urban areas and a powerful symbol of resistance against apartheid. The name is derived from “South Western Townships”, and the area grew during the early 20th century as the government forcibly moved Black workers away from predominantly white...
Maboneng, meaning “place of light” in Sesotho, is a vibrant and rapidly redeveloped neighbourhood on the eastern edge of Johannesburg’s Central Business District. What was once a run-down industrial area has been transformed into one of the city’s most colourful...
The James Hall Museum of Transport in Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest and most comprehensive land transport museum. Founded in February 1964 by Jimmie Hall in partnership with the City of Johannesburg, the museum has grown into an impressive collection of more than 2,500...
We spent a few hours walking around Braamfontein, one of Johannesburg’s most vibrant inner-city neighbourhoods. A lively, student-filled commercial district, it is closely connected with the University of the Witwatersrand and has become an important creative and cultural hub. The area is...
We spent a surprisingly lovely 10 days in Johannesburg, despite the city’s sometimes daunting reputation. South Africa’s largest metropolis grew from a dusty mining camp into a vast economic powerhouse following the discovery of gold in 1886. Today, the wider metropolitan area is home to...