Johannesburg

Would you believe that this vibrant metropolis featuring the tallest skyscrapers in the country, was only a bush a few centuries ago? Founded in 1886 following the discovery of gold on a farm, Johannesburg initially was a mining town. From there, it rapidly grew into the dynamic cosmopolitan city that now dominates in the northern part of South Africa. As the commercial and financial heart of the country, the city has suburbs stretched in all directions and covers over 334 square kilometres. Within a mix of cultures, modernity, history and nature… spend precious time in the city of gold! 

In the beginning, dreams and pickaxes…

In 1886, Johannesburg was only a gold prospector’s camp when a shiny piece of metal was discovered… coming from one of the largest gold deposits on the planet! Only three years later, the place became the country’s third-largest city and is nowadays leading it economically. This fast-growing city is a fascinating example of perseverance and success. The several museums teach you all about it!

A place of striking contrasts

Johannesburg is a city of contrasts boasting glittering glass and steel skyscrapers as well as desperately poor shantytowns. You can find internationally renowned universities and widespread illiteracy…Even though challenges are still showing in the cohabitation, the city benefits from this rich cultural mix. With a very polyglot population, counting at least a dozen different languages daily and all the world’s major religions, the city is a wonderful patchwork of cultures. 

Soweto

Still very marked by Apartheid, there are vivid scars between a very dense city centre and residential suburbs for white and black people. In the southwest, visit Soweto: SOuth WEstern TOwnship: the largest Black urban complex, and also Nelson Mandela’s birthplace. Soweto was often a battleground during Apartheid. In some buildings, you can still see bullet holes in the ceilings and walls. It is now a place of enterprise, cultural interaction and a popular tourist destination with memorable sites.

Art, nature, history, shopping and nightlife!

Many modern art galleries, street art, green parks, theatres and museums are spread out over the city. After a cultural or historical tour, a shopping session in the countless shopping malls followed by a drink on a gigantic skyscraper’s rooftop makes your day perfect. And it is not over once the sun is down: with all the themed bars, restaurants and clubs, Jo’burgs nights are not for sleeping!

Activities

• Visit art galleries and theatres in Newtown
• Increase your knowledge in museums, including the Apartheid Museum
• Explore Soweto 
• Go shopping
• Discover the botanical garden
• Head to the Fashion District to buy coloured fabric
• Hop to the Neighbourgoods market in the central city
• Plunge into history in Constitution Hill
• Enjoy the vibrant nightlife

How to get there

By plane: OR Tambo International Airport is 21 kilometres from the city centre. It is well connected to other important international airports like Paris, Frankfurt, London…

By train: South Africa’s first high-speed train, the Gautrain, links Johannesburg to Pretoria, featuring many stops including OR Tambo International Airport.

Climate

Johannesburg benefits from a subtropical highland climate, meaning it has pleasant temperatures, sunshine and clear blue skies all year round. Temperatures are never too hot, with an average of 24°C and barely above 33°C in summer (from December to February). This is a pretty wet season where you can experience some rain, especially in the late afternoon with electrical storms. Winters are short, from June to August, and mild as the temperature usually doesn’t dip below freezing and stays around an average of 13°C. 

The best time to visit

Thanks to its mild climate tempered by altitude, Johannesburg is a great destination all year round!