Johannesburg Apartment Types

As the largest city in South Africa, the economic powerhouse of sub-Saharan Africa and a city with a rich and interesting culture Johannesburg is a popular destination with both tourists and business people alike.

History

The region containing and surrounding Johannesburg was inhabited originally by San tribes, or bushmen as they are also known, but by the 1200s large numbers of Bantu-speaking people started moving to the area from Central Africa then by the 1700s the region was densely settled by numerous Sotho-Tswana communities. In the 1880s gold was first discovered, triggering the famous Gold Rush and encouraging people to flock to Johannesburg from all over South Africa as well as from the UK, Europe and North America. From the 1930s major developments took place leading to the high-rise transformation of the Hillbrow area in the late 1940s, suburban sprawl in the 1950s and the emergence of tower blocks in the Central Business District in the 1960s and 70s. Johannesburg today is the largest city in South Africa and one of the 40 largest metropolitan areas in the world.

Getting In & Getting Around

Or Tambo International Airport is the busiest in all of Africa chartering flights from all over the world. Located some 19km (12 miles) from the city centre the airport is connected via shuttle bus services. Park Station is the central station in Johannesburg offering services to a number of South African destinations including Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Durban. Within the city itself there are a number of transport options including bus, metrorail and metered taxi services.

Culture, Sights & Attractions

Despite not being the most obvious sightseeing destination in South Africa, Johannesburg has a fascinating history and a number of interesting sights and attractions that reflect this. Constitution Hill, the seat of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, is a popular attraction in the city and a great place to start. The Carlton Centre is the tallest building in Africa and offers great views over Johannesburg. The city is home to a number of interesting museums, notably the Apartheid Museum, and some great shopping spots including the Oriental Plaza and the Eastgate Mall. For an escape from the city the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens offer some stunning scenery and Gold Reef City provides an insight into the former gold mine as well as a fun theme park. For sport enthusiasts Soccer City, the largest football stadium in Africa is well worth a visit.

Eating Out

Like most major cities, Johannesburg offers a great range of places to eat. From fine restaurants to fast food joints, from authentic African cuisine to Brazilian, Korean, Thai and Indian fare, there is something to suit every taste and budget.

Outside The City

Johannesburg is a great starting point for seeing some fascinating and beautiful parts of South Africa. Pretoria, theadministrative capital of South Africa, is within very easy reach. Here you can wander the beautiful Botanical Gardens, see the famous Voortrekker Monument and visit the Wonderboom (Wonder Tree) – the fig tree that is over 1,000 years old. Sun City is an entertainment and golf complex just a two hour drive from Johannesburg. The Pilanesberg Game Reserve is next to Sun City and is the perfect opportunity to experience a true African game reserve. The World Heritage Site, the Cradle of Humankind, is within very easy reach and offers a number of fascinating attractions including the Wonder Cave and Sterkfontein Caves.

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