"Jo'burg Jungle!" Johannesburg by Gillybob

I lived here between 1988 and 1992 in an area called Parkhurst. This is one of the 'smarter' areas of Johannesburg.

Johannesburg has changed significantly since then. Of course, its now in a post-apartheid era and that has meant that what were once white-only areas are now just white dominant areas. There's still an awful long way to go before there will be full integration - and that's mainly because the earnings ratio has to become more evenly balanced.

When I first moved to Johannesburg, I was working in the city centre. Now, the city centre is more or less a 'no go' area for the white population which has now moved its businesses to the suburbs.

The Johannesburg suburbs have changed and continue to change. South Africa is a country where self-employment is a real opportunity and because of this, you will find that many of the houses in the suburbs of Johannesburg (and other large cities) have become offices and so, the suburb have evolved into self-contained areas. In Johannesburg, many have become specialty areas. Parkhurst is now rampant with antique shops interspersed with cafes and bistros. A stroll in this area will often find you parting with more cash than you anticipated.