"Johannesburg ~ Yo Yo Jo'burg " a Johannesburg Travel Page by longsanborn

Johannesburg was not traditionally been known as a tourist destination, but the city is a transit point for connecting flights to Cape Town, Durban, and the Kruger National Park. It is served by O.R. Tambo International Airport (formerly Johannesburg International Airport) for both domestic and international flights.

Johannesburg city is affectionately known as Jo'burg, Jozi and JHB by South Africans. Kind of cute, I thought.

I flew into O.R. Tambo International Airport at dawn when I visited Jo'burg from 10 to 15 June 2007 for work. Even though I was busy during the day, I managed to see a bit of the city after work in the evenings. However, I must say I did not go to the downtown area of Johannesburg; my friend will not risk both of our lives by taking me there at night!

After staying almost one-1 week in Jo'burg, I flew to Cape Town for my long-awaited holidays with my friends (see my Cape Town homepage).

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View of the Sandton from my window

Africa's Dynamic City

Johannesburg is Africa's most dynamic city. It is the financial, economic and cultural giant of South Africa. It is also the capital of Gauteng, South Africa's smallest but wealthiest province. Gauteng boasts the African continent's second-largest economy - excluding South Africa - after Egypt.

Johannesburg can seem overwhelming to the first-time visitor like me. With a relatively flat natural landscape and few natural landmarks, the city's suburbs and townships stretch as far as the eye can see. Most international visitors stick to the city's affluent northern suburbs, home to gleaming shopping malls, international hotel chains and the head offices of the country's leading economic players.

I was told to avoid the down town area, the Rockey Street in Yeoville, often described as 'Jo'burg's Greenwich Village' - most of the bars, restaurants and clubs closed following a seemingly overnight influx of economic refugees from other parts of Africa.

Apparently Johannesburg's city centre has been 'off limits' for the past decade but I've read that recently private redevelopment companies are buying historic office buildings in the city's financial district and redeveloping them into exclusive apartment blocks.

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Nelson Mandela Square at Sandton

The Great Masala of International Cuisines

Johannesburg's large immigrant communities will ensure one can find an authentic version of virtually any cuisine - from Indian, Greek, Italian and Chinese to Thai, Japanese, Portuguese and Argentinian. In fact, I was told that it's probably easier to find good Italian or Portuguese food than traditional African food.

I stayed in a hotel located next to the Mandela Square in Sandton (next to Sandton City), which is lined with so many restaurants.