South Africa

South Africa's business capital offers visitors a range of attractions that belie its crime-ridden image. A business or tourist visit here will reveal a fascinating introduction to the heart of Africa.

All too often, Johannesburg fails to rank as a notable tourist destination in South Africa when compared to more famous attractions such as Kruger National Park, Capetown or the long sandy coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Fear of the city's reputation for crime and confusion over its important role in South Africa and the Southern African region have given tourists and foreign businessmen a distorted view of the substantial attractions that the city can offer.
Its a cat's life at Lion Park

In fact, Johannesburg is a fantastic city, vibrant and full of life and color. It is both First World and Third World, sleepy in places and positively throbbing in others. From the smoggy hustle of the downtown CBD (central business district) to the multitude of entertainment, dining and drinking possibilities in such suburbs as Melville, Rosebank and Parktown (or for the more adventurous, Yeoville), to the pleasures of the shopping malls in the leafy northern suburbs of Sandton, "Jo'burg" has it all.

Johannesburg is a tree- and plant-filled city of 7 million. It is a strategic city, the commercial and economic heart of not just South Africa but of all of Southern Africa. In fact it is also the tourist gateway that is well worth a visit.

Another activity is gaming. There are over 17 luxury gaming resorts in or around the metropolis. Sun City, a giant recreational resort built in the dessert, is a huge attraction a couple of hours north of Johannesburg.

One of Johannesburg's best business options- the Crowne Plaza Sandton

Those who seek a taste of wild Africa but do not have the time to make the 5-hour trip to Kruger National Park can visit Lion Park, just 30 minutes away. In the same area is the Cradle, a natural reserve where visitors can have lunch on a veranda overlooking breathtaking scenery.

Worth a day trip in itself is Soweto (derived from its old apartheid designation: South West Township), the area where Nelson Mandela used to live and the center of the struggle against apartheid. Today, 4 million people call Soweto home, and Mandela's own house, preserved as a museum, can be visited as part of a tour.

For travellers, the best place to stay in Johannesburg would be the city's northern suburb of Sandton. A quiet up-market business and residential suburb, it is safe and its multitude of hotels are secure havens from the rush of the city center.

There is certainly a serious crime problem in Johannesburg, but following common-sense safety precautions can minimize it greatly for visitors. When driving, for example, always put any bags and valuables out of sight in the trunk of the car.

In terms of walking, downtown Johannesburg is off limits at night. There are interesting places for nightlife there but you will just have to drive. Parking is generally safe. Usually there are attendants who will look after cars, whether in a parkade or on the street.

Enjoy Johannesburg. It is the most developed and richest city in Africa. Its people are friendly; and the atmosphere is relaxed despite it being one of the largest cities on the continent. And, best of all, all this can be enjoyed at a relatively low cost: it provides possibly the best value for money among the world's exotic destinations.

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