South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg is the greenest city in the world and home to more than 3 million inhabitants. Known also as Jozi, Jo’burg or Egoli, the city has incredible weather all year round.
Although not one of the three capital cities, Johannesburg is home to the South African Constitutional Court. With an incredible history of gold mining and diamond trade, companies now reprocess the mine dumps which were scattered all over the city.
Tour the city, visit the museums, pet the lion cubs, visit a gold mine or explore the site where the humankind was born.
Location
Johannesburg is located in the northeastern part of South Africa.
How to get to Johannesburg
OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg is one of the most used airports in South Africa. Direct flights link Johannesburg to European cities, such as: Athens, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Munich, Paris and Zurich. The city is also linked to the United States –flights to New York, Atlanta, Washington -, Australia – flights to Sydney and Perth-, South America, Asia and Middle East.
>> more information on South Africa Airfare
By car, Johannesburg is linked to the rest of Africa via a number of highways.
There are regular inter-city trains linking Johannesburg to the other cities in the country, such as Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and Port Elisabeth. Park Station, the city’s central station, spreads across several blocks. While within the station you can feel safe, things aren’t exactly the same around it. So make sure to have the next transport organized in advance.
Buses link Johannesburg to the major cities in the country and in the rest of Africa. The buses arrive and depart from Park Station.
Weather
Johannesburg is known for its wonderful dry and sunny climate. Occasionally, during summer –between October and April – some afternoon downpours might occur. Because of the city’s high altitude the temperatures are quite mild. In January, the average maximum temperature is 25 C / 77F, while the average low temperature is 15 C/59 F.
The sunniest time of the year is winter. But the nights are quite cold. In June, the average Maximum temperature is 15 F/ 59 F, while the average minimum temperature is 5 C / 41 F. Sometimes temperatures go below freezing causing frost. Snow is rare but has happened to snow in Johannesburg (latest snowfall in June 2007).
>>more information on South Africa weather
Traditionally, Johannesburg hasn’t been a tourist destination but over the years more and more attractions have been developed for the tourists. The most recent of them are the Apartheid Museum and a large amusement park.
Johannesburg Zoo is one of the largest in Africa and is home to over 3,000 animal species. It’s one of the few places in the world where tourists can see white lions and is the only zoo in the world which successfully bread Siberian Tigers.
Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens are one of the largest green areas in Johannesburg. It’s home to a lot of birds, including the endangered Black Eagle. Unfortunately, it’s not well signposted so make sure to buy a map and read it carefully. Admittance is 18 ZAR (South African Rand).
Lion Park is home to lion cubs and a lot of other African animals. You are allowed to play with the cubs and you can take self-drive tour through the lion camps. Make sure to remove all loose objects on the outside of the car and remove the wheel covers as well (lions seems to be very found of them!).
Ferreira’s Mine is one of the best places to visit if you want to know how a gold mine looks and feels. Standard Bank Centre actually sits on the gold. While the bank was constructed, the abandoned mine has been discovered. Now, visitors can enjoy parts of the old mine as well as visit a museum. Entrance is free and the site is opened during normal banking hours (8 AM to 4 PM).
Just 25 km / 16 miles outside the city, there is the Cradle of Humankind UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fossil site is the world’s richest hominid site and home to first adult Australopithecus africanus. Also, a near-complete skeleton of an early Australopithecine has been found here.
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