Knowing Johannesburg like a pro
By admin. Filed in Travel Tips |
You can name it Johannesburg, but then you are anything else than a pro, or a local. Locals name it Jozi, or Joburg. Name it like that, and you will be much nearer to locals.
Jozi could be in some places a dangerous city, but it is doubtless a nice one
Fact is, that that Joburg is Africa’s second megacity, after Cairo. It simply counts 10 millions people. It is the most important economical hub of Subsaharian Africa, producing 10 % of the GDP of this region. The biggest problem of this vibrant city is the high crime level, due to the very unequal distribution of the produced wealth (you can find first class standards and also third class conditions, very close one to another). Try at any price to look like the locals do, and don’t show any sign of wealth (expensive camera, ear rings, goodlooking handbags etc). If you travel to Johannesburg by your own car check before you start that all windows are shut. Avoid at any cost unprotected sex affairs, as AIDS is very wide spread.
Avantgarde architecture in Johannesburg
But beyond all these unpleasant sides, be aware that authorities also do something: through the introduction of street CCTV the crime level has diminished a lot. Many places from Joburg are absolutely safe, and the local clubs (e.g. Kilimanjaro Club) are full with local black, white and indian beauties! Note, please, that Joburg counts 6 million trees, making from it a little green wonder!
Nelson mandela was first black president of South Africa. He is very respected and beloved here. This the Mandela Square in Johannesburg, with his statue
One of the most amazing facts about Joburg is the lack of river. It is world’s unique mega city which doesn’t lie on a river. Joburg was founded around 1890 after an Australian found gold in the neighborhood. This fact triggered a long gold rush. One year later a Dutchman called Johannes measured the ground for the city first houses, and gave the city his name. You can visit today some gold mines in the area (Ferreira’s Mine is exactly under a bank. This bank literally sits on gold!)
Apartheid Museum in Soweto recalls unpleasant tough times
Further, you can visit in Jozi the suburb called Soweto (South West Township was in the dark apartheid period the black city of Johannesburg). Today a black aristocracy is emerging in Soweto. See also in Soweto The Apartheid Museum and the Mandela Square.
Joburg has been longtime shadowed by Cape Town as touristic destination. Today Johannesburg has everything you need for a wonderful vacations. You can visit from Joburg Pretoria or Rietvlei Nature Reserve. There are nowadays a plenty of sophisticated restaurants and fancy hotels in Jozi, but even the backpackers can find cheap hostels and street food. Everyone can discover his own Johannesburg (or Egoli, The City of Gold, as Africans name it). There are also impressive modern shopping mall and interesting exotic flea markets. Absolutely complete for your vacations. Next year Johannesburg will host World’s Footbal Championship. A good opportunity to visit Jozi, but it will be probably overcrowded!
The Lion Park in Johannesburg is amazing and unbelievable
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