Local insights

Before the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup, many people would have frowned when you told them you're coming to Johannesburg on holiday. You would have been confronted with concerns about crime and traffic, and the very common question Jo'burg? What's there to actually do in Jo'burg?

And yet despite it's undeniable issues, this fascinating city, which originally served as a starting point for travels to the rest of South Africa and Africa, has fast become one of the region's most popular, and well-run, tourism and business centres.

There are dozens of world-class museums, theatres, restaurants, shopping centres, wildlife activities, and other attractions dotted throughout the Johannesburg Metro area, and it's our aim to show you exactly what's worth visiting during your time here. And, as the business hub of the continent, there is always something on the go, be it a world class sporting event, an international musical event, or an international conference or function - check out our events page to see what's on.

Johannesburg is often referred to as the New York of Africa because is it the favoured business city in South and southern Africa. As a result, the city has developed comprehensive facilities, the majority with tourists in mind. It is serviced by the modern OR Tambo International Airport, which fields flights from across the globe, and it has a number of options for getting around Johannesburg.

Did you know that Joburg...

is one of the 40 largest metropolitan areas in the world?
is the world's largest city not situated on a river, lake, or coastline?
currently has a population of around 10 million people in the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area, and that this will grow to around 14.6 million people by 2015? (the Greater Metropolitan Area comprises Johannesburg itself, Ekhuruleni - previously known as the East Rand, West Rand, Soweto and Lenasia)
has the largest and busiest airport of Africa - O.R. Tambo International Airport - named after one of the icons in the struggle against apartheid?
supplies are 40% of the world's gold - this is why Joburg is also known as ‘Egoli’, meaning the ‘Place of Gold’.
has some of the deepest mines in the world ... up to 4 km deep - much deeper than the Chilean mines?
receives on average of 12 hours of sunlight in a day - a wonderful climate in which to holiday ?
lies within the largest man made forest in the word - having around 10 million trees? This encourages a wide variety of bird life to the city - something our first time visitors don't really know about!
has around 1,500 hectares of land covered by nature reserves?
is entwined with 12 river systems that run through the city and its suburbs?
has an amazing 40% of all the world's human ancestor fossils?
is dotted with 150 heritage sites, half of which are national monuments?