Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the financial capital of South Africa and capital of the Gauteng Province. It lies ±1 750m above sea-level. South Africans call the city by various names: Egoli ("place of gold" in Sotho), Goudstad ("gold city" in Afrikaans) and Jozi, Joéés or Joburg (sotho, Afrikaans & English slang).

The city's existence has everything to do with the discovery of gold in 1886, which led to a huge gold rush. An area that lay empty before 1886 grew into a bustling world city with more than 115 000 inhabitants by 1900. Today Johannesburg is the economical powerhouse of the whole African continent. The built up city, with skyscrapers and surrounding gold mine dumps, has a population of 3.2 million. If you include a host of smaller municipalities that form part of greater Johannesburg that figure grows to ±8 million. The Johannesburg and Pretoria metropole could be seen as a mega-city of nearly 15 million people (estimate).

Johannesburg and the surrounds feature dozens of worthwhile tourist attractions: There is the fascinating first-and-third world mix in the inner city, the Constitutional Court, muti shops (traditional African medicine), art galleries, a gold mine museum complete with an underground mine tour, an area where some of the oldest humanoid archaeological finds have been discovered, etc. The city and surrounds could keep you busy for days on end. Peruse our city and day tours section if you’re interested in exploring this vibrant region.

Tours that include Johannesburg

Johannesburg attractions

O.R. Tambo International

O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) is the air transport hub of Southern Africa. ORTIA is more or less a 45-minute drive from the Johannesburg's northern suburbs (e.g. Sandton). The Gautrain (rapid rail link) travels to Sandton in 13-minutes. Africa Deluxe Tours arranges land or helicopter transfers for our clients to and from ORTIA.

Rosebank (Johannesburg)

Rosebank is an upmarket Johannesburg suburb. It features small office buildings, shopping malls, art galleries, restaurants and coffee shops. It’s a great base from which to explore Johannesburg, Soweto, Pretoria and the surrounds. Rosebank is also popular as an overnight stay before or after travelling to/ from O.R. Tambo International Airport.

Gautrain

Gautrain is South Africa’s first rapid rail system. The system links Johannesburg to Pretoria on the north-south line it also features an east-west line linking Sandton to the O.R. Tambo International Airport. This airport link, reaching 160 km/h, cuts the road travel time of 45-minutes to 13-minutes.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918-2013) was the first President of the “new” democratic South Africa (1994-1999). The key role he played in South Africa’s peaceful transition can never be overestimated. He was a remarkable diplomat with a wonderful ability to win over his harshest critics. His sense of forgiveness and spirit of reconciliation was remarkable.

Soweto

Soweto, outside Johannesburg, is South Africa’s largest “black township". It is home to a mix of languages and cultures from across South Africa and Africa. Soweto played an important role in the struggle against Apartheid. Landmarks include Nelson Mandela’s Soweto house, the Hector Pieterson Museum & Memorial, etc

Constitution Hill

Constitution Hill in the city of Johannesburg, is one of the major historical sites in South Africa. The Old Fort Prison, where political prisoners were incarcerated used to be here. The same site where human rights were so brutally abused today houses the Constitutional Court for the protection of the rights of all citizens of the country.

Gold Reef City

Johannesburg and the surrounding metropolis was founded on the discovery of gold. Gold Reef City is a theme park situated on the site of a worked out gold mine. It also includes examples of the original houses and buildings of the old Johannesburg. Visitors have the opportunity to go down a mine shaft and do an educational tour on deep reef gold mining.

The Apartheid Museum

The Apartheid Museum is part of the Gold Reef City theme park in Johannesburg, South Africa. This modern museum, providing a learning experience for visitors, depicts the story of apartheid: it's development, the insult and suffering it caused, the struggle of the oppressed and the ultimate resolution based on our democratic constitution.

Hector Pieterson Memorial

The Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum in Soweto, South Africa, commemorates the youth uprising of 16 June 1976. The Black Consciousness Movement of Steve Biko stimulated huge resentment against the oppression of black people under apartheid. The police responded with sharp ammunition. Hector Pietersen was the first of a large number of learners to be killed on that day.