Travel Guide Johannesburg - Africa's trendy metropolis

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Travel Guide Johannesburg - Africa's trendy metropolis
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Travel Guide
Johannesburg
Africa’s trendy metropolis

02    Quick view         05   Phone calls & Internet     09   Nightlife
02    South Africa       05   Top 10 sights              10   Calendar of events
04    Travel etiquette   07   Shopping in Johannesburg   11   Hotels
04    Health             08   Restaurants

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
              Quick view
              Johannesburg: Africa's trendy metropolis

              Few cities are so misrepresented and misunderstood as Johannesburg. It’s wise to
              be wary, but save some of that energy to enjoy one of South Africa’s most exciting
              cities. Part business hub, part creative capital, it is an energetic metropolis with a
              growing cultural and nightlife scene, and shaped by distinct neighbourhoods such
              as Maboneng and Melville.

              Johannesburg’s place in history is well served by the world-renowned Apartheid
              Museum, the former prison site of Constitution Hill and, of course, the streets of
              Soweto which played a major role in the liberation movement. Johannesburg is
              just not worth missing out on.


              South Africa
              General Information

              Country overview
              A land of golden beaches, jagged mountains, rich safari plains and barren deserts;
              South Africa encompasses all these things. The teeming wildlife is as diverse and
              spectacular as the scenery, with everything from elusive leopards and plodding
              elephants to playful penguins. South Africa's cities are also enormously varied,
              with hustling Johannesburg at its heart,

              and cosmopolitan Cape Town an enclave of European chic at the edge of the
              Atlantic Ocean. In between you can lose yourself for days on safari in the bush or
              explore quaint isolated towns breaking up the arid Karoo wilderness.

              Geography
              The Republic of South Africa fills the southern tip of the continent and is lapped by
              the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east, and a swirling
              mixture of the two at the very tip.

              It totally encloses the independent kingdom of Lesotho, and is bordered by
              Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland to the north.

              A vast, interior plateau has sharp escarpments that rise above the lowland plains.
              Mountainous regions include the Drakensberg and Magaliesberg.

              The west coast is arid, while the south and southeast coasts are semi-arid, with
              vegetation fringed by sandy beaches and rocky coves.

              In contrast, the subtropical northeast has lush wetlands and coastal forests. The
              wildlife viewing areas are scattered throughout the country, with the famous Kruger
              National Park so vast that it encloses a wide variety of eco-systems.

              Of its nine provinces, Gauteng, which houses Johannesburg and Pretoria in the
              northeast, is the smallest and most densely populated. The Northern Cape is the
              largest province covering between a third and quarter of the country, but containing
              only a tiny percentage of the population in this territory of desert and semi-desert
              wilderness.

              General knowledge
              Key facts

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              Population: 55.5 million (estimation 2016)

              Population Density (per sq km): 42

              Capital: Cape Town (legislative); Pretoria (executive); Bloemfontein (judicial).

              Language

              The official languages are Afrikaans, English, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Ndebele, Sepedi,
              Setswana, Siswati, Süd-Sesotho, Tshivenda und Xitsonga.

              Currency

              Rand (ZAR; symbol R) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of R200, 100, 50,
              20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of R5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents.

              Electricity

              220/230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs have three fat round pins.

              General business opening hours

              There is no single office opening time and it varies from business to business,
              generally from either 0800 or 0900 to 1630 or 1700, Mon-Fri.

              Public Holidays
              Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2018 - December 2019 period.

              Note
              Holidays falling on Sunday are observed the following Monday.

              2018

              New Year’s Day: 1 January 2018
              Human Rights Day: 21 March 2018
              Good Friday: 30 March 2018
              Family Day: 2 April 2018
              Freedom Day: 27 April 2018
              Workers’ Day: 1 May 2018
              Youth Day: 16 June 2018
              National Women’s Day: 9 August 2018
              Heritage Day: 24 September 2018
              Day of Reconciliation: 16 and 17 December 2018
              Christmas Day: 25 December 2018
              Day of Goodwill: 26 December 2018

              2019

              New Year’s Day: 1 January 2019
              Human Rights Day: 21 March 2019
              Good Friday: 19 April 2019
              Family Day: 22 April 2019
              Freedom Day: 27 April 2019
              Workers’ Day: 1 May 2019
              Youth Day: 16 and 17 June 2019
              National Women’s Day: 9 August 2019
              Heritage Day: 24 September 2019
              Day of Reconciliation: 16 December 2019
              Christmas Day: 25 December 2019
              Day of Goodwill: 26 December 2019

              All information subject to change.

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
              Travel etiquette
              How to fit in

              South Africa’s biggest cities are very westernised and hold few cultural surprises
              for Europeans. Handshaking is the usual form of greeting, sometimes in a more
              elaborate African handshake that foreigners will pick up readily. Casual wear is
              widely acceptable, especially in less formal Cape Town. Smoking is prohibited in
              public buildings and on public transport.

              The presence of so many diverse ethnic backgrounds certainly adds some spice
              outside of the main business centres.

              Rural areas most likely to be visited by travellers include Zulu land in KwaZulu
              Natal where communities are based in small traditional villages with round huts
              (rondevals) and a few hustling, bustling relatively poor towns.

              In Durban you’ll be entertained by beach-front Zulu dancers wearing full animal
              skin tribal regalia. A more modern form of culture is the now commercialised Gum
              Boot dance, performed in wellingtons and mining outfits and developed in men’s
              only mining hostels when entertainment was scarce.

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              Health
              Health

              Main emergency number: 10111

              Food & Drink

              Mains water is safe to drink. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for
              consumption, as are local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables. Diarrhoea
              remains the most common cause of ill health in travellers, with South Africa graded
              as an intermediate risk country. The standard of food safety and preparation is
              generally good and poses little threat to your health, but sensitive travellers should
              follow the advice to 'cook it, peel it or leave it.'

              Other Risks

              Avoid swimming and paddling in stagnant or slow-moving water as there is a low
              risk of contracting bilharzia, and a risk of catching E.coli. Cholera is spread by
              contaminated food or water and occurs in some rural areas of Limpopo,
              Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, where it can be picked up
              from swimming in contaminated streams. Swimming pools that are well chlorinated
              and maintained are safe. Vaccinations against tuberculosis and hepatitis B are
              sometimes recommended.

              Department of Health statistics show the prevalence of HIV/AIDS remains high
              despite increasing efforts to combat it, with 178 out of 1,000 adults infected,
              compared to a global average of just 8 in 1,000. Malaria is found in Limpopo,
              Mpumalanga and the north-east of KwaZulu-Natal, and the Department of Health
              recommends taking preventative drugs during the peak period between September
              and May.

              Sunburn is a much more common risk, with the African sun being far fiercer than
              most people realise. Tourists are also vulnerable to theft or mugging and the usual
              precautions apply – keep jewellery, cameras, handbags and other valuables out of
              sight, do not carry large sums of money, and avoid walking at night or along
              isolated beaches and streets. Motorists should park in well-lit areas, be alert when
              waiting for traffic lights to change, and if a hijacking does occur, keep your hands
              where the attackers can see them and do not try to resist.

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              Contractual physician of Lufthansa

              Dr. Teeger, Joseph
              7 Third Street
              Houghton Estate 2198
              Johannesburg
              Republic of South Africa
              Tel. +27-11-728-4298

              Please note that Lufthansa accepts no responsibility for the treatment nor will it
              bear the cost of any treatment.


              Phone calls & Internet
              Phone calls & Internet

              Telephone/Mobile Telephone

              Dialing Code: +27

              Telephone

              To call home, the cheapest way is to use Skype or an international calling card like
              the WorldCall card from the national operator, Telkom. That lets you call any
              destination from a Telkom line, including those in hotels, at standard Telkom rates.
              Area codes are used even for local calls.

              Mobile Telephone

              Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage
              extends to most of the country except the very remote areas. GPRS for data
              coverage is also widespread. Airport kiosks can sell you a phone or local SIM card
              if you show some ID.

              Internet

              Internet cafes are common in towns throughout the country and wireless is
              available at airports and in upmarket hotels. Most hotels charge for connectivity
              and it's far cheaper to find the nearest internet café.


              Top 10 sights
              Top 10 sights in Johannesburg

              Apartheid Museum
              Through video footage, first-person stories and interactive exhibits, this is one of
              the most engaging ways to explore this turbulent period of South Africa’s history.

              Corner Northern Parkway and Gold            Opening times: Tue-Sun 0900-1700
              Reef Roads
              Johannesburg 2001                           www.apartheidmuseum.org
              South Africa
              Tel: +27 11 309 4700

              Constitution Hill
              Few places show the country’s transition to democracy better than Constitution
              Hill. Tours of this sprawling former prison site take in Section Four where Mandela
              and Gandhi were held and the new Constitutional Court with its fantastic art.

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              1 Kotze Street, Braamfontein                Opening times: Mon-Fri 0900-1700,
              2001 Johannesburg                           Sat-Sun 1000-1500
              South Africa
              Tel: 011 381 3100                           www.constitutionhill.org.za

              Mandela House
              Mandela’s Soweto home is now a national museum displaying family photos,
              memorabilia, honorary doctorates and gifts. Close by is the home of Archbishop
              Desmond Tutu.

              8115 Vilakazi Street, Orlando West,         Opening times: Daily 0900-1645
              Soweto
              1804 Johannesburg                           www.mandelahouse.co.za
              South Africa
              Tel: +27 11 936 7754

              Arts on Main
              Art galleries, working studios and public art are the flagship attraction in the lively
              Maboneng district, which celebrates up-and-coming artists.

              286 Fox Street                              Opening times: Tue-Sun 1000-1600
              2094 Johannesburg
              South Africa                                www.mabonengprecinct.com/entertain
              Tel: 072 880 9583                           ment/art-ga...

              Top of Africa
              Inside the 50-storey shopping and office skyscraper of the Carlton Centre, a lift
              takes visitors to the viewing deck for panoramic views.

              150 Commissioner Street                     Opening times: Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat
              2107 Johannesburg                           0900-1700, Sun 0900-1400
              South Africa
              Tel: 011 308 1331                           www.gauteng.net/attractions/entry/carlt
                                                          on_centre

              Museum Africa
              A former fruit and vegetable market houses this social and cultural history
              museum, charting Johannesburg’s history and people through exhibitions such as
              ‘Ghandi’s Johannesburg’ and ‘My Culture?’.

              Old Market Building, 121 Bree Street,       Opening times: Tue-Sun 0900-1700
              Newtown
              2001 Johannesburg                           www.gauteng.net/attractions/entry/mus
              South Africa                                eum_africa
              Tel: 011 833 5624

              Hector Pieterson Museum
              A tribute to the 12-year-old student killed during the 1976 Soweto Uprising, this
              museum uses memorabilia and technology to map the apartheid struggle. A
              memorial on the spot where Hector was shot is on nearby Khumalo Street.

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              8287 Khumalo St, Orlando West,             Opening times: Mon-Sat 1000-1700,
              Soweto                                     Sun 1000-1630
              Johannesburg
              South Africa                               www.gauteng.net/attractions/entry/hect
              Tel: +27 11 536 0611                       or_piet...

              Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG)
              This vast gallery with 15 halls and sculpture gardens has works by Picasso, Henry
              Moore and Rodin and from South African artists Sekoto, Pierneef and Battiss.

              Corner Klein and King George Streets,      Opening times: Tue-Sun 1000-1700
              Joubert Park
              2044 Johannesburg                          www.gauteng.net/attractions/entry/joha
              South Africa                               nnesbur...
              Tel: +27 11 725 3130

              SAB World Of Beer
              Egyptian tombs, Johannesburg’s mining townships and Castle Beer are all part of
              South Africa’s beer history. Tours are followed by tastings in the Tap Room.

              Gerard Sekoto Street                       Opening times: Tue-Sat 1000-1800
              2001 Johannesburg
              South Africa                               www.worldofbeer.co.za
              Tel: 011 836 4900

              Liliesleaf
              The former nerve centre of the liberation struggle, this award-winning heritage
              centre explores the 1963 police raid which resulted in the Rivonia Trial, sentencing
              Mandela and others to life imprisonment.

              7 George Avenue, Rivonia                   Opening times: Mon-Fri 0830-1700,
              2128 Johannesburg                          Sat-Sun 0900-1600
              South Africa
              Tel: 0111 803 7882                         www.liliesleaf.co.za


              Shopping in Johannesburg
              Shopping in Johannesburg

              Key Areas

              In this sprawling city, knowing where to shop is key. For boutique clothes and gift
              shops, the suburbs come up trumps such as Melville’s 11th Street and 4th Avenue
              in Parkhurst. For art and trinkets, head to the up-and-coming district of Maboneng
              near downtown Johannesburg.

              Markets

              Every Saturday, the Neighbourgoods Market in Braamfontein takes place in a brick
              warehouse, selling crafts, food and drink. Also on Saturdays is the Market Square
              Market opposite Market Theatre. Sandton Craft Market off Nelson Mandela Square
              is open daily and has a good selection of high-quality gifts and artwork. For
              traditional souvenirs, Rosebank’s craft market next to the mall is a decent option.

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              Shopping Centres

              Eastgate, Cresta, Sandton City and the mini malls which make up Rosebank
              Mall are among the largest malls in Johannesburg. For independent shopping, 44
              Stanley (Stanley Avenue, Milpark) in a disused building featuring local designers
              and interesting restaurants.


              Restaurants
              Restaurants in Johannesburg
              An explosive restaurant scene makes Johannesburg one of the best African cities
              for foodies, be it for haute cuisine, fusion food or laid-back brunches.An explosive
              restaurant scene makes Johannesburg one of the best African cities for foodies, be
              it for haute cuisine, fusion food or laid-back brunches.

              Qunu Grill
              South African ingredients inspire the menu at the Saxon Hotel’s renowned
              restaurant.

              36 Saxon Road, Sandhurst                   Price: Expensive
              2196 Johannesburg
              South Africa

              Level Four
              Modern dishes devised by individual chefs are behind the success of this hotel
              restaurant.

              54 Bath Avenue, Rosebank                   Price: Moderate
              2196 Johannesburg
              South Africa

              Canteen
              Alfresco dining from Thursday to Saturday plus Sunday rooftop salsa in the
              adjoining bar.

              268 Fox Street                             Price: Moderate
              2094 Johannesburg
              South Africa

              Tashas
              Pastas, quesadillas, cocktails and craft beers on the menu at Tashas with outlets
              across Johannesburg.

              Shop 14, The Piazza, Melrose Arch          Price: Cheap
              Johannesburg
              South Africa

              The Ant Cafe
              Unpretentious restaurant serving crispy pizzas and delicious salads on Melville’s
              main street.

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              11, 7th Street, Melville                  Price: Cheap
              2092 Johannesburg
              South Africa


              Nightlife
              Nightlife in Johannesburg
              Johannesburg packs a punch with its glitzy nightclubs, cool terraces, Soweto bars
              and cultural hotspots.Johannesburg packs a punch with its glitzy nightclubs, cool
              terraces, Soweto bars and cultural hotspots.

              Liberation Cafe
              This open-fronted bar with a jukebox serves up great cocktails and tapas-style
              food.

              5A, 7th Street, Melville
              2092 Johannesburg
              South Africa

              Living Room
              This alfresco rooftop bar in Maboneng is great for end-of-the-week drinking and
              dancing.

              20 Kruger Street
              2094 Johannesburg
              South Africa

              Sakhumzi
              Sakhumzi, with its cocktail and cigar bars, is one of several bar-restaurants on
              Soweto’s Vilakazi Street where Mandela once lived.

              6980 Vilakazi Street, Orlando West,
              Soweto
              1804 Johannesburg
              South Africa

              Latinova
              In Rosebank’s Design District, this swanky club with outdoor lounge plays Latin
              beats.

              160 Jan Smuts Avenue, Rosebank
              2196 Johannesburg
              South Africa

              The Market Theatre
              Open since 1976 during apartheid, it’s still top for independent theatre and has a
              bar and bistro.

              56 Margaret Mcingana St

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              Johannesburg 2048
              South Afrika


              Calendar of events
              Calendar of events

              FNB Dance Umbrella
              Celebrating contemporary choreography and dance in South Africa, this event is a
              firm favourite among young artists.

              6 - 18 March 2018
              http://www.danceforumsouthafrica.co.za

              Venue: Wits Theatre, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, The Dance
              Factory, Newtown, Market Theatre

              The Rand Show
              The largest consumer trade fair in South Africa and usually held around Easter,
              this show encompasses home furnishings, architecture, design, science,
              technology, gardening, animal shows, competitions and adventure rides

              30 March - 8 April 2018
              http://www.randshow.co.za

              Venue: Joburg Expo Center

              Decorex
              A themed interior decoration, design and lifestyle exhibition.

              Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre

              Gauteng Getaway Show
              Dedicated to travellers and adventurers, this event showcases over 350 exhibits
              including travel destinations, caravans, camping equipment and adventure
              accessories. There is also a Travel & Taste theatre feature great wine and food, as
              well as a live music stage.

              14 - 16 September 2018
              http://www.getawayshow.co.za

              Venue: Ticketpro Dome, Olievenhout Avenue, Johannesburg-North Riding

              Joy of Jazz
              The oldest jazz festival in South Africa, this cultural event takes place once a year
              at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg.

              September 2018
              http://www.joyofjazz.co.za

              Venue: Sandton Convention Centre

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              RMB WineX (Wine festival)
              From Souvignon Blanc to Pinotage, this festival boasts around 800 wines
              available for tasting. The event also features fine brandy, quality glassware and
              artisanal olives.

              24 - 26 October 2018
              http://www.winex.co.za

              Ort: Sandton Convention Centre


              Hotels
              Hotels in Johannesburg
              Luxury global chains, family-run guesthouses, cool hostels and everything in
              between can be foundin the diverse suburbs which make up South Africa’s
              dynamic metropolis.

              Saxon Hotel, Villas And Spa
              Ultimate luxury on 2.5 hectares (6 acres) of land, this all-suite hotel was Mandela’s
              home when he wrote his autobiography.

              36 Saxon Road, Sandhurst                  Category: Expensive
              Johannesburg, Gauteng 2196
              South Afrika

              Ten Bompas
              All-suite design hotel with celebrated Winehouse restaurant and glass-fronted
              wine cellar.

              10 Bompas Road                            Category: Expensive
              2196 Johannesburg
              South Africa

              The Maslow
              Business-centric hotel with popular bistro restaurant, techno gym and Africology
              Spa.

              Corner Grayston Drive and Rivonia         Category: Moderate
              Road, Sandton
              2031 Johannesburg
              South Africa

              Willy’s Chateau
              Family-run German bed and breakfast with outdoor pool in the suburb of
              Kensington.

              46 Leicester Road, Kensington             Category: Budget
              2094 Johannesburg
              South Africa

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