Johannesburg will host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. If you're headed there, also check out the city's hot spots, game reserves and exotic restaurants
➾ Stay
Johannesburg has a plethora of options for almost every budget. If you're looking for something that is easy on your wallet then try The Backpacker's Ritz in Dunkeld West (+27 011 325 7125), which has an amazing view of the city and will cost you around R287 a night. There's also 90 George Avenue in Sandringham (+27 011 640 1856), which will cost you about R250 a night and is close to Melrose Arch, a private development that has lots of restaurants and shops.
➾ EAT
Like all major financial capitals, Johannesburg is a gastronomic delight. For authentic African food try Moyo at Zoo Lake Park. Apart from its serene surroundings and exotic decór, the restaurant has a very casual feel to it with live music, face painting, wooden decks for dining, tents and a small handicrafts shop. Some of the popular dishes here are the Grilled Ostrich, Bobotie (a mild, sweet curry) and Zanzibar Fish Burger.
If you're not really sure about what you would like to try, head to Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, where there are restaurants with almost every kind of cuisine and in almost all price ranges. For the meat lovers, there's The Butcher Shop; for those looking to try some Indian food there's Bukhara; for Thai cuisine check out Wangthai, and there are a slew of cafes and bars that also serve mixed cuisine.
And if you're looking to go easy on your wallet, then the multi-cuisine restaurants in Melville are your best bet.
➾ SEE
If you're tired and jet lagged and want to spend your first day at leisure, Sandton would be a great place to head to. It is one of the more affluent areas of the city. Apart from big malls and restaurants, it is home to Nelson Mandela Square – an Italian piazza-style square that has malls and restaurants. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it will also have an official fan park which will show all the matches on a giant screen. You can also head to the Top of Africa, the viewing gallery at the Carlton Centre – Africa's tallest building – to get a view of the Johannesburg skyline for R7.
Johannesburg is also a historically important city. It is the financial capital and most major political movements in South Africa have their origins here. To get a taste of African history head to the numerous museums. A good start would be The Apartheid Museum near Gold Reef City. It houses pictures, videos and artefacts on the period and will probably take up a large part of your day.
Since no trip to Africa is complete without experiencing its wildlife, take some time out to visit the Lion Park near Hans Strijdom, which will cost you R80. A short drive through the lion’s camp and game area is a must, but the best part is the visit to the lion cubs area, where you can get close to them and even play with them. Try to go there on a weekday, as on weekends it can get extremely crowded.
➾ Visit
There are a lot of interesting places to visit around Johannesburg. For those looking to splurge, take the two hour trip to Sun City. This haven of Las Vegas-inspired hedonism is full of casinos, restaurants and hotels. Once you're done losing all your money, you can even indulge in some outdoor activities like elephant riding, quad bike rides through a wildlife train, archery, and clay pigeon shooting. Entry fees for visitors is R70.
If you want to try some Slumdog-esque tourism, take a tour through Soweto, one of South Africa's largest townships on the outskirts of Johannesburg. During apartheid, it was a settlement created by the South African government for black workers who weren't allowed to live in the cities. It was also where many anti-apartheid movements began. You can visit the Mandela Family Museum, which is housed in the home that Nelson Mandela grew up in, to get a glimpse of the township's turbulent past. Guided tours include visits to local merchants who sell everything from art to traditional medicine, old settlements and a Shebeen – small taverns that were illegally run during apartheid, as black South Africans were banned from consuming alcohol. Depending on the kind of tour you take, you will have to shell out anywhere between R200 to R300.
➾ MUST DO:
No trip to Johannesburg (or for that matter South Africa) would be complete without a game drive. A good option would be the Pilanesberg National Park. On your drive through the park, you will get a chance to see the big five of Africa – lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and rhinos – along with giraffes, impalas and antelopes up close. It would be advisable to take the early morning drive as due to the cool weather most of the animals are out looking for food, unlike in the afternoon when half of them are probably taking a siesta under a tree.
Once you've had an overdose of history and wildlife, it's time to try some adventure sports. One of the most unique sports that you can experience close to Johannesburg is the Canopy tour. Conducted at a private reserve in Magaliesberg, visitors get a chance to explore the Ysterhout Kloof range from a very different perspective. It has eleven platforms that have been erected on the face of each cliff and are connected via steel cables. You slide down these cables from one platform to the other as you take in the beautiful views.
➾ Nightlife: The city has a vibrant nightlife. Pubs, themed bars, lounges and clubs are spread out all over the city. Melville and the surrounding areas have a number of pubs that won't put a dent in your bank account. One of the popular bars here is the Catz Pajamas, open 24 hours and housed in an old building with iron balconies that give you a great view of the city. Some of the more happening bars are located in the Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton and Melrose Arch. If you're looking for some live performances, head to the Roxy Rhythm Bar in Melville, which has live band performances or try the Jamaican-themed Cool Runnings on Fourth Avenue that also has stand-up comedy nights.
Once you're adequately liquored up for partying, check out Reality on Jeppe Street. It has three dance floors, each playing a different genre of music and is also popular for its raves. Other favoured party destinations are the Japanese-themed Tokyo Star in Melville and The Rock in Soweto, famous for its Jazz music.
➾ Shop: Pick up some authentic African souvenirs at the African Crafts Market at Rosebank Mall. It's a giant crafts market with almost every possible kind of indigenous African art under one roof. The stalls are owned by the artists themselves and it's a bargain lover's dream. Start your offer at half the marked price while negotiating and don't get intimated by the shopkeepers, as they're harmless and there is adequate security around.
