South Africa
Western & Eastern Cape
+ Cape Town
Northeast Region
+ Durban
Gauteng
+ Johannesburg
Sights
Pretoria
+ Pretoria
Northwest Region
+ Kimberley
Walk/Drive
Food&Drink
In The Know
Did You Know?
Although the seat of government lies elsewhere, Johannesburg is South Africa's largest city and the undisputed economic, industrial and financial capital of the country.
Johannesburg (aka Joburg) is a city built on gold - hence its African name, Egoli, 'place of gold'. An obscure prospector, George Harrison, first discovered the precious metal here in 1886. Within a year a mining town of 10,000 people had sprung up. By 1889 the young city had horse-drawn trams, and by 1890 electric lights. Soon fashionable suburbs appeared, such as Parktown with its stone-built mansions. Nine years after the discovery of gold the population of Johannesburg was 100,000; today it is several million. With the mines came many associated industries, commerce, financial institutions and a stock exchange which has grown into the largest in Africa.Present-day Johannesburg is several cities in one. The original city centre, with its offices and skyscrapers, has the vibrant feel of an African city, with many pavement-vendors from neighbouring countries. Because of the former policy of racial segregation, a separate black city, Soweto, has grown up to the southwest. Many big businesses and the stock exchange have recently moved north to the wealthy area of Sandton, where high-rise buildings are mushrooming.
Because of its wealth, Johannesburg has some of the country's finest and most expensive shops, some of its best museums, theatres and art galleries, and some of its most luxurious homes. But as in other South African cities, wealth exists alongside poverty and deprivation.
| COUNTRY |
| South Africa
|
| Viewing |
| Top Ten |
| What To See |
| Where To ... |
| Practical Matters |
| REGION |
| CITIES |
| MAPS |
| World |
| Europe |
| TRAVEL BOOK |
 |