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Johannesburg
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Welcome to the City of Gold
The bustling metropolis of Johannesburg (known to locals as Joburg or Jozi) is the largest city in South Africa by population and also its economic centre. While Joburg is not one of South Africa’s three capital cities, it is home to the Constitutional Court where judgements are based on the highest law in the land. Dubbed the City of Gold, Joburg was built on the mineral-rich Witwatersrand hills during the gold rush that started in the late 1800s. Today, it is still home to a large-scale gold and diamond trade and remains the wealthiest metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the seat of big corporations and home to some of the most innovative minds on the continent.
Incentive Highlights
- Johannesburg is wealthiest metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa
- South Africa's largest city by population and economic centre
- Built on the mineral-rich Witwatersrand hills during the gold rush that started in the late 1800s
What to Do
The “City of Gold”, a place of prosperity, hope and opportunity
Visit Gold Reef City and take a journey underground to see how gold is mined. Gold Reef City is an amusement park located on an old gold mine and is themed around the gold rush that started in 1886. You will visit the local melt and see a gold bar being poured using a gold-containing ore vein. Afterwards, continue to the local mint where a special coin will be produced as a souvenir of your visit. After these exciting activities, enjoy a delicious lunch.
Experience a place of urban design, eclectic food and arts culture
In the east of Johannesburg you will find Maboneng, a precinct of the city that is being revived into a hotspot for street markets, urban design and an exceptional food culture all within the walls of the City of Gold. This is a vibey and pulsating area with creative energy, flaunting impressive entertainment venues, retail stores and art galleries. Come here for an experience of a different kind and see what it means to be part of Maboneng, the “place of light”.
Discover your roots at the cradle of humankind, the birthplace of humanity
Start the morning with an informative visit to the Cradle of Humankind in Maropeng, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Maropeng means “returning to the place of origin” in Setswana. This is a complex of limestone caves where a great number of hominin fossils (including some of the oldest) have been found. Continue to the Sterkfontein Caves for some more archaeological enlightenment before topping off the experience with an exquisite gourmet affair at Roots Restaurant at the Forum Homini Hotel.
A journey through Apartheid through South African eyes
Start the day out with a visit to Liliesleaf in Rivonia for a historical introduction to the activism and rebellion that took place behind the scenes during Apartheid times. Learn who the key Apartheid activists were prior the arrest of Nelson Mandela and his comrades, and understand the Rivonia Trial. Continue to the Apartheid Museum located on the outskirts of Soweto, ending the experience off with a visit to Mandela House and Vilakazi Street, previously home to two Nobel Peace Prize recipients.
Where to Stay
Saxon Boutique Hotel, Villas and Spa, Sandhurst
This multi-award winning, world-class hotel offers guests unsurpassed luxury in idyllic setting close to all the entertainment of Sandton. The Saxon offers discreet, personalised services in an ambiance of stately elegance. The extraordinary contemporary African interiors harbour fascinating art and indigenous weaponry collections. Guests can relax around the sparkling swimming with its underwater music set in ten acres of manicured garden. Cocktails are served in the Olive Bar, and the Chef and Sommelier will attend to guests’ every desire in the sumptuous dining area.
More informationFairlawns, Morningside Manor
Conveniently situated in the Sandton suburb of Morningside Manor, Fairlawns is an award-winning boutique hotel offering a unique, exclusive, up-market stay. Guests can enjoy spacious, highly individualized, world-class suites, warm personalised service, the large fully equipped gym, Balinese Spa and an excellent a la carte restaurant. The surroundings offer a stately, park-like ambience with huge mature trees and prolific bird-life.
More informationSandton Sun, Sandton City
Elegant and legendary, the Sandton Sun offers guests a distinguished and memorable stay. Linked to the Sandton City Shopping Centre, guests can easily experience a wide variety of contemporary dining and fashionable shopping. Guests at the Sandton Sun can expect seamless service and world class facilities, including a luxurious spa, state-of-the-art Business Suite and beautifully appointed dining and bar venues.
More informationDAVINCI Hotel and Suites, Sandton City
The DAVINCI Hotel and Suites I situated on Nelson Mandela Square at the Sandton City complex. The hotel sets a standard in 21st century opulence and magnificence fused with the decadence and convenience of a world-class shopping experience. All interiors, public areas, and hotel rooms and suites have been designed by the world renowned and admired Stephen Falke. Guests can enjoy fine dining at Maximillien restaurant, and relax in the splendid DAVINCI and elite Maxim Lounges.
More informationPeermont Mondior hotel, Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg
Conveniently located next to O.R. Tambo International Airport, the 4-star Peermont Mondior hotel at Emperors Palace provides an elegant and attractively priced one-night stay-over in Johannesburg. Guests will enjoy spacious rooms and suites furnished in contemporary African elegance and fitted with cutting-edge technology. Guests can enjoy meals at Oriana restaurant or cocktails at The Silver Moon bar. The Emperors Palace resort also boasts a magnificent casino, various dining options, cinemas and exhilarating entertainment and theatre venues.
More informationPeermont D Óreale Grande hotel, Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg
Conveniently located next to O.R. Tambo International Airport, the 5-Star Peermont D'oreale Grande at Emperors Palace provides a luxurious one-night stay-over in Johannesburg. Guests will enjoy the regal comfort of the beautifully designed and impeccably appointed rooms and suites that are fitted with plush, state-of-the-art facilities. Guests can dine at the elegant Aurelia's Restaurant, relax in the Aurelia's Lounge and Cocktail Bar, or sip on a cocktail while watching the African sunset from a lounger or cocktail bar in the manicured and terraced gardens of the hotel.
More informationFour Seasons Hotel The Westcliff
Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff is an urban resort village stylishly elevated on a vast hillside with terrific panoramic views over Johannesburg. The hotel’s cool, Africa-inspired design and magical courtyards, fountains and gardens are complemented by five modern restaurants, bars and lounges, making this a special place with a natural urban feel. A host of extra-spacious guest rooms and suites are available, with views of the gardens, courtyards and the city’s thick canopy of trees.
What to expect
“Egoli”, The Place of Gold
Johannesburg (or Joburg) is fondly known as the “City of Gold” for the vast amount of gold deposits that were found and mined in the area. “Egoli” is the Zulu word for “Place of Gold”. Johannesburg was founded with the gold rush in 1886 and as such the country became the world’s largest producer of gold.
A diverse international destination
The largest city in South Africa and the second-largest city in Africa, Johannesburg is a vibrant metropolis home to around 3.8 million people, similar in size to Los Angeles. It’s a bustling and vibey city that never sleeps, and a powerful economic hub – it’s the most powerful commercial centre in Africa!
Joburg is a diverse and unique place that offers many kinds of experiences, offering something for everyone. Learn about traditional cultures at various cultural villages or centres in the city, such as the Lesedi Cultural Village to the north. Be sure to also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Cradle of Humankind, within easy reach of the city, in the north-west. This “birthplace of humanity” is a complex of limestone caves where a large number of hominin fossils (including some of the oldest) have been found, including of course the most recent discovery of the Homo naledi fossil skeletons at a nearby site.
For another kind of cultural experience, visitors get to choose from more than 40 art galleries and a host of cultural institutes and studios.
From restaurants to pubs, clubs and shebeens, Johannesburg for sure has an electric nightlife to cater for anyone looking for a good night out. A visit to a shebeen (an informal drinking place, usually in a township) offers a truly authentic and up-close “eKasi” experience.
If you’re an avid shopper, you’ll be pleased to know that Joburg is also one of Africa’s premium shopping destinations. You’ll find a good array of fascinating locally crafted items, and many international brands at great prices at a variety of impressive malls.
History
Gold was first discovered on the Witwatersrand (“Ridge of White Waters”) in 1884 and mining activities started successively thereafter, but the first gold from the Main Reef on the Witwatersrand was obtained in 1885. This was followed by Johannesburg being laid out and founded in 1886, transforming South Africa from an agricultural society into the largest gold producer in the world! An astounding 40% of the earth’s gold has been found in the Witwatersrand, the reef on which the city was built.
Weather and the best time to visit
Situated on the Highveld plateau, Johannesburg has a drier climate (especially when compared with South Africa’s east coast). Summers are hot with typical late afternoon thundershowers that seem to come out of nowhere and are over in about half an hour but bring beautiful and cool relief to the heat of the day. Winters are very dry with sunny, cool days that can alter into very cold nights; minus degrees are not unheard of!
What to Do
The “City of Gold”, a place of prosperity, hope and opportunity
Visit Gold Reef City and take a journey underground to see how gold is mined. Gold Reef City is an amusement park located on an old gold mine and is themed around the gold rush that started in 1886. You will visit the local melt and see a gold bar being poured using a gold-containing ore vein. Afterwards, continue to the local mint where a special coin will be produced as a souvenir of your visit. After these exciting activities, enjoy a delicious lunch.
Experience a place of urban design, eclectic food and arts culture
In the east of Johannesburg you will find Maboneng, a precinct of the city that is being revived into a hotspot for street markets, urban design and an exceptional food culture all within the walls of the City of Gold. This is a vibey and pulsating area with creative energy, flaunting impressive entertainment venues, retail stores and art galleries. Come here for an experience of a different kind and see what it means to be part of Maboneng, the “place of light”.
Discover your roots at the cradle of humankind, the birthplace of humanity
Start the morning with an informative visit to the Cradle of Humankind in Maropeng, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Maropeng means “returning to the place of origin” in Setswana. This is a complex of limestone caves where a great number of hominin fossils (including some of the oldest) have been found. Continue to the Sterkfontein Caves for some more archaeological enlightenment before topping off the experience with an exquisite gourmet affair at Roots Restaurant at the Forum Homini Hotel.
A journey through Apartheid through South African eyes
Start the day out with a visit to Liliesleaf in Rivonia for a historical introduction to the activism and rebellion that took place behind the scenes during Apartheid times. Learn who the key Apartheid activists were prior the arrest of Nelson Mandela and his comrades, and understand the Rivonia Trial. Continue to the Apartheid Museum located on the outskirts of Soweto, ending the experience off with a visit to Mandela House and Vilakazi Street, previously home to two Nobel Peace Prize recipients.
Where to Stay
Saxon Boutique Hotel, Villas and Spa, Sandhurst
This multi-award winning, world-class hotel offers guests unsurpassed luxury in idyllic setting close to all the entertainment of Sandton. The Saxon offers discreet, personalised services in an ambiance of stately elegance. The extraordinary contemporary African interiors harbour fascinating art and indigenous weaponry collections. Guests can relax around the sparkling swimming with its underwater music set in ten acres of manicured garden. Cocktails are served in the Olive Bar, and the Chef and Sommelier will attend to guests’ every desire in the sumptuous dining area.
More informationFairlawns, Morningside Manor
Conveniently situated in the Sandton suburb of Morningside Manor, Fairlawns is an award-winning boutique hotel offering a unique, exclusive, up-market stay. Guests can enjoy spacious, highly individualized, world-class suites, warm personalised service, the large fully equipped gym, Balinese Spa and an excellent a la carte restaurant. The surroundings offer a stately, park-like ambience with huge mature trees and prolific bird-life.
More informationSandton Sun, Sandton City
Elegant and legendary, the Sandton Sun offers guests a distinguished and memorable stay. Linked to the Sandton City Shopping Centre, guests can easily experience a wide variety of contemporary dining and fashionable shopping. Guests at the Sandton Sun can expect seamless service and world class facilities, including a luxurious spa, state-of-the-art Business Suite and beautifully appointed dining and bar venues.
More informationDAVINCI Hotel and Suites, Sandton City
The DAVINCI Hotel and Suites I situated on Nelson Mandela Square at the Sandton City complex. The hotel sets a standard in 21st century opulence and magnificence fused with the decadence and convenience of a world-class shopping experience. All interiors, public areas, and hotel rooms and suites have been designed by the world renowned and admired Stephen Falke. Guests can enjoy fine dining at Maximillien restaurant, and relax in the splendid DAVINCI and elite Maxim Lounges.
More informationPeermont Mondior hotel, Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg
Conveniently located next to O.R. Tambo International Airport, the 4-star Peermont Mondior hotel at Emperors Palace provides an elegant and attractively priced one-night stay-over in Johannesburg. Guests will enjoy spacious rooms and suites furnished in contemporary African elegance and fitted with cutting-edge technology. Guests can enjoy meals at Oriana restaurant or cocktails at The Silver Moon bar. The Emperors Palace resort also boasts a magnificent casino, various dining options, cinemas and exhilarating entertainment and theatre venues.
More informationPeermont D Óreale Grande hotel, Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg
Conveniently located next to O.R. Tambo International Airport, the 5-Star Peermont D'oreale Grande at Emperors Palace provides a luxurious one-night stay-over in Johannesburg. Guests will enjoy the regal comfort of the beautifully designed and impeccably appointed rooms and suites that are fitted with plush, state-of-the-art facilities. Guests can dine at the elegant Aurelia's Restaurant, relax in the Aurelia's Lounge and Cocktail Bar, or sip on a cocktail while watching the African sunset from a lounger or cocktail bar in the manicured and terraced gardens of the hotel.
More informationFour Seasons Hotel The Westcliff
Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff is an urban resort village stylishly elevated on a vast hillside with terrific panoramic views over Johannesburg. The hotel’s cool, Africa-inspired design and magical courtyards, fountains and gardens are complemented by five modern restaurants, bars and lounges, making this a special place with a natural urban feel. A host of extra-spacious guest rooms and suites are available, with views of the gardens, courtyards and the city’s thick canopy of trees.
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