The largest city in South Africa, Johannesburg is a vibrant city with year round cultural events and breathtaking tourist attractions. In terms of population, Johannesburg or Jo’burg is the biggest city in South Africa. It serves as the provincial capital of the Gauteng Province. Johannesburg covers a total area of 635.1sqmiles. This huge city accommodates an estimated population of 3,888,180 (2007). Various languages used in the city include the Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Xhosa, Zulu, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Tswana, Tshivenda, and Tsonga. Christians represent the majority of the population in Johannesburg. There are also people from Jewish, Islamic, and Hindu communities.

The chronicles of Johannesburg date back almost one millennium while it was occupied by savage tribes known as the San Clan. In the 13th century, the Bantu-speaking tribes began conquering the area. It was a quite huge settlement in the Gauteng Province.

In 1886, the city was officially founded when gold was unearthed and the Witwatersrand reef was found out. Following the unearthing, the number of inhabitants of the city went up, and it turned into the biggest city in the country. At present, Johannesburg is an academic and amusement hub for the whole continent.

Presently, Johannesburg houses the biggest economy of the metropolitan areas in the African continent. The Gauteng Province is the most thriving province in the country. The city is famous for its gold and diamond exports. The city is also home to a big and flourishing tourism industry. It has positioned itself as one of the major financial hubs in the world. It can be described as the financial nerve center of Africa. Major industries include mining, manufacturing, information technology, banking, transportation, real estate, communication, transportation, healthcare, and an energetic consumer retail market. The city houses the biggest stock exchange of Africa, JSE Limited.

Tourist attractions in Johannesburg – Soweto is a popular tourist spot. The Cradle of Humankind is a World Heritage Site. The tourist attractions in Johannesburg City are given below:

Wildlife Reserves

• Jo’burg Zoo
• Lion Park Nature Reserve
• Krugersdorp Nature Reserve
• 1500 Ha Game Reserve
• The De Wildt Cheetah Center
• The Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve

Transportation:

Johannesburg International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in Africa serves the city. The other airports in the city are Rand Airport, Grand Central Airport and Lanseria. Rand Airport It serves as the entry to South Africa from other parts of the world. The Metro railway system in the city connects it with other regions.The Metrobus in Johannesburg operates a bus system that serves as the public transport in the city. Metered taxis and minibus taxis are the two kinds of taxis available in the city. The city has an extensive road network having ring roads, freeways, bypass, highways that ease the traffic congestion in the city.

Maps of Johannesburg:

Johannesburg covers a total area of 635.1sq miles. It is the biggest city in South Africa by population.

Administrative Regions:

The city is broadly divided into five districts: Central Johannesburg, Sandton, Soweto, Roodepoort, and Randburg.

Hotels:

D’Oreale Grande, Don Johannesburg Int’l Airport Hotel, Don Rosebank Hotel, The Grace, and Hampshire Hotel Midrand are some of the most sought after hotels in the city.

Travel:

The art galleries and museums, zoos, shopping centers, historic buildings, and national parks of Johannesburg are a must watch.

Business and Economy:

Gold and diamond mining forms the backbone of the economy of Johannesburg.

Education:

The city houses a strong higher education system comprising public and private universities.

Events and Festivals:

The Rand Show, Arts Alive, National Choir Festival, and The National Arts Festival are the most admired festivals in the city.

History and culture:

The cultural diversity of Johannesburg is evident in its historical museums and art galleries.