The metropolis of Johannesburg is the economic locomotive of southern Africa and one of the continent’s major cities. The city is the largest in South Africa and consists almost of two city centers, the old town center and the modern Sandton, where large shopping centers and modern buildings prevail.
The old town center has its sights. This is where the city was developed after the foundation, and a lot of its history can be seen here. The sights are large public institutions, high-rise buildings, museums, etc. This is also where the city’s main railway station and other important functions are located.
Johannesburg consists of more than the old town center and Sandton. Many will also recognize the name Soweto, a neighborhood known widely around the world. This is the township area where the country’s former president, Nelson Mandela, came from.
The surrounding area of Johannesburg is also interesting with good opportunities for excursions. A trip to one of the country’s three formal capitals, Pretoria, is a good choice and a chance to see the government buildings of South Africa, museums and monuments. It is of course also possible to enjoy some of South Africa’s nature and national parks in the vicinity of Johannesburg.
The Johannesburg area has been inhabited for millions of years, but despite the current size of the city, Johannesburg is a very young city. In the 19th century, many farmer farmers came and they cultivated large parts of the countryside. This was not least after the migration from Cape Town to the inland in 1836. However, the Boers did not establish an actual city at that time.
Australian George Harrison found gold here in 1886, and it was the start of a very hectic gold fever. Pretoria to the north sent officials Johann Rissik and Johannes Joubert to the area of the gold finds, and they chose the site for the establishment of Johannesburg, which was subsequently named after them. The first gold was found in Barberton, but even richer deposits were soon after excavated in Witwatersrand.
The gold brought lots of migrants from other parts of southern Africa, but also from Europe and North America, and after just five years, Johannesburg was South Africa’s largest city. The economically very interesting area was the subject of tension between the Dutch Africans and the British. It resulted in the Second Boer War, in which Britain won the dominion over this part of South Africa as well.
After the establishment of the South African Union in 1910, regulations for non-Europeans were introduced in Johannesburg and in the Transvaal region. Among other things, special residential areas were established for them, such as Soweto, which seriously developed from the 1940s.
Based on the wealth of gold mines, Johannesburg developed a large industrial production in the first half of the 20th century and a number of cultural institutions were established. The many jobs in both the mines and the industry constantly attracted more blacks from poor rural areas, and the city’s black districts gradually became overcrowded and quite slack.
Johannesburg’s central business district opened up, and there were many international hotels, skyscrapers and entertainment venues for the many wealthy white and traveling business people. The white neighborhoods of the metropolis were modern as a European or North American city, while the poor black districts merely continued its somewhat unstructured growth. Political pressure increased on the white rule introduced with the 1948 National Party election victory.
In 1976, armed riots broke out in Soweto, resulting in 12 months of riots that were wiped out, but which nevertheless added extra fuel to the black opposition’s struggle for influence in the country. After several unrest, the political structure of the country changed in 1990, with the South African president allowing all political organizations and printing presidential elections until 1994, when Soweto’s Nelson Mandela was elected the first black president.
The political system change had major consequences for Johannesburg. Many blacks moved into the central business district where the established financial sector of the country was located. Companies and the stock exchange, for example, moved to new areas in the suburban area, mainly Sandton, to the north. Hotels were closing and moving, and the city’s central part had changed radically in a few years. Today, much has been done to restore the attractiveness of the Johannesburg Center to investors and tourists alike.
Overview of Johannesburg
The metropolis of Johannesburg is the economic locomotive of southern Africa and one of the continent’s major cities. The city is the largest in South Africa and consists almost of two city centers, the old town center and the modern Sandton, where large shopping centers and modern buildings prevail.
The old town center has its sights. This is where the city was developed after the foundation, and a lot of its history can be seen here. The sights are large public institutions, high-rise buildings, museums, etc. This is also where the city’s main railway station and other important functions are located.
About the upcoming Johannesburg travel guide
About the travel guide
The Johannesburg travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the South African city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.
Johannesburg is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.
Read more about Johannesburg and South African
Buy the travel guide
Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.
Use the travel guide
When you buy the travel guide to Johannesburg you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.
Constitution Hill • Mandela Square • Soweto • Sandton • Downtown
Overview of Johannesburg
The metropolis of Johannesburg is the economic locomotive of southern Africa and one of the continent’s major cities. The city is the largest in South Africa and consists almost of two city centers, the old town center and the modern Sandton, where large shopping centers and modern buildings prevail.
The old town center has its sights. This is where the city was developed after the foundation, and a lot of its history can be seen here. The sights are large public institutions, high-rise buildings, museums, etc. This is also where the city’s main railway station and other important functions are located.
About the upcoming Johannesburg travel guide
About the travel guide
The Johannesburg travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the South African city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.
Johannesburg is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.
Read more about Johannesburg and South African
Buy the travel guide
Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.
Use the travel guide
When you buy the travel guide to Johannesburg you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.
Similar to Johannesburg Travel Guide
There are no listings matching your search.
Reset