Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and comfortably lays claim to being the largest economic powerhouse in the whole of Africa.
Originally built on the discovery of gold, Johannesburg is now a vibrant megacity with a population of nearly 11 million people in the Greater Johannesburg area.
Attractions are plentiful in the city. The Apartheid Museum is popular with tourists who can learn a lot about township life. Check out the Nelson Mandela Bridge which connects the Central Business District to the Newtown Cultural Precinct which houses all the museums and art galleries. Enjoy picnics at Zoo Lake, a park filled with oak and sycamore trees or go on a tour of Soweto which is the district with the largest population in the city.
Due to its proximity to Pretoria and other places, one can schedule a day trip to one of the game reserves to see the ‘big 5’ as well as some of the savannah.
Johannesburg is a great city for shopping with many different malls to explore. The malls in Sandton are well known for designer outfits and clothes in general whereas Rosebank has an African craft market including handmade artwork. Indian fabrics, antiques and general retro items can be found in Fordsburg.
In respect of nightlife, Melville is an area where many bars and clubs can be found. Musicals, dance and opera are all regularly performed at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre. Various stage performances also occur in Mary Fitzgerald Square.
The Speciality Museums in Johannesburg are immensely popular with tourists and locals alike. In addition to the Apartheid Museum, the Origins Center showcases the origins of mankind. Johannesburg is the ideal place for this museum to be located since South Africa is considered to be the birthplace of the human race. The Peacemaker Museum commemorates the memories of past and present Nobel Peace Prize winners and their contribution to society.
Where to find Nelson Mandela attractions?
Go to Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton, Joburg public square and shopping centre in Sandton.
This statue of Nelson Mandela was created by local artists Jacob Maponyane and Kobus Hattingh and stands six metres tall. The statue was commissioned in July 2002 and completed in 2004. At the time of its unveiling, the statue received mixed reactions from all quarters some loved it, some hated it and some thought it was just a little over the top. The proportions of this statue cannot be ignored: apart from its height it is 2.3m wide and has a shoulder width of 1.7m. Despite the somewhat awkward proportions of this one, it's still a firm favourite for visitors to Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton to have their photo taken with.
