Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the biggest city and economic capital of the country of South Africa. Johannesburg, Jo'burg or Jozi to the locals, is the place to go to mix big-city culture, shopping, dining and nightlife with outdoor adventures, up-close wildlife encounters and visits to historical sites. In and around the city are museums covering art, history, science and apartheid. Nearby are caves, animal and nature reserves, the traditional villages of local cultures, working gold and diamond mines and the Cradle of Humankind, where the remains of an early human, Australopithecus, were discovered. At the heart of Johannesburg is an array of Victorian and Edwardian architecture plus concrete, chrome and glass skyscrapers and a tangle of highways, edged by leafy suburbs and congested shanty towns. Johannesburg's notorious image has improved thanks to the efforts of the Metro Police and the city's ubiquitous security cameras to reduce crime rates. Johannesburg's city center was also dramatically improved for the 2010 Football World Cup, with updated street names and new attractive pedestrian precincts. When visiting Johannesburg iti is advisable to pick a combination of in-town and suburb or further trips, in order to taste all of the possibilities that this interesting city has to offer. It is a good idea to pick in advance your route and places of interest that you wish to visit, as this will give you more security and calmness in the trips. Shopping is Jo'burg's biggest attraction, with a handful of American style malls and an abundance of superb contemporary African art, fashion and design. And then there are the townships, most easily explored on a tour but, in some cases, possible to get to under your own steam. Jo'burg is also a great place to watch sport, with football, rugby and cricket teams commanding feverish support. Attending a football match between any of the three giants – Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Pretoria's Mamelodi Sundowns – is an exhilarating experience. And don't forget - there are tons more of attractions, activities and interesting places to see in the city of Johannesburg, visit them and write here at HolidayStreets.com about their beauty and mystery!