Johannesburg

Johannesburg (or Jo’burg, Jozi, eGoli or ’the city of gold’) is the largest city in South Africa. Capital of Gauteng province, it is the financial, economic and cultural giant of the country.

Johannesburg is located in the eastern plateau area of South Africa, known as the Highveld.

Fact facts about Johannesburg:

Population: 4,900,000

Time Zone: GMT/UTC +2 ()

Currency: Rand (R)

Weather: The weather in July should be dry with daytime temperatures of 10 – 16ºC, although it can be as cold as 5ºC. Temperatures can drop to below zero at night.

Many major attractions are within a short drive by car or bus and can be visited before and after the Conference.

Cultural

• Vibrant townships – historically segregated, black residential areas. Residents all have a rich story to tell and warm hospitality to share.
• A visit to the biggest city within a city in the world - Soweto, home to the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the largest hospital in the Southern Hemisphere, the Nelson Mandela House Museum, as well as the uniquely South African famous ‘shebeens’ which are lively, informal bars.
• Ke-Ditselane Cultural Village: this tribal village depicts the lives of Xhosa, Zulu, Pedi, Venda, Tsonga, Tshwane, Sotho, Ndebele and Swati people. Visitors are invited to observe traditional cooking, conversation and clothing. Visitors may also milk cows, wear traditional clothing and dance to traditional music.  

Historical

• Constitution Hill
• Apartheid Museum

Natural History 

• Cradle of Human Kind
• Origins Centre
• Botanical Gardens
• Wildlife Reserves such as the Kruger National Park and Pilanesberg Nature Reserve  

• Sun City, with its ‘Lost Palace’, is home to the Million Dollar golf tournament