The financial, industrial and transport heart of South Africa is Johannesburg or, as the locals call it, Johanburg. Most of them are black South Africans living mainly in Soweto and other suburbs of Johannesburg. Unlike other South African cities, none of the language groups dominate here, although English acts as a lingua franca, a common language for multilingual peoples.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN JOHANNESBURG
• Johannesburg and Pretoria city tours;
• balloon flights;
• visiting the theme park “Gold Reef City” – an open-air museum that recreates the Johannesburg gold rush times;
• descent into the underground mine;
• demonstration of the gold casting process;
• visiting the Premier diamond mine, where the world’s largest diamond weighing 3,106 carats was found;
Animal lovers and local culture don’t miss the chance to visit:
• rhinos reserve, lion nursery and caves;
• the ethnographic village of Lesedi;
• one of the largest zoos in Africa.
• The apartheid museum has been aimed to show the world how South Africa fought against racial discrimination against blacks. Among the exhibits of the museum you can see provocative film shots, photographs and other artifacts telling about the events and human stories of the apartheid period.
• The National Museum of Nelson Mandela is located in Soweto – in the house where in the 90s. the first black president of South Africa and the leader of the struggle against apartheid lived with his family.
• The collection of the Museum of Military History is predominantly represented by military technology, among which one of the few remaining German jet fighters – the Messerschmitt Me.262 from the Second World War.
TYPICAL COSTS WHEN TRAVELLING
Accommodation – 1-bedroom apartment in the city center $ 451.18 per a month
1-bedroom apartment outside the center $ 364.07
3 bedroom apartment in the city center $ 925.21
3-bedroom apartment outside the center $ 702.30
Food – Self-cooking will be the cheapest way. In the supermarkets you will find any products of your choice, and the prices do not shock you. Thus, bread costs 0.96 USD, a milk package 1.6 USD, a kilogram of any fruit will cost no more than 3 USD.Eating (lunch / dinner) in an inexpensive restaurant $ 8.36
Lunch / dinner for two, 3 courses, middle class restaurant $ 33.11
McMeal at McDonalds or a similar combo lunch $ 4.18
Transportation – As for transport, the public is cheaper, no doubt. The price for one bus ride will be 0.5 USD (8 ZAR). It is better not to ride in illegal taxis: they drive very fast and not at all according to the rules of the road. Tourists are still encouraged to take a taxi, it is inexpensive, and the windows in cars are mostly armored. Every 1 km is worth 1 USD (12–14 ZAR).
Suggested daily budget is 30-35 USD considering the price of accommodation, food, transportations, and excursions.
MONEY SAVING TIPS
1 How to eat out not spending too much: In all large stores there are racks with hot buffets: there you will find, both local traditional cuisine and regular fast food and separate cereals and various meats. As a rule, it will cost less than lunch in a restaurant, but the quality will be about the same level. On top of that, you can grab a bottle of cheap tasty wine (up to 10 USD) and enjoy the evening.
2 Use Uber: Uber has recently begun operating in the country. Prices are a bit cheaper than a standard taxi.
3 Don’t hesitate to buy jewellery: South Africa sells garnets, sapphires and emeralds. Jewelry prices are somewhat lower than in Europe, and most importantly, many of them are true works of art.
4 Know the locations: Expensive purchases are best done in large shopping centers, they are in all cities of South Africa. It is also better to buy products in supermarkets, although private shops, which are contained by immigrants from India, are often located more convenient, being in the central regions.
ON THE SCENE?
Nightlife in Johannesburg plays with all colors and does not subside until the morning. Here there is a place for lovers of disco music, hip-hop and those who care about real African jazz. On Fridays-Saturdays, a large queue usually gathers at the entrances to clubs all over the city.
As a rule, at certain hours (from 10 pm to 11 pm) or on certain days (all clubs have different) admission is free for all. After that the price already varies from 7 to 8 USD (from 100 to 400 ZAR). It often happens that for girls the entrance is free all night.