Can Johannesburg make for an enjoyable stop-over?

When going on an ‘African’ holiday Johannesburg wouldn’t usually be the first place chosen by travellers. However, should they decide on a safari adventure to South Africa then stopping in Joburg is a pre-requisite due to the location of its airport. One thing you will notice when visiting the financial hub of South Africa is that it is hardly the gun slinging crime haven as the reputation would suggest, but rather a bustling city with all the world-class entertainment travellers could ask for.

Johannesburg was founded in 1886 after gold was discovered on a farm. In the 130 years following the discovery it has grown into the largest city in the world that does not lie on water of some sort. It is also notable for being very high above sea level at 5.700ft and is considered the largest man-made forest in the world. You only have to visit the city to see the amount of greenery that has been planted to create some aesthetic beauty. Almost all corporate head offices are based out of Joburg to be close to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and it therefore carries the financial clout of the country.

Joburg is the ultimate big city, where people work hard during the week enduring high traffic volumes and long days at the office. It’s a popular trend for families to make their way out of the city over weekends whenever possible which has resulted in a never-ending selection of holiday resorts within quick driving distance from the city. O.R. Thambo International, Joburg’s airport, happens to be the closest airport to the biggest and best game farms such as the Kruger National Park. A resort that is highly popular and just over an hour’s drive away is Sun City. Located in the quintessential African setting, there are activities there for just about everyone. Perhaps it is most famous for its artificial beach located in the heart of the resort, while its casinos and golf courses bring in high rollers from all over the world. Wildlife is never too far away in the northern area of the country where Joburg is situated, so you’ll never have to drive too far for a ‘Big 5’ fix. Contrary to beliefs, wildlife does not roam free through the streets, and South Africans do not ride elephants to work.

The city itself has never been known as South Africa’s most popular tourist pull, but most international flights to the country go through Joburg, whether to go on Safari or to catch a connecting flight to Cape Town or Durban. Therefore a little tour into the metropolis is highly possible. Locals have a deep love of heading out to restaurants and bars after work, and the city provides a massive dining selection. It’s also a very social place where people are not too cliquey, meaning it is very easy to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger. There is quite a prominent drinking culture in Joburg as people tend to try and break the monotony of career life in the evenings. Two of the most popular venues in Johannesburg are the two major casinos, Montecasino and Emperors Palace, not only for the gambling but also for the huge variety of restaurants and live acts that pull in visitors. The gambling culture in South Africa still very much revolves around land-based casinos, as online casinos such as AGamingClub.co.uk are low key due to the country’s laws.

Foreigners who visit Johannesburg always find it puzzling as to why the city is so spread out. The virtual diameter is massive, and it would set you back over an hour should you choose to drive from one end of the city to the other without traffic. But it’s not only that, things are just generally far away from each other. Unlike most Westernized cities you cannot walk out of a hotel and go wandering for a place to eat as you could end up walking for miles, and along busy pedestrian unfriendly roads. The best bet is to grab an Uber or use a rental car as trains, busses and the hazardous mini-bus taxi’s are all highly unreliable and aren’t designed for getting you to specific locations. The entertainment has been designed so it is all located in secure centres or shopping malls, which are littered throughout the city. In fact, Joburg is a shopping city, as designer stores are in every mall, which all host the best international brands at affordable prices due to the Dollar/Rand exchange rate.

However, the issues plaguing the country cannot be ignored and are quite visible should you visit the more southern areas of the city. Soweto, one of the oldest and largest townships in the country lies just south west of the city, and tours are available should you wish to take them. It is a hard reality check going from what appears to be a first world suburb and driving straight into an area of shacks and extreme poverty. When Apartheid came to a close many poor workers moved into the city centre which was a once ‘white-only’ area. An influx of Immigrants from surrounding Southern African countries also occurred in the city centre, resulting in and urban ghetto developing. From afar the area looks well developed, but a close up tour paints a different picture. The centre now only carries the name, and can hardly be seen as the central hub of the city. Businesses and services have basically all moved to Sandton, an area that is now considered Joburg’s new financial district and also hosts the JSE.

While the crime levels are not as high as the stories would have you believe, there is most definitely the danger of crime that locals have become accustomed to. More and more houses are moving into security estates to avoid robberies, while houses which aren’t located in security estates are guarded by high walls with barbed wire or electric fencing. This information perhaps creates a false illusion that locals hear gun shots and high speed chases going on outside their gates, which isn’t the case. South Africans just prefer to completely eliminate the threat of home invasions, and go to great lengths to do so. Apartheid might have ended in the country, but the country is still very segregated in terms of poor and wealthy areas.

When people hear the ‘Africa’ in South Africa they picture a stereotype of dirt roads and gravel football pictures, but while parts of the city unfortunately carry this reality, like most developing nations, the majority of the city is extremely well built with world-class facilities. Much of this was a result of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and continues to give travellers access to fantastic facilities.

While Johannesburg is never likely to become your first choice as a travel destination you are highly likely to at least stop over if you ever pay a visit to South Africa. Hopefully you will now drive into the city with higher expectations of an enjoyable stay, and lower expectations of a crime ridden cesspit.