Johannesburg

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carved wooden masks, Bruma Market, Johannesburg

Introducing Johannesburg

Travel Alert: Crime is a serious problem in Johannesburg; see the Dangers & Annoyances section for details.

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Jo’burg, or ‘Jozi’ as it’s more commonly known, is without a doubt the great big beating heart of South Africa, and has long played a Jekyll-and-Hyde role in the global consciousness. Often the stage on which the epic of this extraordinary nation has been played out, the colossus of Jo’burg – with all its thrills and foibles – is today a fascinating, multitudinous city, where all the ups and downs of 21st-century South Africa can be witnessed in three, multicolour dimensions.

In the past, the city’s darker personality proved the most enduring. The Jo’burg of the newsflash was a city where fear and loathing reigned supreme; a city where spiralling gun crime and poverty had manifested itself in a society where one half of the population stagnated, while the other looked on impassively through coils of razor wire.

As ever, there is an element of truth to the stereotypes. Jo’burg does bear scars of South Africa’s turbulent 20th century, and many will take time to heal. Stark inequalities persist, but armed with a new self-confidence – ironically most pronounced in the infamous township of Soweto – Africa’s giant hub is beginning to introduce itself to a healthier diet of urban renewal and social regeneration.

Last updated: Apr 16, 2009

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Thorn Tree forum discussion

Recent posts

  1. Voyager_2002 avatar
    RE: Looking for a suggestion

    by Voyager_2002 01 June 2012

    Remember that there are many different places in each country. Remember also that flights in Africa are very often delayed, so any journe…
  2. bostonpilot avatar
    Looking for a suggestion

    by bostonpilot 01 June 2012

    Hi All- I need some suggestions from the group. I'm putting together what is going to be a stupid trip, lots of one day stops over an…
  3. ozzieinmozzie avatar
    RE: Visa on arrival, Kruger and back

    by ozzieinmozzie 31 May 2012

    Hi Sabbia, You would be much better off flying into Johannesburg and then flying to Nelspruit. Renting your car from here will save you…

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