Largest city of South Africa, Johannesburg offers something or the other for tourists of all ages, places and interest. From historic sites and botanical gardens to adventurous activities and vibrant wildlife, at Johannesburg you`ll never have a dull moment!
Gold Reef City:A prime destination is Johannesburg; the Gold Reef City is built at crown mines to make you actually feel like you`re in the last century. Go through the lanes of city to witness mining houses, museums, a hotel with a staff in antique dresses, as well as penny whistlers. The historic shaft here is the biggest attraction. It is a record holding 220 meters deep shaft, which was one of the richest goldmines in the world in 1916.
Randburg Waterfront:The harbor like setting at the Randburg Waterfront is owing to a man made lake formed with the waters of Jukskei River. The must visit site of Johannesburg, this place is replete with tourist attractions like cinemas, pubs, restaurants, gold course and other entertainment options. It is dotted with retail outlets that caters to your budget and style statement. Moreover, the water sports freak can have a time of their lives as they indulge in scuba diving and water skiing. And for the fearless lots, bungee jumping is an option. The waterfront is also frequented by all and sundry for their musical fountains, liquid fireworks and magic shows.
Johannesburg Botanical Gardens:A walk at the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens is what every nature lover would never forget. Spread over 365 acres, the botanical gardens are renowned for their nature walks amongst both locals and tourists. The rose garden, spread over 24 acres, is the biggest draw of all. The other attractions are the bonsai garden, Shakespeare garden and the herb garden.
Johannesburg zoo:A must visit place for people of all ages, the Johannesburg Zoo is a perfect jungle that teaches you a great deal about animals and their natural surroundings. For those who`d rather take a night tour, the zoo authorities offer a three hour tour, complete with a short slides and a talk on nocturnal animals and their adaptations. A fun ride on a moonlit night are just too exciting and short walks to personally meet the animals from close are too adventurous.
Joubert Park:Granted by the Volksraad in 1887, Joubert Park is the citys oldest park that takes you down the memory lane. The other adjoining places to visit include the King George and Twist Streets, the Wolmarans, Johannesburg Art Gallery and the bordering conservatory.

Johannesburg, known as the New York City of Africa is a modern, fast-paced city with no dearth of staying options for the travelers. The area you`d like to stay in should depend on your travel purpose, likings and budget.
City Centre:Though most of the businesses have started to shift to the northern suburbs, the city centre is still frequented by tourists for the historical Johannesburg Fort. The Central Hostel and Guest House is for the travelers on a shoestring budget, keeping you close to the vibrant night life of this amazing city. Just shelve out a little more and you could afford the luxurious yet inexpensive Hotel Parktonian. The Protea Hotel at the Gold Reef City situated inside a theme park that takes you back in time to the gold mining era.
Parktown and Melville:Parktown is a suburban area that lies north of the central business district and is known for its old houses that were built in the 19th century. Head straight to Barbet Hill if greenery and nature is what entices you. Other cottage settings with accompanying gardens are Trenwith Cottages and Highview cottages. Melville is a town with a buzzing nightlife with loads o inexpensive options for the budget travelers. Melville House and the Room with a View are the most sought after options.
Soweto:Known to be a great showcase of modern South African culture, Soweto is the best place to get up, close and personal with the urbanized black Africans in the city. Imagine what could be more exciting than actually getting a chance to stay with a family here in Soweto! Maweni Guest House and Lolo`s Guest House are the commercialized options for the not-so adventurous ones. Other exciting options include a stay in the rural Zulu beehive house or Xhosa rondavels, or huts.

A valid passport is required by all nationals intending to visit Johannesburg. The South Africa consulate requires at least 2 blank pages in your passport for entry stamp.

Visa is not required by the nationals of following countries, traveling for a period of less than 90 days, and for business and pleasure purposes:

• British
• Canada
• USA
• Australia
• Some EU countries

UK nationals are exempted from paying visa charges.

Summer (November to March) is the best time to visit Johannesburg. This is also the festive season in South Africa and the time for summer breaks when everyone heads towards the beaches for some `sun and sand`. The mild hot days in summer are cooled off by rainfall and hail at night. Winter days can be quite sunny but nights are freezing.

Johannesburg enjoys a pleasant mild temperature throughout the year. It doesn`t experience heat and humidity in extreme, but the winter chill (July and August) is quite known. Nights can be freezing during this time of the year. Summer is the time of bright sunshine, with quite balmy nights (October to March). Brief spells of thunder, lightening and hailstorm can be experienced during summer time.

Currency:Currency of Johannesburg is the South Africa Rand. ATMs and currency exchange bureaus can be easily found throughout Johannesburg. Almost all commercial banks exchange traveler`s checks and deal in all major currencies. All international credit cards are widely accepted.

Language:There are a range of languages that are spoken in Johannesburg. The majority speaks Nguni languages, whereas the second most popular language is Sotho. About 18% of the residents speak English, 7% speak Afrikaans and not more than 6% of Johannesburg residents speak Tshivenda at home.