Only 1 child aged 0-2 per adult is allowed!
Learn more about flights to Johannesburg 🛫
Crazy Llama will help you quickly and easily choose and buy tickets to Johannesburg.
Johannesburg is one of the most amazing and controversial cities in South Africa. This is an important economic center, which constantly attracted the attention of various white colonists. Partly because of the large gold deposits in the bowels of local mines. Therefore, today Johannesburg, with all its African cultural diversity, is very similar to any typical metropolis in one of the developed countries. There are skyscrapers, business centers, cultural hubs, and a multinational population.
Due to the fact that the airport is unusually high above sea level, one of the longest runways in the world was built here. And once in the 70s the famous Concord supersonic aircraft were tested here.
The airport itself is quite convenient and large. It is full of shops, there is free Wi-Fi, and in lounges you can find a place to relax with at least minimal comfort (you shouldn't wait more from the airport actually).
In addition, Johannesburg Airport is being gradually modernized. This allows him to take modern planes, constantly increase passenger traffic and at the same time offer tourists all the modern conveniences that are rarely seen at airports on the African continent.
Africa's largest airport serves more than 15 million passengers a year. Nevertheless, the transport system around Johannesburg Airport should not even be put on a par with the developed cities of the world.
Despite the huge number of travelers, there is practically no public transport. Gautrain is the main rail link to Johannesburg city center via a stop at Sandton Station. The trip lasts 20 minutes, and a one-way ticket costs $ 12.
Another way to get to the center is by taxi. As a rule, tourists should look for white cars with the company logo on the doors. At the same time, the trip, which will take about 40 minutes, will cost you $ 40. Not cheap, but there are not many options in Johannesburg.
It is quite cold in the summer months: in June, the temperature can drop even to -7 ° C. In winter, it can be not only hot, but also arid. But the off-season is the most comfortable for traveling.
Johannesburg has become a much more interesting place to study in recent years than it was just ten years ago. During this time, the city has become much cleaner and more advanced. Now it is a fashionable, fun place to visit with a thriving cultural life, restaurants and cafes, various events for everyone.
As with most tourist cities, there is a Hop-on, Hop-off bus in Johannesburg that helps you conveniently explore the city. You can get off at any stop, look around, and then jump to the next. If this is your first time in Africa, it may be a little uncomfortable and strange for you to roam alone through the city streets. Therefore, the bus in this case is the ideal tool for the first inspection. At the same time, you will learn a little more about his diverse history.
Almost every nation in the world has its own history of genocide. It is necessary for everyone to know about apartheid who wants to study humanity in general and better understand the fate of Africans in particular.
Acquaintance with apartheid begins at the entrance. At the checkout, depending on skin color, the visitor receives a “white” or “black” ticket. In just a few minutes, the museum gives a complete picture of what apartheid is and why we should never repeat anything like that.
About an hour and a half drive from Johannesburg there is the so-called "Cradle of Humankind", which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fossils of some of the earliest human forms of life were found right here once. According to scientists, these remains are more than 2 million years old. The caves in which antiquities were discovered are now open for visitors, and one of them even has an interactive exhibition with a history of how the research was conducted.
The "peak" is popularly called the tallest building in South Africa. Although with a height of 223 meters, the building could not even get into the hundred of the tallest in the world, for the African mainland this is a record. From the 50th floor of the building, a 360-degree panorama of the city opens.
Once there was the prestigious Carlton Hotel, where Mick Jagger and Margaret Thatcher stayed (not at the same time, of course, although who knows). Unfortunately, in the 90s the hotel was forced to close and since then it remains only a viewing platform. And at the same time, "Peak of Africa."
Constitution Hill is a place where old and new collide. A defensive fort was built here in the 19th century. Some time later it used to be a prison, where the main activists of the world were detained. Such as Nelson Mandela or Gandhi. Today it houses the Constitutional Court of South Africa. The building contains most of Johannesburg’s history and is imbued with the spirit of freedom and justice.
This is the main creative district of the city, which has a special level of safety for tourists. Its streets are constantly patrolled by the police, so in late nights you can safely go to local bars and restaurants, relax and walk without fear. In addition, Maboneng attracts tourists with a number of art galleries, small city markets and the whole spirit of modernity.
One of the main ingredients in the kitchen of Johannesburg (as well as South Africa as a whole) is corn flour. It makes the most common “pap” dish. This is corn porridge, which is often served with meat stew and spinach. It is still a staple food, “paps” are even on the menu of the local KFC.
Roasted meat is the basis of Johannesburg's culinary tradition. They have been frying it for centuries, so locals have reached the highest skill. Must try! And if you don’t want fresh meat, try dried meat. Long before refrigerators appeared in South Africa, they came up with a number of recipes for preserving meat residues. And they are all really delicious.
South Koreans have kimchi, Germans have sauerkraut, and Johannesburg residents make “atchar” or “ahar” (“brine” in Hindi, where this dish comes from). In fact, these are pickled vegetables. The most popular pickling mix in South Africa is green mangoes with chili peppers. Eat it with anything: with curry, meat stew or even just with bread.