Johannesburg Tourism

History of Johannesburg 

The original inhabitants of Johannesburg were the San people. The San people were supposed to be hunters and gatherers who used tools made of stone for their hunting and other purposes. According to a few evidences, San people lived in Johannesburg till the tenth century. After the San people moved out, Johannesburg was inhabited by groups of people whose common tongue was Bantu. They came in southwards from the central part of Africa. Ruins of stone walls of Sotho-Tswana and some villages are now scattered around parts of Transvaal which is supposed to be the seat of Johannesburg. The ruins of Sotho-Tswana mines and furnaces where iron was melted suggest that these areas were exploited for its rich mineral wealth much before the Europeans came in or before gold was discovered. One of the most evident sites inside Johannesburg is Melville Koppies which has an iron smelting furnace. The history of Johannesburg also shows the inextricable part of South Africa’s freedom struggle and democracy. 

Here are the top 5 things to see on your trip to Johannesburg.

1. The Apartheid Museum

To know the history of Johannesburg and South Africa, do visit the Apartheid Museum. Apartheid is the institutional racial segregation imposed on the native black majority by the white minority in the country, and it was very much prevalent up until the early 90s. The museum traces the trail of the oppression, struggle and the final victory through photos, artefacts, newspaper clippings and video footages.

2. Cradle of Humankind

A Johannesburg day tour to Cradle of Humankind is an absolute must on your visit. About an hours’ drive away, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the world richest site for relics of hominins, the species believed to be the direct ancestors of humans, thus earning the site its name. Do visit Sterkfontein Caves and the Maropeng Visitor Centre in the premises, and hire a guide for better understanding of the Palaeolithic history.

3. Gold Reef City

Gold Reef City is the country’s most famous attraction park. Themed on the ‘golden’ history of the Johannesburg, there are numerous thrilling rides and historical exhibits for kids and adults alike. Children will love the trampoline, ten-pin bowling alley and the Anaconda roller coaster. Grownups should not miss the opportunity of seeing the inside of a real gold mine at Crown Mines, although now very much out of use.

4. Soweto and Mandela House

Soweto is an abbreviation for South-western Townships, which shines a very broad light into how deep did racism cut into the Johannesburg. This was the area where black labourers were segregated in a planned manner and made to live far away from the main city in low shacks. This is the cradle of the South African uprising against apartheid and the struggle towards democracy, holding the eminent hands of Nelson Mandela. Do visit the Mandela House on your Soweto tour from Johannesburg for a plethora of photographs, paintings and framed documents about the family, of the society and of various recognitions he received.

5. Lion and Safari Park

At the Lion and Safari Park, animal interaction is the biggest attraction. Visitors can drive through pride of lions in caged vehicles, and see the kings and queens of the jungle in their everyday actions. You can even cuddle a cub, and hand feed other animals like giraffes and zebras.

People & Culture of Johannesburg

Johannesburg is also known as the cultural hub of SOuth Africa. Several museums, theatres, art galleries and libraries are seated in Johannesburg. The much reputed National School of Arts is situated here. Also, the dance institution, South African Ballet Theatre is located here. Apart from that, Johannesburg is also home to the University of  Witwatersrand’s School of Arts. University of Johannesburg Art Gallery is quite popular for its painitings which include a collection from the 17th century to the 21st century. The paintings include a collection of Dutch, British, European and French paintings along with some masterpieces of Contemporary Art. The rich cultural diversity of Johannesburg and its history is quite evident through these pictures. 

The population of Johannesburg, according to the 2014 census, is  4,434,827. Therefore, it is also considered as the largest and densely populated city in the country. 3/4th of its population comprises of Africans, while 16% comprises of the Whites and 6% colored. It is also interesting to find that Indians make up for the 4% of the population of Johannesburg. Christianity is the practicing religion among majority. Jews, Hindus and Muslims reside as minorities in Johannesburg. The residents are fond of sports and games; soccer and cricket are the favorite pastimes of people here.