why joburg.com

Johannesburg, Second Greatest City after Paris* ..... it's true, but I'll get onto that later!

But why Jo'burg?

Well . . . it is South Africa's most African, and the continents most cosmopoltan city.
It is also Africa's most visited city!

It's a city built on the world's largest gold deposit, but designed to be no more than a temporary mining camp!

It has beautiful open spaces; a really good night life as well as an abundance of great restaurants.
Warm, friendly people abound, plus it has perfect weather!

^{The best chicken tikka in Johannesburg, cooked on the street in Fordsburg.}

^{The courtyard of the beautifully restored 1920's mining warehouse at The Sheds@1Fox
in Ferreirasdorp, inner city Johannesburg, that now houses a pop-up market on weekends}

^{On a pavement in Fordsburg, a circular laffa bread is thrown
into the air to increase its size, watched approvingly
by Madiba}

It's a fun city . . . but, it's also a cerebral city.

Despite it only being declared a city on 5th September 1928, (having been 'founded' in September 1886), it has eons of significant history to explore.




The surrounding area has, along with East Africa, the world's longest recorded human activity.

From Astralopithecus africanus inhabitants, the recently discovered Astralopithecus sediba, through Homo sapiens sapiens to Early Stone Age hunter-gatherers and finally Iron Age settlements - they've all been here, done it and earned the 'T' shirt (or should that be leopard skin?)

It's also a city that was at the forefront of the struggle against Apartheid.

This rich cultural history results in a number of fantastic museums and monuments to explore.

^{A bridge over Oxford Road for the cyclists who took part in the world’s first Urban Mountain Bike
Adventure on Sunday the 12th October 2014.}

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^{Setting a trend in the hip new enclave of Maboneng, on the
eastern periphery of inner-city Johannesburg!}

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^{Kids in Soweto using the 'wire sculpture' street art - titled "Student Confrontation",
by artist Stone Mabunda, as a jungle gym!}

I've lived here since birth, and as I've explored it more than most, I've created this website that I've based on personal experience, to help you get the most out of your visit to a vibrant, exciting city.

With no commercial interest, it's as good as being shown around by your very own tour guide.




Johannesburg is not the bland nightmare that uninformed opinions in distant lands might try to, or might well have, convinced you of.

Those innumerable critics, some of whom I'm sure have never set foot here, and others who live here, but all consider themselves experts on 'how little the city has to offer' or 'how dangerous a city it is'!

You know those I'm talking about!


It's unfortunately partly true.

There is crime in certain areas.
Levels that are unacceptable in a civilised society.

And it is the world's largest city not on a waterway, despite 12 river systems - better described as streams, that run throughout the city.

So ... no distinguishing natural icons to explore.

^{The entrance to Johannesburg's new Chinatown in Derrick Avenue, Cyrildene.
Not as interesting as the old Chinatown, it does have a number of authentic Chinese restaurants and supermarkets}

^{The old buildings of Johannesburg reflected in the newer ones, off Diagonal Street.}

But . . . when living here, it's people that form an integral part of our existence, and outsiders are often quick to comment on how warm the people in this city actually are.

That is because people is all we have, and in a nutshell, the city has nothing to offer but itself!

Johannesburg today is a great melting pot of both history and culture, and you're likely to discover a huge, yummy dollop of Africa!

It's only during the last 100 plus years that the African powerhouse I know as home has been built into Africa's only World City.

Tempted?
You should be!

^{A Johannesburg icon, a gold "mine dump", being recycled}

^{Sandton, a Johannesburg suburb, rising above the world's largest man-made urban forest}

I'll be adding to this website on an ongoing basis, and intend including everything from Jozi's distant past of ancient history up to what's happening here this week.

Welcome to my home - Johannesburg, Jo'burg, Jozi, Egoli, Joni or Joeys!

^{The final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, between Spain and the Netherlands, took place at
Soccer City in Johannesburg}

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