From the capital Pretoria we drove on to Johannesburg. With a population of just under 1 million and a population of 4.5 million (metropolitan area), the city is the largest city in South Africa and is located at an average altitude of over 1700 meters above sea level. Johannesburg is also one of the largest cities in the world, located neither by the sea, a major river nor any other important body of water.
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What to see in Johannesburg
The origin of the name Johannesburg cannot be clarified with final certainty. The only undisputed fact is that the city is named after a man named John, a common and very common Dutch name. Most experts, however, assumed in the course of the urban development that the city got its name from the two state officials Johann Rissik and Christiaan Johannes Joubert. These men were sent to the Witwatersrand shortly after the gold find in 1886 to look for a suitable place for a settlement, and then decided to name the city by their common first name Johannesburg. [Source: Wikipedia]
The streets of the city centre and the surrounding inner city districts are dominated by high-rise buildings, where many of the largest companies have offices. However, many of these companies are gradually moving to the northern suburbs such as Sandton, as the centre of Johannesburg is perceived as too dangerous and unattractive. That’s exactly the impression we had of this city. Unlike Cape Town, where we really felt very comfortable, Johannesburg was a city where we felt rather uncomfortable.
The observation deck “Top of Africa”
Nevertheless, we wanted to take the opportunity to look at the city at least from above. We have gone to the 223 metre Carlton Centre on Commissioner Street. The Carlton Centre is the tallest skyscraper in Africa and on its top floor, the 50th, is the observation deck “The Top of Africa”, which offers a panoramic view over Johannesburg.
Our flight from Jahannesburg to Victoria Falls
Johannesburg itself is not a classic tourist destination. The city serves as a hub for connecting flights to Cape Town, Kruger National Park and the neighbouring states of South Africa. We then walked a few minutes through the city centre, past City Hall, and then made our way to O. R. Tambo Airport. From here our plane took off for Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
All travelogues from South Africa & Zimbabwe
All travel reports from our trip through South Africa and the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
Day 01 Travel planning for South Africa, Zambia & Zimbabwe (Africa) (Südafrika)Day 02 Cape Town – The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (South Africa)
Day 03 Cape Town – The colourful district of Bo-Kaap (South Africa)
Day 04 Cape Town – Table Mountain, Signal Hill & the Noon Gun (South Africa)
Day 05 Cape Town – Hout Bay & Chapman’s Peak Drive (South Africa)
Day 06 Cape of Good Hope – The Southern Tip of Africa (South Africa)
Day 07 Muizenberg – The colorful beach houses & World of Birds (South Africa)
Day 08 Simons Town – The Penguins at Boulders Beach (South Africa)
Day 08 Cape Town – Swimming with sea lions in Hout Bay (South Africa)
Day 09 The Imhoff Farm – Riding on the beach of Noordhoek (South Africa)
Day 09 Betty’s Bay – The Penguin Colony at Stony Point (South Africa)
Day 10 Cape Agulhas & De Hoop Nature Reserve (South Africa)
Day 11 Garden Route – The Gondwana Game Reserve in Mossel Bay (South Africa)
Day 12 Gondwana Game Reserve – Safari & the Big Five (South Africa)
Day 13 Oudtshoorn – The Cango Wildlife Ranch (South Africa)
Day 14 Panorama Route – God’s Window & Blyde River Canyon (South Africa)
Day 15 Kruger National Park – Safari & Lower Sabie Restcamp (South Africa)
Day 16 Kruger National Park – Safari & Olifants Restcamp (South Africa)
Day 17 Kruger National Park – Safari & Shingwedzi Restcamp (South Africa)
Day 18 Kruger National Park – Safari & Punda Maria Gate (South Africa)
Day 19 Pretoria – Nelson Mandela Statue & Union Buildings (South Africa)
Day 19 Johannesburg – Tourist Attractions & Things to Do (South Africa)
Day 20 Victoria Falls – Arrival in the City of Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Day 20 Victoria Falls – The Waterfalls on the Zimbabwe Side (Zimbabwe)
Day 20 Victoria Falls – A boat trip on the Sambesi River (Zimbabwe)
Day 21 Victoria Falls – A helicopter tour over the waterfalls (Zimbabwe)
Day 21 Victoria Falls – The waterfalls on the Zambia side (Zambia)