Travel to Johannesburg

by - 05:35

         

        Johannesburg! The city of commerce in South Africa. This wonderful destination is situated in the southernmost part of the continent of Africa and it is one of the most sought after tourism sites. Johannesburg is rated among the 50 largest urban areas in the world. Housed by the province of Gauteng, it is not among the three capitals of the country. However the city is pretty much significant due to its commercial standing and its seat of Constitutional Court. The city’s establishment goes way back at the 1800s, where diamond and gold was discovered. 

         We are yet to decipher the origin of the name “Johannesburg”. What we do know is that different people bearing “Johannes”  had an important contribution to the development of the city. Johannes Rissik and Johannes Joubert are just a few of those men. So because of this vague fact, the etymology is uncertain.
         Dearest travelers, Johannesburg is just perfect to start your tour in Africa. This climate, for example is very welcoming. Due to the fact that Johannesburg is situated on the highveld plateau, the city happens to enjoy a sunny climate, from October to April  and cool evenings to make your rests worthwhile, while  the months of May down  to September is characterized by dry, sunny days followed by cold nights.
    Now let’s see how we can turn our trip to Johannesburg into lifetime experience.

Flights

      There are a lot of online travel agents you can resort to in order to have a smooth flight to South Africa. Trustworthy travel agents I highly recommend for your trip to South Africa is Travelstart.com or Wakanow. These agents are Nigerian-based and have a rich experience in making travelers feel satisfied. Other travel agents that can offer affordable tickets to Johannesburg are Cheapflights.com.ng and edreams.com. If you patronize any of these four, you will be highly delirious of the services rendered.

     Most probably the arrivals will be landed in the O.R. Tambo International Airport. It is the main airport for Johannesburg and the busiest airport in Africa. It mediates for flights to other cities in Southern Africa and it is patronized by different international hubs such as Paris or London. 

Accommodation

      They are numerous hotels that are skilled in offering specialized services to tourists and even prepare exquisite packages of accommodation services for repeat tourists. One of the most highly recommended hotels is Genesis – All suites

      Genesis is a 4-star hotel located at an easily accessed site from the airport. The rooms are technology-friendly as they provide Internet access, satellite channels and many more. They even provide conference rooms with a capacity of up to 120 delegates. So if you are a business traveler, Genesis would be just perfect. 

 African Pride Melrose is a hotel with romantic settings to fall for. If you are interested in having your wedding planned in Johannesburg, African Pride Melrose is just for you. The accommodation services have a touch of luxury that only amplifies one’s comfort.

      Established by Jeanette Schwegman, Clico Boutique Hotel  is an exceptionally picturesque hotel located at the Rosebank in Johannesburg. It is a tranquil, leafy and accessible hotel that has a history of personalized quest services. The Bed& Breakfast principle is highly conformed to. Clico’s Restaurant or 5-star cuisine is awesome as it has seasonal menus and takes note of personal requirements. There are copious hotels that would perfectly suit your taste. Some of them are Holiday Inn, Tinswalo , Valverde country hotel, Gooderson fabs garden hotel and 2nd avenue Houghton estate, West Point Executive Suites, Winston Hotel etc.

Attractions

     There are many places to visit and get a glimpse of what the city has to offer from historical records, natural attractions down to cultural heritage. Let’s acknowledge them one after the other. 
    
    1. The Soweto and Mandela Museum
  Soweto is the abbreviation of Southern Western Townships. This was a site in which slaves were segregated and living in very unhealthy conditions. This was the heartbeat of the struggle for democracy. Insurrections in attempt to end apartheid started from here and spread to the rest of the country. Tours in this site are more than thrilling. When you visit Soweto, you will enjoy the Freedom Square, the H.Pieterson Museum and the Mandela museum- the house where the hero and his wife Whinie resided before he was imprisoned. 
    
    2. The Apartheid Museum
 You have to visit the Apartheid Museum. This visual aided museum brings back to life memories and moment of struggle and cries for freedom. This oppression faced by the Blacks for decades will be depicted by photos, artifacts and film footage. As a visitor, you will certainly be amazed by the nation’s determination for independence .

    3. The Market Theater 
 This colorful complex houses four theater avenues with live shows. It also has a street called Kippie’s where the jazz music of the most renowned musicians in South Africa is tuned. Not  just that. There is also an art gallery to exhibit, a bookshop from where you can purchase history texts and restaurant to enjoy local delicacies. Museum Africa possesses tools, crafts and other rudimentary equipment used by the Black Nation to fight for survival.

    4. The Montecasino Bird Park
  Proud to be the only bird park of its kind in Africa, Motecasino Bird Park is situated in Johannesburg. This enchanting garden accommodates over 100 species of birds of different kinds such as Nicobar pigeons Scarlet Ibises, and many more reptiles such as Iguana, snakes and colorful frogs. The 'Flight of Fantasy' is a not-to-miss show where your children can enjoy show of pelicans, vultures and crawls. Flora friends have the opportunity to exhibit one of the largest collections of cycads. Excited?

   5. Beaches near Johannesburg 

 Two main beaches close to Johannesburg are the Algoa Bay and the Germinston Lake. Algoa Bay is a clothing-optional beach where different states of dress are put on. Sailors’ delight is found here as the warm water and fair winds make up this bay. Germiston Lake is just the in-thing for water sports and it's family-friendly. Why? This leafy environment hosts an ambiance for family picnic and a playground the kinds to enjoy the rolling lawns.

 Restaurants

     For food lovers and F&B specialists, here is your chance to taste the diversified cuisine. Just as the South African culture is a mix different ethnic elements, the cuisine is reflecting this marvelous phenomenon. There are numerous venues into the gastronomy of South Africa, namely the African the American, the Asian, the Bistro, the Indian, the Italian, the Mediterranean, the Steakhouses and meaty fare. Examples?

African 
  The Moyo  (Melrose Arch) serves delicious crocodile-tail pies served with pineapple-and-orange salsa, Somalian butternut rice cakes; and complex flavours of a tagine of Karoo lamb and chickpea, with tomatoes, peaches, ginger and coriander. 

   This Brixton spot involve local ingredients in the cooking and prepares . On a typical night, you can kick off with cheese-and-spinach samoosas, peanut soup, sugar-bean curry with rotis and mango atchar, or African ‘risotto’ made with samp, beans and morogo. Desserts are playful, with options like caramelised and curry-dusted pineapple pieces on sticks, koeksisters, and super-sweet watermelon platters.

American
   Baha Taco. Grass-fed meat cuts are cooked over flames for smokiness that pairs well with the house chimichurri. Highlights include empanadas, roasted marrow on garlic bread, ribs, rump tail, and gloriously crispy pork belly. Ask for the hasselback potatoes with wine, butter, sage and bacon as a side, and finish with crème caramel with dulce de leche.
  
 El Jalapeño (Linden). This is the place where classic  Mexican cuisine is encountered. The familiar poppers, burritos, tacos and quesadillas are available as well as tasty arepitas, which are cloud-like cornmeal balls filled with pulled beef; flautas with chipotle salsa; and empanadas made with cornmeal. 

The Indian
Al-Makka Restaurant. Shwarmas, burgers and noodles all appear, but the restaurant is best known for authentic cuisine prepared with spices from Pakistan. Vegetarians, try the special for four, which includes paneer masala, palak paneer, vegeterian biryani, chapati rotis, poppadoms, tandoori rotis, rice and a two-litre coke.

Dosa Hut .The chicken tikka starter is succulent with bright spicy sauce, and the fish curry (with the chef’s secret gravy) is a fiery concoction with a kick. Dosa Hut also offers a selection of chicken, lamb and vegetarian mains, with a selection of sides, as well as a few biryanis.

Cafes
     CNR Café & Bistro.There is a wide menu of café dishes that you will get thrilled with. Specials might include smoked salmon on seed loaf with avo, poached egg, capers, Hollandaise sauce and orange zest. Sandwiches stand out with toppings like grilled halloumi, toasted pumpkin seeds, prosciutto and parmesan shavings.
  
    Craft.The highlights of Craft are home-made pasta, ostrich bobotie or sticky barbecue spare ribs. The oxtail in a rich tomato sauce, served with mash, falls off the bone. If you’re not ordering a gourmet milkshake or a freak waffle then try the moist flourless Belgian chocolate cake with a berry compote and soft cream or vanilla ice cream.

     No doubt, Johannesburg is a place to be. From the above you can see how friendly, accommodating, enchanting, interesting and tourism-friendly the city is. The best season to enjoy Johannesburg is October down to March. If you are tired of the cold or the work stress in the country you reside in, take a break. Pack your luggage. Buy a ticket and Cruise Johannesburg-the World Class African City. Love you guys!

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