Johannesburg Flight Guide

Johannesburg is the capital of South Africa's smallest province Gauteng and is the economic centre of the country. Although it is called the ‘City of Gold’ it has a bad reputation among tourists which is due to the high crime rate as a result of poverty. It has around 1.3 million inhabitants, most of them of native African origin. The painful history of Johannesburg is reason for the conflicts between rich and poor, white and black today. Especially the Apartheid-politics and the oppression of the native population by the white colonial residents lead to a violent revolution that still burns in the hearts of the oppressed. Nevertheless, a trip to Johannesburg is a valuable experience, not only to learn about South African history and witness the recent positive developments, but also to visit the numerous attractions.

Johannesburg is home to Africa's tallest building, the Carlton Centre in Commissioner Street. Many museums and galleries invite visitors to learn about the history of South Africa and there are plenty great coffee shops, pubs and restaurants on the way. There are also a number of shopping malls to choose from, while street vendors sell colourful goods and unfamiliar scents. Although there are many tourist horror stories about Johannesburg, there are also plenty of safe areas, friendly people and beautiful sights. It is recommended to avoid certain districts such as the Downtown area and generally less crowded places. To be extra safe, join a guided tour rather than walking alone.

Qantas and South African Airlines offer direct flights from all major Australian airports to Johannesburg. The journey time on a direct flight is around 14 hours, while connecting flights can last over 27 hours.

http://www.hotelsaccommodation.com.au Hotels Accommodation
http://www.joburg.org.za/ - Johannesburg visitor information
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/south-africa/gauteng/johannesburg - Johannesburg travel guide
http://wikitravel.org/en/Johannesburg - Travel information Johannesburg
http://www.acsa.co.za/home.asp?pid=228 – Johannesburg airport information
http://www.flysaa.com – South African Airways
http://www.quantas.com - Qantas
http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/ - Australian Embassies worldwide
http://www.airfaresflights.com.au Airfares Flights
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ Smart Traveller