Places of Interest - South Africa

Johannesburg is the largest and most diverse city in South Africa, located in the densely populated Gauteng province. Although it is not the capital of the country, Johannesburg is the heart of the South African economy, of which the gold industry is by no means not the only mainstay anymore. Johannesburg is the seat of the constitutional court. The city is a mishmash of rich and poor and rich business districts such as "Santon" lie next to notorious "townships" as "Alexandra". Although you have to be careful you can also see interesting things in Johannesburg; one of the most interesting museums in South Africa is the apartheid museum but you can also check out the entertainment district in Melville. Newtown has a number of nice buildings to see and of course the largest "township" of South Africa is the interesting "Soweto" where you can view the house of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

The Johannesburg region has always been inhabited by the nomadic Bushmen who lived here until they were ousted by the Bantoes in the 11th century. The former Dutch settlers, the so-called Farmers (boeren), were the first Europeans to come to this area where they established different farms. Before 1880 there was no large-scale establishment, but this changed when gold was found at the end of the 19th century at the Witwatersrand. Because the gold was deep, only the great rich magnates were able to bring out the gold with their previous experience (and money) from Kimberley. The gold industry explains why in and around the city immense hills of waste from the miles of deep gold mines can be seen. The hills consist of yellowish sand, on which it is difficult to grow and which are also life-threatening due to the presence of cyanide. In 1886 Johannesburg was founded as a mining town in the South African Republic (Transvaal), a republic founded by Dutch-speaking settlers who left the British domination of the Cape Colony.

After the Boer War, the Transvaal was conquered by the British, and in 1910 the Union of South Africa was founded. The city quickly grew again at the seams by opening new mines. In the time of apartheid, the breeds were kept strictly separate and there were districts where only whites or only blacks were allowed to live. The largest and most famous black outskirts is Soweto, where a mega rebellion erupted in 1976 and the world was alerted to the cruel system that prevailed here. Today, Johannesburg is mainly a city known for its business life. The city is also notorious for its crime, although the situation today is better than the period around the turn of the century. Johannesburg is a city of international allure, and is home to hundreds of nationalities. It is the city of the richer class and at the same time the city of the poorest people of South Africa. The center of the city, which in the past was only accessible to the white population, is now an almost completely 'black zone' with a lot of poverty and drug and alcohol abuse. Most of the business activities have moved to surrounding areas, and in particular to the northern district of Sandton.

The international airport of South Africa "OR TAMBO" is located about 18km west of Johannesburg and is best reached by the "Gautrain" (www.gautrain.co.za) which stops at different stations in Johannesburg but also goes all the way to Pretoria. Costs are 14R for the ticket itself and then 140R to, for example, station "Sandton". "Park Station" is the big transport hub in the city with the central train- and bus station.

Johannesburg - Nelspruit - Sabie: there are several bus companies going to Nelspruit, of which "Intercape" is the cheapest. Again you can reserve different types of "chairs"; the cheapest is 240R ("saver") for a single ticket and it leaves at 07:30 and arrives at 12:25 in Nelspruit. You must be present half an hour in advance. In Nelspruit you will have to walk a kilometer to the "minibus taxi park". Minibuses leave here to Sabie if they are full at least - the ride takes an hour and costs 25R.

Soweto - Johannesburg - Pretoria: From "Phefeni, Bosmfunzi Mezziya" (West Liquer shop) you can take a mini taxi to "Parkstation" in Johannesburg. You can also take the train from Soweto's "Phomolong" train station to Parkstation in Johannesburg. From there you can take a mini-taxi, a bus or the metro train. If you want to go to "Hatfield" you can best take the "Gautrain". This goes every 20 to 30 minutes and lasts only 45 minutes. Costs are 52R to Hatfield - you can also get off at Pretoria (city center).

• Name: "Apartheid museum" (Johannesburg)

Address: Gold Reef Road / Northern Parkway

Price: 75R

Time: 10:00 - 17:00 (Monday closed)

Website: www.apartheidmuseum.org

Content:

One of the most interesting and well-established museums in Southern Africa is the “apartheid-museum”. Located in the complex of "Gold Reef City" you are confronted from the beginning with the vile system of apartheid because you walk through different doors and get a ticket with your "color" instead of the entrance fee. You are taken along by film images, photos, attributes, information and sound clips to the origin of the system and of course a lot of attention is paid to Nelson Mandela. But there is also extra attention paid to the slaughter of "Sharpville" and the "Soweto" revolt. There is a prison cell, a large armored truck and the Mercedes of Mandela where he drove in.

• Name: "Nelson Mandela's house museum" (Soweto)

Address: Vilakazi / Ngakane Street (8115 Orlando West)

Price: 60R

Time: 09:00 - 17:00

Website: www.mandelhouse.org

Content:

One of the most populair sights of Soweto is the "Mandela's house" where he and his family lived in for years. In 1946

(a year after the cottage was built) Nelson Mandela and his first wife and child moved into the house. Years later he would live with his second wife Winnie and their children here. When he was imprisoned, she lived alone here. Mandela would live here for another 11 days after his release. The house was burned down and was rebuilt in its original setting in 1994 to function as a museum. There are many photographs and there are many prizes to see but also Original items such as a chair, letters and furniture have been preserved. By hanging TV's interviews are broadcasted from his family, friends and colleagues.

• Naam : “Gemini” Backpackers (Johannesburg)

Adres : Van Gelderstraat 1

Prijs : 80R (camping)

Tel.nr. : 011 0255840/ 7725408

Website : www.geminibackpackers.co.za

Content:

This hostel is located in the northeast of Johannesburg not too far from "infamous" township "Alexandra". It has a nice

garden, a lot of staff (who do not do so much than hang around) and it could be a fantastic place. You can camp here in a small garden, there are some dormitories and also rooms. The pool is more of a pond at the moment and there is really only one person (Aaron) who has to arrange everything, because the owner apparently cares nothing about it. There is a large dark antique kitchen, unfortunately there is no light in the toilets and there is a "braai" to bbq. You should be picked up but this not always works efficient. There is a reasonable shopping center at 1.5 km. WIFI is free (if it works).

• Name: "LEBO" Soweto Backpackers (Soweto)

Address: 10823A Pooe Street (Orlando West)

Price: 105R (camping)

Phone nr. : 011 936 3444/074 3609085

Website: www.sowetobackpackers.com

Content:

A small paradise in the middle of Soweto, Orlando - Lebo is a very professionally run hostel in a hippie-like atmosphere - lots of bamboo, wood and palm tree leaves. It has dorms (160R), singles and doubles and on the other side of the small road is a green oasis where you can camp. In the actual hostel there is a small kitchen (there is also cooking by the staff – also for guests), a number of toilets and showers and a sitting area where you can watch TV. Behind is a bar in the garden where you can order food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner can be arranged and is delicious but on the pricey side. You can also make bicycle tuk tuk and hiking trips through Soweto. The 2-hour bike trip costs 350R and leaves 4 times a day. These go to Mandela's house, Pieterson museum and a migrant worker's hostel. The 4-hour bike trip goes to all of the above, including Tutu's house and a piece through the "Meadowlands".