Effervescent exciting and exhilarating Johannesburg 

Johannesburg is the African continent's second largest city. This top tourist destination named Egoli, meaning "The Place of Gold", is home to the world's largest man-made forest. From wildlife escapades to trendy cafés, Johannesburg will keep you entertained.   

Johannesburg for weather and events

With hot summers and cool winters, Johannesburg is great to visit all year round. On April 27, Freedom Day is celebrated, and parties and festivities occur on September 24 for Heritage Day. The Johannesburg Beer Festival is held during the first 2 weeks of October and you can enjoy the Johannesburg Carnival on December 31. 

Things to consider before travelling

Make sure your passport is valid for at least 30 days after leaving South Africa, and you should have 2 blank spaces in your passport when arriving and upon exit. British citizens travelling for less than 90 days don't need visas. Check with your GP for required boosters and vaccines. 

Crime levels are known to be quite high in Johannesburg, so travel with caution. Using minibus taxi services is not recommended for tourists.

You'll find that the cost of living in Johannesburg is a lot cheaper than prices in London and restaurant bills are about half the price of expensive London restaurants. South African time is classified as SAST, which is UTC or GMT +2, which makes it an hour ahead of the UK in the summer time and 2 hours ahead in the winter season. 

Transportation and accommodation information about Johannesburg  

Catch the "Gautrain" from the airport to the city centre. The journey time takes approximately 30 minutes in duration. Single tickets cost around 125 ZAR and you can purchase the Gautrain Card for about 12 ZAR. Taxis are available from the airport to Johannesburg and cost around 400 ZAR. A night in a guesthouse or hostel will cost approximately 300 ZAR and 3 star hotels cost around 700 ZAR a night per person. 

Single tickets for the Metrobus cost around 10 ZAR. Minibus taxis are also available, although this form of transportation is not recommended for travellers. Designated bus stops are minimal, however, buses can be flagged down on main roads. Taxi prices are roughly 10 ZAR per km, although it's rare to see them.