Johannesburg is the largest financial, commercial and industrial city in South Africa. However, the once prosperous central business district is now an area of abandoned office buildings. Very few of the original buildings are still standing. The central area is worth visiting, if only as a history lesson about the government of Apartheid. Despite Apartheid’ demise, Johannesburg is still for the most part, a segregated city. The center of the city and the closely neighboring suburbs are home to a black urban population. They inhabit a condensed area of overcrowded hi rise apartments where poverty and crime are prevalent. Despite significant and often successful efforts in recent years to make Johannesburg safer, it’s still not wise to go anywhere on foot. It’s suggested that one visits the city with an organized tour (most likely in a bus). The city’s thriving and mostly white suburbs are situated close to the main highway, the M1. In the hills, north of downtown Johannesburg is where you’ll find rows of mansions, well tended gardens and shopping malls. Seemingly out of place is the amount of security around the properties. You’ll find razor wire, guard dogs, guards and armed intruder alarms. The suburbs are a great deal safer than downtown Johannesburg and this is where you’ll find your choice of accommodations and many of the South Africa five star hotels, especially in the towns of Rosebank and Sandton. Many of the sights, shopping malls and entertainment complexes are in the suburbs, so there’s little reason to venture right into the city to find something to do. Melville, Parkhurst and Parktown are the new “trendy” suburbs where most of the more popular restaurants and nightlife are to be found. The train station and main bus terminal are easily accessible, but on the whole, it’s safer to stick to radio taxis or to rent a car. Johannesburg is a city where you really do need to have a car to get around.
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