Johannesburg
The luminous “City of Gold”, was founded on October 4, 1886, it is the richest city in the country and the fourth in sub-Saharan Africa, it is indisputably the financial power of South Africa. With almost 7 million inhabitants, it is one of the youngest and most beautiful contemporary cities in the world. It has the largest airport and the tallest building in Africa, the Hillbrow Tower, with a height of 270 meters, which dominates the entire city; and the largest hospital on the entire planet, the Chris Hani-Baragwanath with the capacity to care for up to 3.5 million people. It is the main tourism center of the country, a fascinating city with modern and challenging contemporary skyscrapers. It has been rebuilt four times. Called “The Cradle of Humanity”, it is home to 40% of the planet's human fossils, making it one of the richest archaeological sites in the world. It has the largest artificial forest in the world, with 10 million trees, which helps the city cope with greenhouse effects and also reduces noise levels within the city.
As places of tourist interest we highlight:
- Apartheid Museum: This captivating museum, designed with taste and sensitivity, inaugurated in 2001, documents the history of the recent past of South Africa, where you can discover in a very effective way, its transformation from a dark time to the current ''Rainbow Nation''. It tells the story of the social discrimination experienced in South Africa during the 20th century. It is a more than necessary visit because it helps to understand the difficult situation that black people experienced throughout the country and how their struggle led by Nelson Mandela ended up overthrowing apartheid. It is located in Gold Reef City, northwest of the city.
- Soccer City: This stadium, where Spain became world champion in In 2010, it was built two decades earlier and remodeled for the great soccer event. After the improvements introduced, it has capacity for 94,700 seated spectators. It is not only a symbol for sports, since in 1990 it was used by Nelson Mandela to make his first mass speech after his release.
- Nelson Mandela Square: Previously known as Sandton Square, it received its current name in 2004. At the inauguration ceremony, a statue, more than six meters high, of Nelson Mandela was presented. It was open to the general public ten years before changing its name, a very controversial change since it was named after a personality who dedicated his life to fighting for the disadvantaged while being located in the most opulent area of the country. Sandton City, one of the largest shopping centers in the country, is also located in this square.
- Carlton Centre: It is an impressive 50-story skyscraper. which reaches 270 meters high. Inside the building there are offices and several shops and although it is not a very special visit, it is always good to admire what is the tallest skyscraper in all of Africa, where you can enjoy a 360° panoramic view of the city.
- Gold Reef City: It is an amusement park that has inside the highest and fastest roller coaster in Africa with a 47 meter drop, a zoo and a mini golf. Its name comes from the fact that it was built on the grounds of an old mine from the 19th century. It has 7 thematic areas and 20 restaurants.