SA2SA: Discovering Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the world's largest urban forest, with over 10 million trees!

As a first time visitor to Johannesburg, I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd heard mixed options about the city before my trip to South Africa (mainly from people who had never been there) and as a result, had decided not to make any judgement calls before experiencing it for myself.

I'm glad I waited.

It was a beautiful, vibrant city and we enjoyed a SAFE experience. We drove around with our car unlocked. Our driver did not carry a gun. We did not get car jacked. Or pick-pocketed. Or scammed. Since the World Cup was held there, safety in the city has vastly improved and additional security cameras, increased police presence, citizen patrols and military support has meant that crime has substantially decreased.

Like any big city, there are still areas to be more vigilant in, but overall, the public perception of Joburg being dangerous is incorrect, and I'm glad I was able to have a positive experience there to share with everyone else.

The drive from Sun City to Johannesburg took about 2 hours and allowed us to see a different side to life in South Africa. Plots of land farmed with unknown crops sprung up regularly among wilder, overgrown areas. Locals selling wire whisks, fresh fruit and beaded animals stood at traffic lights. Crowded, lively townships crammed with tiny houses lined sections of the road. People were walking everywhere, travelling to and from work, and sometimes their most direct route seemed to include strolling along the freeway. We certainly weren't short of sights to soak in!

We were lucky to have an incredible guide called Joe to drive us around during our time in the city. Joe had grown up in Soweto in Joburg and was a passionate advocate for the city and South Africa. His stories about the past and present in Johannesburg were amazing, and he had been an active participant in creating the way of life he is now proud to share with his children and grandchildren. Joe was part of the 1976 student protests in Soweto, which helped to shape the course of history for South Africa. If you don't know much about them, it's an important and turbulent part of history and worth spending some time researching.

As we headed further into Johannesburg, a more familiar cityscape greeted us, with busy streets, skyscrapers and traffic, and hidden gems like our first destination, 44 Stanley, Millpark. 44 (as it's known) is a small complex, hidden behind a double gate and high walls that opened into a beautiful little group of courtyards framed with trees. 44 has a mix of boutique shops and cafes, including a great little bakery/cafe called Vovo Telo where we had AMAZING gourmet pizzas. I'd definitely recommend it!

Inside 44

Our lunch destination, Vovo Telo

Inside Vovo Telo

Our itinerary was insane so I won't pack all my stories in to one post. Will post more shortly!

Follow my adventures on Twitter @KellyNoble or by searching #SA2SA
For South African Holiday deals, please visit www.southafricanholidays.com.au
For more information on South Africa , please visit www.southafrica.net
For more information on Sun City, please visit www.suninternational.com
For more information on SAA flights and reservations please call 1300 435 972 or www.flysaa.com