JOHANNESBURG HOTELS

Dubbed ‘Egoli’, or City of Gold, Johannesburg is the capital of Gauteng province – the wealthiest province in South Africa, and a powerhouse of the continent. With more than ten million inhabitants it is also the largest city and the financial capital of South Africa; a city that boasts a thriving economy with tall skyscrapers, modern shopping malls and a fast-paced life. The Johannesburg International Airport is also the Africa’s largest, most modern and busiest airport, making it a gateway to the rest of the country, continent and world. Its landscape is not entirely a concrete jungle though, as it is reputed to be the largest urban forest in the world. Millions of trees blend seamlessly with buildings, highways and signs of a well-developed city. The city’s historical and commercial roots lie in the gold mining industry – or ‘Gold Rush’ of 1886 as it was called – and as such has always had a cosmopolitan character. Host city of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, Johannesburg has all the trimmings of a modern city: World-class hotels, convention and exhibition centres, arts, culture, shopping, entertainment, recreational facilities, wonderful dining experiences and close proximity to exploring a vast array of other attractions in the region. The city of Pretoria (also called ‘Tshwane’) is 30 minutes away on the Ben Schoeman Highway, and the famous Sun City and Lost City under two hours by car.