My Travel Blog: Jozi or Egoli or Joburg

Sandton City

Johannesburg also known as Jozi or Egoli which means Gold - because it was discovered there. Jozi is the largest city in South Africa and the provincial capital of Gauteng. I've been living in Johannesburg for a period of 5 months over the last year in Hydro Executive Apartments in Sandton. A high crime rate in downtown Joburg caused many corporate offices to move from Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD) to Sandton in the 1990s. Sandton is a wealthy area and has become the new financial centre of South Africa and Johannesburg's premier business centre. The name Sandton comes from a combination of its two suburbs, Sandown and Bryanston. One of the main attractions in Sandton is "Sandton City", which ranks amongst the largest shopping centres in Africa, with Nelson Mandela Square in the centre.

Must see places and things to do in Jozi:

Shopping Malls: Sandton City, Melrose Arch, Hyde Park, Morningside Mall, Benmore Gardens, Killarney Mall, Village Walk, Rosebank Mall, 44 Stanley Street

Restaurants: Signature Restaurant, DW Eleven-13, Tashas, Pigalle, George's on 4th, Nice on 4th, Central One Bar and restaurant, Piccolo Mondo, The Grillhouse, Wang Thai, Burnside cafe, Cape Town Fish Market, The Green Peppercoen, Pomodoro Ristorante, Saxon, Wall Street Restaurant, The Palazzo Montecasino, Butcher Shop and Grill, Homebase

Afternoon tea: The Patisserie (Illovo), Michaelangelo Hotel, Westcliff Hotel, Fournos Bakery

Museums: The Apartheid Museum, Mandela House, Hector Pietersen Musuem, National Museum of Military History

Apartheid Museum

Nelson Mandela's House

Bars: The Polo Lounge (Westcliff), The Whiskey Bar (Southern Sun Hyde Park), The Conservatory (Hyatt Regency)

Clubs: Taboo (Sandton), Hush (Rosebank)

Other places of interest: Lion Safari park, Johannesburg Zoo, Gold Reef City, African Craft Market, Central Business District (CBD), Sandton Convention Centre