Joburg, the capital of the region Gauteng, is a fascinating city with a modern centre, combining its ways with the older surroundings.

It is a very modern city by African standards but it does not hold many attractions for tourists. Sights in Johannesburg include the new Museum Africa which offers an honest and self-critical look at the nations sometimes troubled past and the Market Theater Complex which houses theaters and a Saturday flea market.

History buffs will be interested in the Smuts Library at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) where South African statesman Jan Smuts book collection is preserved. The universitys Gubbins Library has an extensive collection of books on Africa.

Negotiate with a taxi driver to give you an impromptu tour through Joburgs neighborhoodshell take you past some large and impressive mansions hidden behind imposing security (home security is big business in South Africa). Yeoville was a funky neighborhood but today it has deteriorated along the lines of the former hip nightspot Hillbrow and is, in honesty, a bit of a pit.

Tours are easily arranged in Johannesburg for those interested in visiting the black suburb of Soweto (the name is an abbreviation of Southwestern Townships). The tours begin with the ultramodern township hospital and continue through all types of neighborhoods ranging from.... read more...