JOHANNESBURG

Gold was the catalyst which brought Johannesburg into being, and the city's identity will always be closely linked with gold. In the heart of the city, mine dumps are constant reminders of the city's origins. Appropriately enough, iGoli, the Nguni name for Johannesburg, is derived from the word "gold".

The city is high voltage nouveau riche territory - fast paced, fun - a modern, cosmopolitan metropolis packed with vitality and verve. Apart from an exciting pleasure repertoire, superb hotels, restaurants and shopping centres pander to people with five-star tastes. In quiet, leafy suburds, baronial mansions in manicured gardens lined with limousines testify to the fact that Johannesburg, at the top of the supertax bracket, is a very affluent society.

In the central business district, fortunes are made by the astute on the Stock Exchange each day. Skyscrapers tower over chic boutiques, aromatic Indian bazaars, and African muti (medicine) shops where traditional healers dispense advice and herbal remedies. And jets from near and far soar overhead en route to Johannesburg International Airport - the major gateway to South Africa.

General

• 1. Airport. Johannesburg International Airport, 20 km east of the city centre, is the main gateway to South Africa. Bus services operate between the airport, the air terminal near the railway sttion in the city centre, and Rosebank, Sandton and Randburg at half hour intervals between 05:00 and 22:00. Phone 9746561. Bus services also run between the airport and Pretoria.
  
  
• 2. Chamber of Mines. Book here for visits to working gold mines. Phone 4987100.
  
  
• 3. Johannesburg Stock Exchange. 11 Diaginal Street. You can watch the proceedings from a public gallery. Booking is essential for tours: Monday - Friday. Phone 8336580.
  
  
• 4. Musical Fountains. Multicoloured fountains are synchronised to popular tunes at Wemmer Pan. Phone 4076833.
  
  
• 5. Planetarium. Educational and entertaining programmes on different aspects of astronomy are held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Phone for programme details and times: 7163199. Tickets are available at Computicket and the planetarium.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

• 6. Delta Park and Environmental Centre. A large park with shady trees, open all day. The Environmental Centre has displays of animals and birds and a model railway. Videos are shown during weekends: 10:30, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:00.
  
  
• 7. Emmarentia Dam. The dam and its surroundings are ideal for swimming, broadsailing, canoeing, picnicking and cycling. The lake gets crowded over weekends, but the park is so large that you can always find a tranquil spot somewhere.
  
  
• 8. George Lea Park. Jungle gyms, slides, swings, roundabouts, mazes and in summer, a water slide keep the younger set happy. Open all day every day.
  
  
• 9. Johannesburg Botanical Gardens. The gardens are the setting for bonsai trees, herbs, a medical and literary gerden and a 24-acre rose garden reputed to be the largest in the world. Open: 07:00 - 16:00. Guided tours can be arranged. Phone 782-0517.
  
  
• 10. Lifestyle Family Garden Centre. In addition to a large nursery, the centre has a cafe, a children's playground and a farmyard. Free pony rides and train trips are available. Open daily: 08:00 - 17:00. Phone 7925616.

WILDLIFE

• 11. Johannesburg Zoo. Close to the CBD and main freeways, the Johannesburg Zoological Gardens support more than 300 species of mammals, birds and reptiles, including rare, xotic species, mainly from other parts of Africa. Tours are available. Open daily: 08:30 - 17:30.
  
  
• 12. Melrose Wild Bird Sanctuary. A 10-minute drive will transport you from the centre of Johannesburg to a symphony of birdsong. More then 120 wild bird species nest in the reedbeds and indegenous trees around a lake. Best in the early morning and late evening. Phone 7827064.

BUILDINGS, MUSEUMS, ART GALEERIES AND MONUMENTS

• 13. Adler Museum of the History of Medicine. Displays depict the history of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy in south Africa.
  
  
• 14. Arfican Tribal Art. Gertrude Posel Gallery, Wits University. Focuses on a variety of African art forms. Phone 7163632 for an appointment to view.
  
  
• 15. Bernberg Museum. This tiny museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of women's fashions, including jewellery and other accessories, ovr the last two centuries. Phone 3397170.
  
  
• 16. Carlton Centre. From the observation deck on the 50th floor of the Carlton (Top of Africa), the 360 degrees views are unsurpassed. On a clear day, you can see as far as the Magaliesberg. Telescopes are provided. Open daily: 09:00 - 23:30. Phone 3316608. The centre has a restaurant, a cocktail bar and a wide range of shops, including a souvenir shop and other specialist boutiques.
  
  
• 17. Civic Theatre. Guided tours offer opportunities of discovering a magical backstage world. Historial features of the buildings are highlighted, and technical aspects of stage, sets, sound and lighting are demonstrated. Tours take place Tuesdays and Thursdays: 11:00 and 14:00. Phone 4033408 ext 264.
  
  
• 18. Gold Reef City. A construction of Johannesburg during the gold rush era, built around a gold mine. Diversions include a Victorian fun fair, miners' houses, a brewery pubs, a hotel, restaurants and a stock exchange. You can watch molten gold being poured and take a trip down an old mine shaft. Tribal dancing adds to the fun. Multilingual conducted tours are available. Phone 4961600. Closed Monday.
  
  
• 19. Jan Smuts' Study. After the death of Field Marshall Jan Christiaan Smuts, the contents of his study were transferred from his Doornkloof home to Jan Smuts House on the campus of the University of the Witwatersrand. Phone 7163793.
  
  
• 20. Johannesburg Art Gallery. The gallery contains a valuable collection of international and South African art, including works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Rodin, El Geco and Henry Moore. Open Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Monday, Christmas Day and Good Friday. One-hour guided tours are available. Phone 7253130.
  
  
• 21. Market Theatre Complex. The old Johannesburg market has been restored and converted into three theatres, an art gallery, restaurants and pubs. Phone 8321641. Kippies Jazz Bar is a popular venue for live jazz and light meals. Phone 8231645.
  
  
• 22. Museum Africa. The focus of the museum is mainly on life in Southern Africa from the Stone Age to the nuclear age and beyond. The section on Johannesburg features models of Tswana and Bushman (San) people. In additiona to a gallery of rock art, there is an interesting section on a more recent phenomenon - squatter camps and shebeens. Open Tuesday - Sunday: 09:00 - 17:00. Phone 8335624.
  
  
• 23. Santarama Miniland. A miniature version of a city (1:25), complete with airport, railway, docks, a soccer stadium, game reserve and a race course. Miniland depicts many of South Africa's most impressive buildings, including some old Cape Dutch houses. Kimberley's Big Hole and Van Riebeeck's sailing ship, the "Dromedaris", are also featured. You can explore on foot or take a minitrain trip. Open daily: 10:00 - 16:30. Phone 4350543.
  
  
• 24. South African Museum of Military History. An impressive collection of weaponry and uniforms from the two World War is on display. There are field guns, armoured cars, aeroplanes and torpedoes. Open daily: 09:00 - 16:30. Phone 6465513.
  
  
• 25. South African Transport Museum. Situated in the old concourse of Johannesbourg Station, the museum's exhibits relate to all aspects of the South African Transport Services, including railways, road motor services, harbours and South African Airways. Open Monday - Friday: 07:30 - 15:45. Phone 7739118.
  
  
• 26. Zoo Lake. A large, well established park surrounds Zoo Lake which is frequented by breeding bird colonies. Other attractions include rowing boats for hire, a swimming pool, tennis courts, a bowling club, a tea garden and a restaurant.

SHOPPING

There are several large shopping centres un and around the city. Among them Sandton City, Eastgate and the Rosebank Shopping Complex stock a variety of goods, including curious and up-market clothing. the Oriental Plaza in Fordsburg covers 16 city blocks and specializes in Eastern and Western merchandise. Arts and crafts brochures on Johannesburg, Pretoria and the surrounding areas are available from the Johannesburg Metropolitan Tourism Association.

• 27. African Herbalist Shop. 14 Diagonal Street near the Stock Exchange. One of Johannesburg's more interesting muti (traditional African Medicine) shops, where advice and medicines obtained from herbs , the bark, roots and bulbs oof plants, and other ingredients are dispensed. Open Monday - Saturday: 07:30 - 17:00. Guided tours are available. Phone 8387352.
  
  
• 28. Diamond Cutting/Jewel City. A concentration of jewellery manufacturers, diamond cutters and associated industries. An hour-long tour includes a presentation on the history of the diamond industry, and the cutting and polishing of diamonds. You can buy quality export diamonds and items made of gold. Booking essential. Phone 3348881.

Flea markets are held rEgularly at the following venues: Bruma Lake and Randburg Waterfront (every day except Monday), Market threatre (Saturday), Rosebank Mall (Sunday) and Michael Mount Waldorf School, Bryanston (Thursday and Saturday).

AFTER DARK

Jazz and other live entertainment can be enjoyed at a number of bars. There are 15 theatres and over 2000 restaurants in Johannesburg. Restaurants encompasses a broad culinary range, including vegetarian, Italian, French, Chinese, Indian and local cuisine.

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