Facts & History

JOHANNESBURG

Population 3.9 million (2007 Community Survey)
Population of Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area – 7,151,447 (Wikipedia)
The most populous city in South Africa. The second (or third) most populous city in Sub-Saharan Africa, behind Lagos and probably behind Kinshasa
Sometimes referred to as Joburg, Jozi or Egoli (Sotho word for “place of gold”)
One of the few major cities in the world not located along a coast or near a large river
34 percent of residents speak Nguni languages at home, 26 percent speak Sotho languages, 19 percent speak English, and 8 percent speak Afrikaans
More than 2,000 parks in the city
53 percent of residents belong to mainstream Christian churches, 24 percent are atheist, 14 percent are members of African Independent Churches, 3 percent are Muslim, 1 percent are Jewish, 1 percent are Hindu

The region surrounding Johannesburg was originally inhabited by the San tribe
By the mid 1700s the region was populated by Sotho-Tswana communities (a linguistic branch of Bantu speakers)
Johannesburg became a city in 1886, during the beginning of the Witwatersrand Gold Rush

Constitution Hill – site where the first constitution of the democratic South Africa was crafted
Carlton Centre Panorama – from the 50th floor there are fantastic views of the city and surrounding areas
Apartheid Museum – photos, artifacts, newspaper clippings and film footage graphically portraying the apartheid story
Soweto – guided tours of the largest township in South Africa
Museum Africa – a collection of artifacts, paintings and photographs collected since 1935, telling the story of South Africa
Market Theatre – a converted market building housing four live theater venues
Gold Reef City – an amusement park that takes visitors back to old Johannesburg, including reproductions of houses, public buildings, shops, etc. from the early gold rush period
Lion Park – visitors can observe animals from their cars, including lions, zebras, ostriches, wildebeests, antelopes and gazelles
Lesedi Cultural Village – tour “traditional” villages of Zulu, Ndebele, Sotho, Pedi and Xhosa and learn about their lifestyle and traditions