Guidebook for Johannesburg
Drinks & Nightlife
Greenside's hub is Green Square where interior design shops rub shoulders with art colleges, pavement cafés and Paco, arguably the best carpet shop in the city. Just down the hill from Greenside is Emmarentia Dam, one of Johannesburg's most loved stretches of water. Together with the neighbouring Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, it stretches over 81ha.
Walk along beside the dam in the early morning or evening and watch canoeists, kayakers and anglers, as well as small yachts, skidding across the surface. There are always people on the banks indulging in South Africa's favorite outdoor pastime – the great South African braai.
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Greenside
Greenside's hub is Green Square where interior design shops rub shoulders with art colleges, pavement cafés and Paco, arguably the best carpet shop in the city. Just down the hill from Greenside is Emmarentia Dam, one of Johannesburg's most loved stretches of water. Together with the neighbouring Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, it stretches over 81ha.
Walk along beside the dam in the early morning or evening and watch canoeists, kayakers and anglers, as well as small yachts, skidding across the surface. There are always people on the banks indulging in South Africa's favorite outdoor pastime – the great South African braai.
Parks & Nature
Johannesburg Botanical Garden
Olifants RoadShopping
Combining the color, magic and easy elegance of Africa with European sophistication, Rosebank Mall in Johannesburg offers fusion shopping at its best. Formally referred to as The Mall of Rosebank, the center’s vibe is young, trendy and exciting.
The Johannesburg shopping mall is famous for more than 45 fashion and accessory stores, from high end designer fashion to more casual weekend and leisure wear. The tenant mix includes big-name retailers like Pick 'n Pay supermarket, Stuttafords department store, Truworths and Foschini clothing stores, as well as antiques, crafts, specialty stores and galleries.
Along with these and many other stores, Rosebank Mall is well-known for its smart coffee bars and many sidewalk cafés that offer a welcome rest for your tired feet and tasty treats for your palate. As many of the stores at the mall are open late, you can round off a day’s shopping with dinner at a top-class restaurant or a movie at the Cinema Nouveau.
Many people are attracted to Rosebank shopping mall by the well-known African Craft Market, with its exclusive collection of African art, tribal artifacts and indigenous curios. Many find that the rest of the mall exceeds their expectations with its spacious walkways, great ventilation and pleasant outdoor facilities, where you can make the most of the usually sunny South African weather.
The mall is located in a trendy business area and is as popular with the local shoppers as it is with international visitors. The mall’s lifestyle focus means that a visit to Rosebank Mall can be as relaxing as it is rewarding from a retail point of view. There are regular in-house promotional events and activities on offer too. It is also home to Dance Junction, a popular dance studio, as well as Verve Day Spa which offers you the convenience of a mall location and the sensory haven of a luxury spa.
After major reconstruction and refurbishment, 160 new stores will become part of the complex in 2014.
Rosebank is easily accessible from Midrand and Pretoria, and 30 minutes from OR Tambo International Airport. Many tour operators include a visit to the African market on their itineraries. Gautrain Rapid Rail Link, a state-of-the-art rapid rail network, connects Rosebank to the airport and to a number of other locations in the city.
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Rosebank Mall
15A Cradock AveCombining the color, magic and easy elegance of Africa with European sophistication, Rosebank Mall in Johannesburg offers fusion shopping at its best. Formally referred to as The Mall of Rosebank, the center’s vibe is young, trendy and exciting.
The Johannesburg shopping mall is famous for more than 45 fashion and accessory stores, from high end designer fashion to more casual weekend and leisure wear. The tenant mix includes big-name retailers like Pick 'n Pay supermarket, Stuttafords department store, Truworths and Foschini clothing stores, as well as antiques, crafts, specialty stores and galleries.
Along with these and many other stores, Rosebank Mall is well-known for its smart coffee bars and many sidewalk cafés that offer a welcome rest for your tired feet and tasty treats for your palate. As many of the stores at the mall are open late, you can round off a day’s shopping with dinner at a top-class restaurant or a movie at the Cinema Nouveau.
Many people are attracted to Rosebank shopping mall by the well-known African Craft Market, with its exclusive collection of African art, tribal artifacts and indigenous curios. Many find that the rest of the mall exceeds their expectations with its spacious walkways, great ventilation and pleasant outdoor facilities, where you can make the most of the usually sunny South African weather.
The mall is located in a trendy business area and is as popular with the local shoppers as it is with international visitors. The mall’s lifestyle focus means that a visit to Rosebank Mall can be as relaxing as it is rewarding from a retail point of view. There are regular in-house promotional events and activities on offer too. It is also home to Dance Junction, a popular dance studio, as well as Verve Day Spa which offers you the convenience of a mall location and the sensory haven of a luxury spa.
After major reconstruction and refurbishment, 160 new stores will become part of the complex in 2014.
Rosebank is easily accessible from Midrand and Pretoria, and 30 minutes from OR Tambo International Airport. Many tour operators include a visit to the African market on their itineraries. Gautrain Rapid Rail Link, a state-of-the-art rapid rail network, connects Rosebank to the airport and to a number of other locations in the city.
Rosebank
Entertainment & Activities
Montecasino
Montecasino BoulevardZoo Lake's history dates back to the city's early years when, in 1891, a timber plantation was started by banker and mining magnate Herman Eckstein and more than three million trees were planted in the area.
In 1908, the business partners of the then deceased Eckstein granted over 200 acres of ground to the Johannesburg Town Council to build the Johannesburg Zoo and the Herman Eckstein Park. Today, Zoo Lake forms part of this park, together with the zoo itself and the South African National Museum of Military History.
The park was designed around an artificial lake, to which a central fountain was added in 1937. The fountain, a Johannesburg heritage symbol, was built to commemorate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and was subsequently named the Coronation Fountain.
Zoo Lake is particularly popular over weekends and public holidays, with many Joburgers (and those from out of town) opting to spend the day with friends and family on the park's rolling green lawns or making use of its various sporting amenities. Tennis and basketball courts are available for public use, and the grounds also host the Zoo Lake swimming pool, sports club and bowling green. Small rowing boats can also be hired from the water's edge and there is an outdoor gym.
If you're looking for something to munch, the sports club serves scrumptious and affordable pub grub. For something a little more upmarket, however, wander over to Moyo, the African-themed restaurant situated on the Zoo Lake premises, where you can enjoy traditionally African fare with a view of the lake.
Each year, Zoo Lake hosts a number of events; two of the most popular include the annual Jazz on the Lake in September and Carols by Candlelight in December.
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Zoo Lake
Zoo Lake's history dates back to the city's early years when, in 1891, a timber plantation was started by banker and mining magnate Herman Eckstein and more than three million trees were planted in the area.
In 1908, the business partners of the then deceased Eckstein granted over 200 acres of ground to the Johannesburg Town Council to build the Johannesburg Zoo and the Herman Eckstein Park. Today, Zoo Lake forms part of this park, together with the zoo itself and the South African National Museum of Military History.
The park was designed around an artificial lake, to which a central fountain was added in 1937. The fountain, a Johannesburg heritage symbol, was built to commemorate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and was subsequently named the Coronation Fountain.
Zoo Lake is particularly popular over weekends and public holidays, with many Joburgers (and those from out of town) opting to spend the day with friends and family on the park's rolling green lawns or making use of its various sporting amenities. Tennis and basketball courts are available for public use, and the grounds also host the Zoo Lake swimming pool, sports club and bowling green. Small rowing boats can also be hired from the water's edge and there is an outdoor gym.
If you're looking for something to munch, the sports club serves scrumptious and affordable pub grub. For something a little more upmarket, however, wander over to Moyo, the African-themed restaurant situated on the Zoo Lake premises, where you can enjoy traditionally African fare with a view of the lake.
Each year, Zoo Lake hosts a number of events; two of the most popular include the annual Jazz on the Lake in September and Carols by Candlelight in December.
Getting Around
BUYING A TICKET - YOUR GAUTRAIN GOLD CARD : A valid Gold Card is required to board a Gautrain bus; these can be purchased at the stations and at selected retail outlets. Your Gold Card will need to have a minimum balance of R20 to board a Gautrain bus. Bus tickets cannot be purchased on the buses.
BOARDING A GAUTRAIN BUS : Flag your bus! The bus drivers do not necessarily stop at each bus stop, if there are no passengers waiting there. When your bus is travelling towards you, you will need to flag it down if you would like it to stop. You can do this by raising your arm when the bus approaches. Please note that failure to do this will result in the bus continuing along its route.
TAGGING IN : Simply touch the Gold Card to the ticket reader on the fare-gate and wait for the green light and beeping sound to indicate validation. Pass through the glass barrier, board the train, sit back and relax! Upon leaving the train, touch the card to the ticket reader at the fare-gate, wait for validation and pass through. Thank you for using Gautrain!
LEAVING THE BUS : Please press the stop button on the bus as you near your desired stop so that the bus driver can stop to let you off. You do not need to tag out when exiting a bus. Once you have arrived at the station, and if you are catching the train, you must tag into the station within 90 minutes of having tagged into the bus to qualify for the discounted fare.
FARES
Rail User Single Fare: R7
(If you use a bus and a train within one hour of one another)
Non-Rail User Single Fare: R20
(If you use a bus and don’t also use a train within one hour)
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Rosebank Gautrain Station
130 Oxford RdBUYING A TICKET - YOUR GAUTRAIN GOLD CARD : A valid Gold Card is required to board a Gautrain bus; these can be purchased at the stations and at selected retail outlets. Your Gold Card will need to have a minimum balance of R20 to board a Gautrain bus. Bus tickets cannot be purchased on the buses.
BOARDING A GAUTRAIN BUS : Flag your bus! The bus drivers do not necessarily stop at each bus stop, if there are no passengers waiting there. When your bus is travelling towards you, you will need to flag it down if you would like it to stop. You can do this by raising your arm when the bus approaches. Please note that failure to do this will result in the bus continuing along its route.
TAGGING IN : Simply touch the Gold Card to the ticket reader on the fare-gate and wait for the green light and beeping sound to indicate validation. Pass through the glass barrier, board the train, sit back and relax! Upon leaving the train, touch the card to the ticket reader at the fare-gate, wait for validation and pass through. Thank you for using Gautrain!
LEAVING THE BUS : Please press the stop button on the bus as you near your desired stop so that the bus driver can stop to let you off. You do not need to tag out when exiting a bus. Once you have arrived at the station, and if you are catching the train, you must tag into the station within 90 minutes of having tagged into the bus to qualify for the discounted fare.
FARES
Rail User Single Fare: R7
(If you use a bus and a train within one hour of one another)
Non-Rail User Single Fare: R20
(If you use a bus and don’t also use a train within one hour)
Always the ride you want
The best way to get wherever you’re going
Uber is a technology platform. Our smartphone apps connect driver-partners and riders.
In cities where Uber operates, use your rider app to request a ride. When a nearby driver-partner accepts your request, your app displays an estimated time of arrival for the driver-partner heading to your pickup location. Your app notifies you when the driver-partner is about to arrive.
Your app also provides info about the driver-partner with whom you will ride, including first name, vehicle type, and license plate number. This info helps the two of you connect at your pickup location.
Use your app to enter your preferred destination any time before or during the ride. If you have a preferred route, it’s helpful to talk through the directions together.
When you arrive at your destination and exit the vehicle, your trip ends. Your fare is automatically calculated and charged to the payment method you’ve linked to your Uber account.
In some cities, Uber allows you to pay your fare in cash. This option must be selected before you request a ride.
Immediately after a trip ends, your app will ask you to rate your driver from 1 to 5 Stars. Driver-partners are also asked to rate riders. Uber’s feedback system is designed to foster a community of respect and accountability for everyone.
Learn more about how Uber works by exploring other Help Center topics. You can search for specific questions and answers too.
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Uber Johannesburg | Drive Now
Always the ride you want
The best way to get wherever you’re going
Uber is a technology platform. Our smartphone apps connect driver-partners and riders.
In cities where Uber operates, use your rider app to request a ride. When a nearby driver-partner accepts your request, your app displays an estimated time of arrival for the driver-partner heading to your pickup location. Your app notifies you when the driver-partner is about to arrive.
Your app also provides info about the driver-partner with whom you will ride, including first name, vehicle type, and license plate number. This info helps the two of you connect at your pickup location.
Use your app to enter your preferred destination any time before or during the ride. If you have a preferred route, it’s helpful to talk through the directions together.
When you arrive at your destination and exit the vehicle, your trip ends. Your fare is automatically calculated and charged to the payment method you’ve linked to your Uber account.
In some cities, Uber allows you to pay your fare in cash. This option must be selected before you request a ride.
Immediately after a trip ends, your app will ask you to rate your driver from 1 to 5 Stars. Driver-partners are also asked to rate riders. Uber’s feedback system is designed to foster a community of respect and accountability for everyone.
Learn more about how Uber works by exploring other Help Center topics. You can search for specific questions and answers too.
Arts & Culture
It is home to an impressive historical art collection that includes 17th-century Dutch paintings, 18th and 19th century European artworks and South African art from the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries. The collection was established by Florence Phillips, wife of the mining magnate Lionel, in 1910 and was originally housed at the University of the Witwatersrand until the construction of the art gallery was completed in 1915.
The biggest gallery in sub-Saharan Africa, JAG boasts over 9,000 works of art, displayed in 15 exhibition halls and sculpture gardens. In fact the collection is so large that only 10% of the exhibits are ever on display at any one time, the rest are kept in storage. On the walls you can view masterpieces by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Gerard Sekoto, JH Pierneef, Walter Battiss and Salvador Dali and the collection also includes remarkable sculptures by artists such as Rodin, Henry Moore and William Kentridge. Much of the gallery space is also devoted to temporary exhibitions that feature the works of some of Africa’s best contemporary artists.
In 2015, in time for the gallery’s 100th anniversary, a massive R42 million restoration project was completed, restoring the magnificent building to its former glory. JAG's extensive collections of art ensures that it's one of the major tourist attractions in South Africa, with something new to see each time you visit.
Tours are available but must booked in advance.
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Johannesburg Art Gallery
It is home to an impressive historical art collection that includes 17th-century Dutch paintings, 18th and 19th century European artworks and South African art from the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries. The collection was established by Florence Phillips, wife of the mining magnate Lionel, in 1910 and was originally housed at the University of the Witwatersrand until the construction of the art gallery was completed in 1915.
The biggest gallery in sub-Saharan Africa, JAG boasts over 9,000 works of art, displayed in 15 exhibition halls and sculpture gardens. In fact the collection is so large that only 10% of the exhibits are ever on display at any one time, the rest are kept in storage. On the walls you can view masterpieces by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Gerard Sekoto, JH Pierneef, Walter Battiss and Salvador Dali and the collection also includes remarkable sculptures by artists such as Rodin, Henry Moore and William Kentridge. Much of the gallery space is also devoted to temporary exhibitions that feature the works of some of Africa’s best contemporary artists.
In 2015, in time for the gallery’s 100th anniversary, a massive R42 million restoration project was completed, restoring the magnificent building to its former glory. JAG's extensive collections of art ensures that it's one of the major tourist attractions in South Africa, with something new to see each time you visit.
Tours are available but must booked in advance.