Johannesberg

Johannesberg, the largest city in South Africa, will host Miss World 2008, the most popular beauty pageant in the world. Miss World 2008 finals will be held in Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesberg on December 13, 2008. Let us discuss about the city which has now earned fame as the host of the finals of Miss World 2008.

Johannesberg, also called Joburg or Jozi, it is the hub of commercial life in South Africa. Residents of Johannesberg are always in pursuit of cold, hard cash, just like any other metro in the world. But Johannesberg has much more to offer than cold commerce. It has an array of museums, amusement centres as well as the largest zoo in the country.

Museums and Art Galleries
Johannesberg has several interesting museums, the most famous of which are Museum Africa and the Apartheid Museum at Gold Reef City. Most tourist activities are centred around history museums, such as the Apartheid Museum and the Hector Pieterson Museum. Mandela Museum is the former home of Nelson Mandela. The city has several art museums, of the likes of the Johannesburg Art Gallery, which features South African and European paintings. The Museum Africa showcases objects related to local history. The Cradle of Humankind heritage site is just half an hour from the city.

Golf Courses and Amusement Centres
Golf courses all across the city keep the lovers of the game happy. Watch the dancing Lipizzaner stallions at Kyalami. Modern Theatre Complex is the centre for modern South African playwriting. It is the only operation of its kind other than the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. There are several amusement centres in the town, equipped with all kinds of modern accoutrements. The city has a galaxy of shopping malls where you can shop your heart out.

Adventure Sports
You could enjoy some exciting adventure sports in Johannesberg. You could decide to ride a hot air balloon, take an invigorating flight in a vintage aircraft, or do paddling in the Crocodile River. Or you could decide to test your skills at skydiving or sandboard down a mine dump.

Transit Point
The city is a transit point for connecting flights to Cape Town and Durban, two major tourism destinations. Most international tourists in South Africa pass through Johannesberg.