Johannesburg Travel and Things to Do Guide

The largest city in South Africa (by population), Johannesburg is also known as Jozi, Jo'burg, or Egoli. The provincial capital of Gauteng and the wealthiest province in South Africa, Johannesburg is also the world's largest city not situated on a river, lake, or a coastline. In a city that is rich in both Dutch and native culture, venues in Johannesburg offer MICE meeting planners an eclectic mix of amenities to suit all tastes and budgets.

Johannesburg is served by O.R. Tambo International Airport, the largest and the busiest airport in Africa and a gateway for international air travel to and from the rest of Southern Africa. Lanseria International Airport is conveniently situated on the opposite side of the city that operates international flights.

Of the various conference venues in Johannesburg, those at the Sandton Sun are endorsed by its Signature Conference status. Sandton Sun offers seven separate Business Suite meeting rooms, and conference facilities that can accommodate up to 200 delegates. The Midrand Conference Centre, just a 30-minute drive from Johannesburg's Airport, is practically a village of state-of-the-art conference rooms, guest houses, and accommodations in an exquisite seven-acre garden setting opposite the Gallagher Estate. The AstroTech Conference Centre in Parktown is in a gracious mansion in one of the most historic and beautiful areas of South Africa, offering elegance, security, convenience, and free parking. Hotel venues with large meeting facilities include the InterContinental Johannesburg Sandton Towers, which is linked to the Sandton Convention Centre and can accommodate 10,000 delegates at one time; the 244-room Hyatt Regency Johannesburg with 15,000 square feet of meeting space; and the Kloofzicht Lodge, with 7,000 square feet of space.

Visitors to Johannesburg will enjoy its rich history and colorful past. Visitors can spend an afternoon at the Apartheid Museum, where one of the exhibits celebrates the life of Nelson Mandela, who was freed from his 26-year jail sentence in 1991. The many bohemian restaurants in Melville can also be explored; and the Lion Park established by the world-famous Chipperfields Circus is a must-visit.