Johannesburg

The financial and industrial center of South Africa, Johannesburg, is also known as "the city of gold" due to its early origins as a mining town. There are nearby safari adventures to explore, as well as the Cradle of Humankind, where some of the most important skeletal discoveries were made. The Apartheid Museum shows the history of oppression in the country's past before the transitions to democracy, while Constitution Hill was once known as The Fort, a brutal prison complex that once housed the likes of Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. Soweto (Southwestern Townships) was an area of planned segregation, and it was from here that uprisings in 1976 to overthrow apartheid began and spread to the rest of the country. This area is best seen through a tour that includes Mandela's house and other key spots. On the lighter side, the Maboneng Precinct looks towards the future, as the once run-down neighborhood is now filled with cool restaurants, cafes, shops, entertainment, art galleries, and more.