Travel and Tourism Worldwide Travel Destinations - Johannesburg

AVCE Travel and Tourism Worldwide Travel Destinations

Johannesburg

Task 1:

General information:

Johannesburg is the largest and most cosmopólitan city in South Africa. It is the financial and commercial capital of Gauteng. It is also the centre of the gold mining industry and was probably named after Johannes Meyer, who was the first mining commissioner in 1886.

South Africa has a diverse population of 43,647,658 as of the last census. It is made up of ethnic black groups, Indians, whites and coloureds (mixed race). Below are a list of ethnic groups and the percentage of the population they make up:

Zulu- 23.8%
White- 18%
Coloureds- 10.5%
North Sotho- 7.3%
Xhosa- 9.7%
Tswana- 5.7%
Asian- 3.3%
Indian- made up of Hindus and Muslims

Due to the mixture of ethnic groups, South Africa has eleven official languages e.g. Afrikaans, English, Xhosa, Zulu, Tswana, Sotho etc. Almost half of South Africa’s population is concentrated in urban areas. Its population density varies from five people per sq mile to two hundred and thirty-nine people per sq mile. The population growth rate is higher for black people and people of mixed race than it is for white people. South- Africa’s infant mortality rate is very high amongst the black population but moderate amongst the white population. Its life expectancy for males is sixty-three years and sixty-eight years for females and it’s the highest for the white population but the lowest for the black population, due to the Aids epidemic.

Government:

From 1948 to 1993/94 South Africa’s political and social structure was held on apartheid (a legalised system separating different population groups). In 1983 a new constitution was granted giving limited political rights to coloureds and Asian minorities but not to the black people. The dominant white party was the National Party who ran the government. The opposing black party was the African National Congress (ANC), which was run by Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned for his political activity. In 1960, South Africa became a republic and in 1961 South Africa had left the common- wealth. During 1985/86 there were periods of unrest (the uprising of black political parties fighting for their rights). President F.W. de Klerk was voted in 1990 and he began trying for racial reconciliation. In December 1991 delegates from all political parties and ethnic groups joined together to form the convention for a democratic South Africa. It was at this time that Nelson Mandela was released. In 1994 the countries first multiracial elections were held with Nelson Mandela (ANC) becoming president and F.W. de Klerk becoming deputy. When Nelson Mandela resigned he was replaced/elected by president Thabi Mbeki. The government has a national council of provinces, which elect ten delegates who all sit at the national assembly and are elected to remain in five-year positions by their parties. The national assembly debates all issues and passes new laws or amends laws. Cape town is the legislative centre and Bloemfontein is the judicial centre. The legal system is based on the Roman/Dutch law and the English Common law.

Time difference:

Johannesburg is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+2 GMT), seven hours from Eastern Standard Time and ten hours from Pacific Standard Time, during the months of November, December, January, February and March. But when the UK experiences daylight savings, which is observed from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday of October, Johannesburg is one hour ahead (+1GMT) for the months March to October.

Currency:

South Africa’s currency is in rands and cents. For the rands there are, Rand 1, Rand 2 and Rand 5 coins. There are Rand 10, Rand 20, Rand 50, Rand 100 and Rand 200 notes. The cents are made up of Cent 1, Cent 2, Cent 5, Cent 10, Cent 20 and Cent 50 coins. Rand 1, Rand 2 and Rand5 are made out of silver coins whereas the cents, Cent 1, Cent 2 and Cent 5 are made out of bronze coins. The Cent 10, Cent 20 and Cent 50 coins are made out of nickel and silver. The exchange rate at present is: ₤1 GBP = 12 ZAR.

Type of destination:

Johannesburg is considered to be a diverse and multicultural destination, with a fascinating history. This destination appeals to tourists who have a strong interest in the historical and cultural development of the black, English and Afrikaans cultures. It also appeals to people who are interested in wildlife and African animals as there are major parks outside Johannesburg.

Location of the country:

South Africa occupies the southern tip of Africa and stretches latitudinally from 22˚ to 35˚ South and 17˚ to 33˚ East. South Africa is located at the bottom southern part of the African continent. The country is surrounded by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland in the north, while in the southern part it is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean. South Africa has a variety of vegetation from the Mediterranean shrub type in the Cape region to the drought-resistant bush type found in the semi-desert western part of the country (the Karoo). Some temperate forests are found along the eastern coastline while grassland (veld) covers the rest of the country. The Cape region is dominated by Table Mountain, while Kwazulu/Natal has the Drakensberg mountain range. In the north a great portion has been allocated to the Kruger National- Park, which is one of a number of wildlife reserves to protect species such as lions, elephants, rhinos and antelope. Recently the park has opened its boarders with Mozambique to extend the park over the two countries. In the area above the Cape Province there is an area of semi-desert, which is called the Karoo and is famous for the sand and bushman people. Scattered in the northern portion of South Africa is both gold and diamond mines.

Location of the destination within the country:

Johannesburg lies at the centre of the Gauteng region, which lies in the north east of South Africa. Johannesburg was made the capital of the Gauteng region in 1994 and falls into a triangle of towns called The Vaal Triangle. This triangle is the centre of the gold mining industry and the diamond-cutting centre. The cities, that make up the triangle are, Pretoria, Witwatersrand, and Vereeniging.

Hemisphere and continent:

South Africa and the city of Johannesburg fall into the southern hemisphere and are located on ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

Location of the destination within the country:

Hemisphere and continent:

South Africa and the city of Johannesburg fall into the southern hemisphere and are located on the African continent.

Long haul or short haul:

Johannesburg is considered a long haul destination from the UK, as the travelling time by air direct from England is between eleven-thirteen hours depending on climatic conditions.

Task 2:

THIS PART OF THE ASSIGNMENT IS AT HOME. IT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE REST OF THIS ASSIGNMENT.

Task 3:

Climate:

South Africa has a temperate sub-tropical climate. During the summer months of December to February, it has average daytime temperatures between 21˚C and 32˚C. While during the winter months of June to August it has average daytime temperatures between 10˚C and 21˚C. Annual rainfall can vary from less than 8 inches in the northwest to more than 40 inches in the Kwazulu/Natal coastline. Johannesburg is situated in the interia plateau surrounded by escarpment (mountain range) of the Drakensberg mountain range. This relief feature influences climatic conditions experienced by the Gauteng region. The mountain range acts as a barrier to the warm air coming from the Indian Ocean, which means that the land lying on the other side of the mountain i.e. Gauteng, does not experience high levels of humidity but in the summer it experiences dry hot conditions with late afternoon thunder showers (relief- rainfall). In the winter temperatures are cold to freezing with frost and ice. Over the past few years, some snowfall has occurred.

A CLIMATIC GRAPH WILL BE PLACED HERE, AS I DIDN’T BRING MY COLOURED GRAPHS AND CHARTS WITH ME.

As can be seen from the climatic graph above, Johannesburg experiences on average ten hours of sunshine throughout the year. The most rainfall occurs in the months of November through to March, which is the summer season in the southern hemisphere. At this time Johannesburg has relief rainfall from the hot dry conditions most afternoons. Temperatures average in the summer between 22˚C to 25˚C. At present (2003), South Africa is in the middle of a heat wave and drought conditions are being experienced, which means Johannesburg has experienced temperatures as high as 35˚C. During the winter season temperatures are around 15˚C and rainfall is at its lowest.

Topography:

The topography of South Africa consists of a great plateau, which covers two thirds of the country. The plateau is at it’s highest on the South East edge, which is marked by the Drakensberg, a mountain range that forms part of the great escarpment that separates the plateau from the coastal areas. Johannesburg is one of the regions often referred to as the Highveld. The Highveld covers most of the plateau and is higher than 5,000 ft above sea- level and is made up of level terrain. The northern limit of the Highveld is marked by a rock ridge called the Witwatersrand and includes Johannesburg. North of the Witwatersrand is the Bushveld, which is made up of rock ridges that slope downwards towards the Limpopo River and the western sector of the plateau is known as the Middleveld.

Natural attractions:

Johannesburg has a small number of natural attractions, which consist of parks and gardens. Within the city is the Witwatersrand Botanical Gardens, which has a range of plants. These plants include, local and indigenous species. The city has a number of mine-dumps, which are left over from the days of mining and are now covered in grass. Other attractions close to the city centre include, The Sterkfontein Caves, which is a world heritage site and allows tourists to explore a number of natural caves. There are several game reserves and breeding stations within a two hour drive from the city, such as the De Wildt cheetah and wildlife centre and the Thaba Pitsi nature reserve.

Built attractions:

There are a large number of built attractions within the city centre. They include, the Market-Theatre Complex, which is home to the Johannesburg theatre company, who often perform local plays. The Museum Africa displays an honest and critical view of South Africa’s past history. The Transnet Railway Museum offers a view of the role that trains have played in moving people and products over the vast landscape. Gold Reef City is the old Johannesburg gold mine, which has been turned into a theme park and offers a tour into a real gold mine. To get a birds-eye view of the city, tourists need to go to the top of the Carlton Panarama, the tallest building in South Africa. Hesida Cultural Village features African tribal dancers and allows the public an insight into how the black culture lived and worked in the past. Soweto is the abbreviation of South Western- Townships; where tourists are offered a tour of the black suburb. The tour starts with an ultra modern hospital and continues through the different types of neighbourhoods, ranging from shantytowns, workers hostels and the modern home of Nelson Mandela. Another area that has been granted a heritage trust status is the Westcliff area, a suburb in Johannesburg with grand estates for homes and is the work of the architect Sir Hebert- Baker. Hillbrow is an area in Johannesburg, which is now considered to be the most dangerous place in the country, yet at one point in time it was a Bohemian Mecca rivalling Soho and Greenwich Village in London. Hillbrow now often attracts tourists who wish to view the seedy side of Johannesburg. Yeoville is a neighbourhood that has replaced the original Hillbrow and has the University of Witwatersrand, where the South African Politician Jan Smuts book collection is kept and finally there is the Oriental- Plaza, the centre of the ethnic Indian population.

Events:

Being a major city at different times of the year, Johannesburg will host music- concerts, plays and sporting events such as, The World Cup Rugby, 1995, The World Cup Cricket, 2003 etc

January- No events take place

February- Local Theatre shows take place throughout the month

March- 21st is Human Rights Day (it marks the anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre). There are local theatre shows that take place throughout the month

April- 18th is Good Friday. There is also the Rand Easter Show (a huge agricultural show, which runs from mid April to early May) +-20th April to 5th May. On the 21st is Family Day and the 27th is Freedom Day (public holidays).

May- 1st is Workers day. Still continuing from mid April is the Rand Easter Show (a huge agricultural show, which ends in early May). There are no public holidays

June- 16th is Youth Day (a celebration of the student uprisings in Soweto, which led to liberation)

July- No events take place

August- 9th is National Women’s Day. There is also the Pretoria Show (an agricultural show, which takes place in the third week)

September- 1st to mid October is the Big Arts Alive Festival (its about theatre, culture etc). On the 24th is Heritage Day

October- Still continuing from early September is the Big Arts Alive Festival (it ends in mid October)

November- No events take place

December- 16th is the Day of Reconciliation (a celebration on the defeat of the Zulu’s)

Rugby is a popular sport with the huge following: Johannesburg hosts games for the Super Twelve Rugby Series and the Provincial Rugby Games (rugby games are played throughout the whole year and are considered to be a major event).

Food, drink and entertainment:

The Dutch and Zulu cultures have had a strong influence on the type of food served and eaten by South Africans. The locals tend to eat meat, steak in particular with pap (a Zulu dish made from mielie meal corn), this is often served with beer, which is South- African’s favourite drink. Johannesburg can boast about some of the first class restaurants in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is equal to any European or American city. International cuisines can be found but local South African foods are finding fame for their fresh, spicy but subtle flavours, such classic dishes include, Snoek (a pickled fish-dish) and rock lobster that is served fresh with either lemon butter or a French soufflé. A South African wine ranging from Cabernet Sauvignon to Burgundy or a fresh white wine accompanies most dishes.

Johannesburg is a city with many European and local type restaurants. These three restaurants are particularly well known: Carnivore Johannesburg, The Butcher Shop and Grill and the Gramadoelas African Restaurant. They are eating places that offer a wide selection of meats ranging from: Venison (anything from a water-hog to different buck species), chicken, pork etc. Ille de France and Le Canard are restaurants that serve typical French cuisines, while Le Campana is a Mediterranean style restaurant serving foods from the Mediterranean region and Vilamoura Rosebank is a Portuguese restaurant. Scattered throughout the city are a number a smaller eating-places, which serve traditional African foods e.g. Pap en Wors (a sausage and mielie meal).

There are a wide variety of drinks offered in restaurants. Tourists are able to buy the usual spirits but are also introduced to homemade Afrikaans liqueurs. Beer is a popular drink as it is manufactured in South Africa, the different beer labels that tourists can choose from are; Castle, Blacklabel, Amstel, Windhoek Larger etc. Cider is another popular choice, brands that are available to tourists’ are, Hunters and Savanah. White and red wines that have been produced locally are also popular with the tourists.

Johannesburg has a number of popular nightclubs, such as The Baseline (jazz club), The Blues Room, Carfax (mixture of different music), Summer Raves and Nightclub, Tandoor (plays all types of African music) and Champions (caters for the gay clientele).

Types of Accommodation:

Johannesburg offers travellers a wide range of accommodation, which includes, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses, hotels, lodges, caravan/camping or self-catering facilities. There are a number of hotel groups, such as, Holiday Inn, Travel Lodge, Southern Sun etc. They offer different packages for different needs. Hotel accommodation will generally consist of breakfast and a room; guests will have to pay of find food for lunch and dinner from an alternative source. Hotels are graded according to stars (Crown- Classification System). Popular hotels include, Karos Johannesburg Hotel, Holiday Inn Garden Court Milpark, Constantia Hotel and The Westcliff, which is a five star top of the range hotel.

Another common form of accommodation with tourists is staying in a lodge, usually a game lodge, which is located within a nature reserve and offers tourists the chance to interact with guides and explore the park and at the same time all meals are catered for. Examples of lodges close to Johannesburg are, Twyfelfontein Lodge, Etendeka Mountain Camp and Mount Etjo Safari Lodge. For travellers on a tight budget, there are three back packer hostels that are clean and cheap, they are, Africa’s Zoo Lodge- Backpackers, Africa Centre Backpacker and Rockey’s of Fourways.

Self-catering accommodation is also available and is usually advertised in the local- paper. This form of accommodation can either be in a house, chalet, flat, cottage or houseboat.

A relatively new concept of accommodation is guesthouses and bed and breakfasts, which allows tourists to stay with local residents at affordable prices.

Types of transport:

The road infrastructure is excellent, which makes driving a viable option as South- Africa is a huge country and it takes time to move from one area to another. Tourists are encouraged to hire cars as it allows them freedom to move around the large city of Johannesburg. Public transport in Johannesburg is available but is not safe. The three main modes of transport that locals and tourists can use are:

Buses- there is a number of different tourist buses to choose from, which offer a guided tour of the cities attractions. There are buses that run to residential areas but they are limited and generally go via a township, which make it unsafe. Safe buses only operate long distances e.g. Johannesburg-Durban, the bus company to use is Greyhound.

Trains- Spoornet is a railway company, which covers major cities but it is not luxurious and fast, neither is it comfortable or safe, although it is clean. Trains running from Johannesburg station on a daily basis, commute via the townships of Soweto and Alexandra Boepatong etc. A company called Steam Limited offer tourists a journey on restored steam carriages and generally do day-trips on a Sunday from Johannesburg- station.

Taxis- they are not the same as black cabs in the UK, but rather like people carriers. These vehicles play loud music to attract customers and tend to cram as many as eighteen people into the vehicle to ferry them to their destinations. Taxis charge from Rand150 and upwards depending on the distance the passenger is travelling. Taxis are not a safe option for tourists as there is taxi cartels operating and competing for customers. The black people of Johannesburg use this mode of transport more frequently than any other race.

Accessibility to travel and tourism gateways:

There are various methods of reaching Johannesburg. The easiest is by air as Johannesburg has a huge international airport, which deals with thousands of international and some local airlines on a daily basis. If a tourist were flying from London, England, he/she would have to fly out from either London’s Gatwick Airport or London’s Heathrow Airport. The tourist can either fly direct to Johannesburg or via another destination (stop-over flight) such as, Egypt, Dubai, Frankfurt, Paris etc. Johannesburg International Airport is located 24km northeast of the city and is the transport and tourism gateway in Southern Africa. It caters to over eleven million passengers from fifty-three different airlines per year. The airport has six terminals, which serve to domestic and international air traffic.

Seaports- Johannesburg is located away from the coast and does not cater for sea passengers.

Trains- Johannesburg Railway Station (Central Station) caters for all passengers/tourists wishing to travel to other cities e.g. Durban, Cape Town, Kimberley etc. These trains depart approximately six times a week. Johannesburg as a city does not deal with land boarder crossings.

Another option UK tourists have of reaching Johannesburg is to drive from London through Europe to Cairo or Morocco and then make their ways through Africa down to Johannesburg. However the roads are poor and there are no proper facilities along the way, this method involves lots of boarder crossings and hostility from the locals in some areas may occur. It is not a safe accessible route to take up as it can take up to six months to complete the journey.

Task 3

THIS PART OF THE ASSIGNMENT IS AT HOME. IT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE REST OF THIS ASSIGNMENT.

Task 5

A TRANSPORT LINKS AND ROUTE MAP WILL NEED TO BE PLACED HERE, AS I DID NOT BRING ANY MAPS WITH ME.

Johannesburg International Airport is the air transport gateway to Southern Africa. It serves fifty-three airlines each year and caters to both domestic and international tourists. Johannesburg International Airport has six terminals, terminals one and two are for the international arrivals, terminal three is for South African Airways and South African- Express domestic airlines, terminal four is for non South African Airways domestic arrivals, terminal five is a domestic departure area for all airlines and terminal six is for international departures. The airport is served by ten car rental agencies, which are located in the domestic arrivals area. Tourists are advised when hiring cars to choose a mid range vehicle rather than a luxury model as to avoid car hijacking of theft.

There is no rail link between the airport and the city. There is a limited bus shuttle service and those that do operate are for specific hotels. There are also taxis available for hire. The map above shows that there are two National roads that is accessible from the airport and will lead directly into the city. They are, N17 and N1. Travelling time on either one of these roads into the city can take between twenty minutes up till two hours, depending on which area of the city tourists are travelling to and also due to traffic conditions.

AN ACCESS ROUTE MAP WILL NEED TO BE PLACED HERE, AS I DID NOT BRING ANY MAPS WITH ME.

When travelling from the UK to Johannesburg, the flight time will take between eleven-thirteen hours depending on climatic conditions. This is a direct flight. Johannesburg International Airport is the easiest and most accessible gateway. The airport is modern and caters for all tourists needs e.g. car hire. There are direct road links between the airport and the actual city of Johannesburg. Johannesburg is quite along distance from any seaport; therefore there is no sea access.

Task 6

THIS PART OF THE ASSIGNMENT IS AT HOME. IT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE REST OF THIS ASSIGNMENT.

(Hi ahsev, I will be sending you another assignment tomorrow. There is no bibliography at the moment for any of my destinations as all my maps; charts and statistics are at home but everything is completed. I have done a bibliography and it just needs to be added to each of the destinations. Once again so sorry for causing this problem.)