Johannesburg
Best time to visit: April-October
You need: 3-4 days

After our five-day-long stay in Durban, my Indian-South African friend drives me to Johannesburg. I listen to her rave about the city’s vibrancy, its cosmopolitan charm and wonder what lies in store at the end of the smooth highway.

As we near the capital, the urban panorama looms over the horizon. My friend tells me, “South Africa is known as the Rainbow Nation because of its diversity of people. It was a country that attracted people from all over the world. And Johannesburg, you will see, is a riot of colours.”

Johannesburg’s skyline epitomises the speed, glitz and the buzz of the city

Once in the city, we drive through a maze of flyovers. All around me, I see the makings of a vibrant city — the connectivity, glitzy shopping malls, plush restaurants, fast cars and a lot of people.

Exploring the city
The morning after, I begin exploring the city. Sandton City, the glitziest part of Joburg, is my first halt. At 10.30 am, when the roads are easy to navigate, I head to Sandton, the most significant business and financial district of South Africa. It has opulent homes, towering offices, shopping malls with local and international brands. It is difficult to believe that this urban oasis was a wasteland just 50 years ago.