Lifestyle in Johannesburg

With a work-hard, play-hard mentality, the lifestyle in Johannesburg is sometimes fast-paced. To balance out the stresses of the job, many of Johannesburg’s residents enjoy spending their hard-earned money in the city’s shopping centres and markets, as well as on nights out and fine dining.

Expats in Johannesburg will have a lifestyle that is fairly typical of South Africans around the country. They should find it easy to befriend both locals and fellow expats. The city’s wealth and natural beauty influence everybody.

Shopping in Johannesburg

There is no shortage of shopping options in Johannesburg. The city has everything from designer boutiques to bargain buys at local markets, mega malls, and department stores.

Sandton City, located in the heart of Johannesburg’s financial centre, is a good place to start. Almost anything can be found at one of its hundreds of shops, and if that isn’t enough, shoppers can catch their breath at the adjacent Nelson Mandela Square, which offers its own fine dining and luxury shopping options.

Those wanting a more personal shopping experience can head to one of the city’s markets, which are popular on Sundays and public holidays. The Playground Market in Braamfontein, the Prison Break Market in Midrand, and the Rosebank Sunday Market are definitely worth a visit.

Shopping in Johannesburg

Nightlife in Johannesburg

Joburgers have mastered the balance between hard-working days and glamorous nights of excess. As one might expect of one of the richest cities in Africa, there is a fairly wide selection of clubs, bars, theatres and cocktail lounges.

Expats can go for a night out on the town in trendy Melville, artsy Newtown, mellow Linden or ritzy Rivonia. Those with more refined tastes can also head to Hyde Park, Sandton or Melrose Arch to rub shoulders with local celebrities and the city’s wealthy and well-heeled.

Kids and family in Johannesburg

While it may not be the most popular destination for family-oriented expats, Johannesburg still offers several rewarding activities for children to enjoy. Given the absence of a beach and the relative lack of public spaces, businesses in the city often cater to children, while many parents are willing to drive a bit further to ensure that their children are entertained.

One of the most popular options for parents is Gold Reef City. The area’s largest theme park offers thrill rides alongside many tamer children’s rides. For expats with younger children (or those who prefer having their feet firmly on the ground), there are plenty of other activities to choose from, such as catching a show at the 4D theatre.

Another popular option is taking a weekend trip away to Sun City, a two-hour drive to the northwest of Joburg. It offers a host of activities suitable for the whole family. Children will probably be most interested in the Valley of the Waves, an artificial lagoon with a wave pool.

Closer to home, it is always fun for younger children to feed the ducks and geese at Zoo Lake and Emmarentia Dam, which are also popular picnic spots. Johannesburg Zoo is home to all sorts of different animals and makes for a great day out. Other popular outdoor activities include the Montecasino Bird Gardens, the Cradle of Humankind, and, perhaps for older kids, paintballing.

Johannesburg knows how to keep itself entertained indoors, too. There is a selection of large indoor playgrounds, which are popular kids’ party venues throughout the city. You can also find a few pottery and art classes for all ages, and children as young as two years old can go for cooking classes at one of the Little Cooks Club events spread across the city. Finally, but not exhaustively, is the Wits Planetarium, which offers various shows all about the solar system.

Outdoor activities and sports in Johannesburg

Johannesburg is known for being a premier shopping destination, but it is also a city that celebrates sport in a big way. The city is home to the calabash-shaped FNB Stadium, which hosted the FIFA World Cup Final in 2010; Ellis Park, where the Springboks famously won the Rugby World Cup in 1995; and the Wanderers Stadium, the venue for the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup Final.

Many Johannesburg locals and expats look to escape the city’s hustle and bustle on weekends. Many places within the city fit the bill, such as the Johannesburg Zoo, the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, and Zoo Lake. Other options include weekend getaways to nearby small towns such as Hartbeespoort, Clarens, Dullstroom, and Cullinan.

See and do in Johannesburg

Johannesburg’s concrete jungle is often overlooked as a tourist destination in favour of coastal Cape Town. However, if you are willing to look beyond its ‘city life’ facade, you will find that it has just as much to offer. From natural wonders to museums and culture, there are abundant things to see and do in Johannesburg.

Apartheid Museum

Take a glimpse into South Africa’s past to learn about South Africans’ struggle to achieve democracy. This heart-wrenching museum illustrates how far this unique and diverse country has come.

Constitution Hill

This national heritage site houses a former prison famous for once holding political prisoners such as Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. Visitors can take a fascinating journey through the prison’s history as they walk through the museum, learning about the terrible conditions prisoners suffered there.

As a symbol of transformation, the South African Constitutional Court was built on this site in the 1990s and is home to a collection of over 600 contemporary artworks, which the public can view.

Cradle of Humankind

Some of the oldest fossils of our human ancestors have been found in the Sterkfontein Caves, a central feature of this World Heritage Site. This includes the discovery of Mrs Ples and Little Foot, which are estimated to be 2 million and 3 million years old respectively. The Maropeng Visitor Centre illustrates the evolution of humans, and visitors can also view the Sterkfontein Caves in person.

Gold Reef City

Expats who have relocated to Johannesburg should be sure to visit Gold Reef City, an entertainment complex for the whole family that portrays what the city would have looked like during the gold rush of the 1880s. Descend into a gold mine shaft, ride the amusement park theme rides, have fun in the casino or spend a night at the Victorian hotel.

Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum

The iconic image of 12-year-old Hector Pieterson being carried through the streets of Soweto during the Soweto Uprising in 1976 has been etched into the minds of many across the globe. The museum is situated just two blocks from the site of Pieterson’s death. It not only pays tribute to the little boy who died that day but also fuses memorabilia, cultural history and modern technology to create a fascinating museum experience.

Johannesburg Zoo

This is a great place to take a stroll, go on an outing with the kids, or just take some time out from the hustle and bustle of the City of Gold. The Johannesburg Zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals, including the famed Big Five.

Soweto Tour

Soweto is another place rich with the history of South Africa’s struggle toward democracy. While Soweto’s attractions, such as the Mandela House Museum or the Hector Pieterson Memorial, can be visited alone, an official half-day or full-day Soweto tour will give expats an even fuller picture of Soweto’s past and present.

Meeting people and making friends in Johannesburg

South Africans are generally friendly, so meeting people and making friends needn’t be a concern for expats moving to the city. Still, expats looking to build lifelong friendships will have plenty of opportunities thanks to the abundance of local clubs in Johannesburg.

Farmer’s markets and community events are excellent ways to meet new people in the city. Other ways to make friends while living in Johannesburg are joining an interest group like a running club or a professionally driven organisation.

Johannesburg is one of the most unequal cities in the world, so there are plenty of non-profit and non-governmental organisations that you can join as a volunteer. This is a wonderful way to contribute to your local community while building friendships.

Useful links

• Parkrun
• The Wanderers Athletics Club
• International Women’s Club Johannesburg
• Joburg British Expat Meetup