Johannesburg

Johannesburg, is the commercial hub of South Africa, and a convenienttransport center. Get a taste of this urban scene at events/places like the famous township of Soweto (not to be visited without a reliable local guide and friend), the two-week Arts Alive festival in September, the lively Rosebank Rooftop Market and the Theater Market.

The main museum highlights of the city are Museum Africa and the Johannesburg Art Gallery.

More than anything else, Jo is a city of contrasts, with squalid black shantytowns nestling alongside fantastically rich white suburbs. It is also a city that is constantly changing and moving, especially in these post-apartheid days. This upheaval and entrepreneurship have given Jo a pulsating, vibrant atmosphere that it would be a shame to pass by for some of South Africa’s more touristy destinations. When in Jo, take the requisite precautions like avoiding the downtown area especially after sunset, and you should be able to get a really good peep into what makes urban South Africa tick today. 

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Cape Town

South Africa's most visited and beautiful cities in the world is Cape Town. It is the oldest city in our country, and it has a cultural heritage spanning more than 300 years.  Perched between the ocean and the mountain, and with a National Park as its heart, it's wild and wonderful. ‘Capetonians’ refer to their city as "Mother City", a sign of the immense affection they hold for it.


For those who look forward to  nature and outdoor activities will delight as there are many opportunities for trekking, hiking and other, more adventurous sports in and around Table Mountain, not to mention the fantastic whale-watching and penguin-sighting in False Bay and Boulders Beach. One of the highlights of a visit to Cape Town, especially for those interested in the history of apartheid, is the former prison colony of Robben Island where this century’s most famous political prisoner Nelson Mandela was incarcerated. Cape Town's urban heritage is reflected in the range of styles in architecture, which includes indigenous Cape Dutch architecture, Georgian and Victorian buildings built by the English, and quaint minarets and mosques added by freed Muslim slaves. The Albert & Victoria Waterfront and numerous jazz bars and music clubs are famous place for entertainment. 

Bloemfontein in Free State province is South Africa’s judicial capital and is increasingly becoming a popular conference and convention centre. The city has some beautiful historical buildings (especially along President Brand Street) including the War Museum of the Boer Republics and the National Women’s Memorial, the excellent Oliewenhuis Art Gallery, the National Museum and Sand du Plessis Theatre, the site for opera, ballet and orchestral concerts.

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Durban

Durban is the largest port and the third largest city of South Africa. Durban is known for its beaches and surfing.  Durban it is a lively, bustling multicultural city due to itshistory of ethnic immigration, with descendants of Indian slaves making up the second largest ethnic group in the city. Another attraction in Durban is the shopping.

The vibrant Victoria Street Market has Indian shops and stalls, and all over the city, mosques like the Juma Masjid (the largest in the southern hemisphere) and Hindu temples can be seen. 

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Pretoria

Pretoria is a beautiful and quiet city. One would see ancient old buildings and fascinating museums. 

Today, Pretoria also known as ‘Jacaranda City’ for the purple-blossomed trees which bloom in late-September and October, is an urbane, pleasant city with an active student, art and gay/lesbian scene and impressive historic architecture like the Union Buildings, the Kruger House Museum and Melrose House on the old Church Square and the imposing Voortrekker Monument.