The capital of South Africa's smallest province, Gauteng, Johannesburg is the economic powerhouse of Africa with its ever-growing suburban sprawl creeping outwards from the central city skyscrapers and ring-road motorways.

The more than 10-million inhabitants live fast and have a restless spirit, which they have imparted into the fabric of the city, also known by its African name as Egoli, 'the place of gold'. The development of the city, which is just over a century old, has followed the fortunes of the Witwatersrand (White Water Reef), the rich gold-bearing rock reef that stretches across this area of central South Africa. The initial gold rush started in the 1880s, and barely ten years later Johannesburg had become South Africa's largest town and the site of frenzied development that has been ongoing ever since.

Johannesburg today is a city of contrasts, with glass-paned modern luxury high-rises towering beside a few remaining dilapidated Victorian buildings, and affluent northern suburbs with stunning private homes behind high fences giving way to the squalid streets and tiny shoebox houses of the massive Soweto township in the south. The chasm between rich and poor in the city has given rise to a high crime rate, evidenced by the fortress-like security that pervades the wealthier suburbs.

Most visitors to South Africa, particularly those intent on exploring the game reserves of Mpumalanga, arrive at Johannesburg's busy OR Tambo International Airport, which is the main point of entry for the country. There is little in Johannesburg itself to grab the attention of tourists, but a few days can be filled taking in some entertaining man-made attractions before heading off to the game parks of the northeast or the coastal regions. The most interesting diversion in Johannesburg is undoubtedly a 'Heritage Route' or 'Shebeen Crawl' tour of Soweto, but take care only to venture into the maze of the township with an organised tour or professional guide.

Kruger National Park

Address: Johannesburg

Admission: R180 (foreign adult), R90 (foreign child under 12) per day; R45 per day for South African residents Park gates: daily 5:30am to 6:30pm (November-February), 6am to 5:30/6pm (March to October). Camp gates open 4:30am (January), 5:30am (February, March and October to December), 6am (April to September); closing times same as park gates

Telephone: 013 735 4000

Gold Reef City

Address: Johannesburg

Admission: R150 adults. Concessions and family tickets available Theme park: Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 5pm; open daily during Gauteng school holidays; closed on Christmas day

Telephone: 011 248 6800

Newtown Cultural Precinct

Address: Johannesburg

Admission: Free Museum Africa open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm

Johannesburg Zoo

Address: Jan Smuts Avenue, main public entrance on Upper Park Drive, Parkview Johannesburg

Admission: R50 (adults), R30 (children 3-12); other concessions available Daily 8:30am to 5:30pm

Telephone: 011 646 2000

Sterkfontein Caves

Address: Kromdraai Road, seven miles (12km) north of Krugersdorp Johannesburg

Admission: R120 (adults), R70 (children) Daily 9am to 5pm; tours run every 30 minutes until 4pm

Telephone: 014 577 9000

Hartbeespoort Dam

Address: Johannesburg

Telephone: 083 540 4000

Warmbaths

Address: Johannesburg

Palace of the Lost City

Address: Johannesburg

Telephone: 014 557 1000

SAB World of Beer

Address: Corner of President and Miriam Makeba Roads, Newtown Johannesburg

Admission: R30 Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am, last tour at 5pm.

Telephone: 011 836 4900

Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens

Address: end of Malcolm Road, Poortview, Roodepoort Johannesburg

Admission: R25 for adults, concessions available. Daily 8am to 6pm, no entry after 5pm.

Telephone: 086 100 1278

Melville

Address: West of the city centre Johannesburg

The Apartheid Museum

Address: Northern Parkway and Gold Reef Road, Ormonde, Johannesburg Johannesburg

Admission: R50 Adults, concessions available Tuesday to Sundays, 10am to 5pm

Telephone: 011 309 4700

Constitution Hill

Address: Constitutional Court, Johannesburg Johannesburg

Admission: Guided tours adults: R30. Concessions available Monday to Friday 9am-5pm (last tour at 4pm); Saturday 10am–3pm. Closed Sunday

Telephone: 011 381 3100

Hector Pieterson Memorial Site and Museum

Address: Hector Pieterson Sq., corner of Khumalo and Pela Sts., Orlando West, Soweto Johannesburg

Admission: Adults: R25, students: R5 Monday to Friday from 10am-5pm; Weekends 10am-4:30pm

Telephone: (011) 536 0611

Cradle of Humankind and Maropeng Visitor Centre

Address: Johannesburg

Admission: R115. R190 combination ticket (Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves). Concession available. Daily from 9am to 5pm

Telephone: 011 956 6342 (Sterkfontein Cave); 011 957 0106 (Wonder Cave)

Sun City

Address: Pilanesberg, in the North West Province (187km from Johannesburg). Johannesburg

Telephone: 014 557 1000

Unicorn Wish

Address: Partridge Road, Sun Valley Johannesburg

Admission: 8am to 5pm weekends, 10am to 5pm weekdays (closed on Wednesdays)

Telephone: 011 464 2424

Color Café

Address: Hyde Square Shopping Centre Johannesburg

Admission: Daily, 9am to 5pm

Telephone: 011 341 0734

Market Theatre

Address: Bree Street, Newtown Johannesburg

Admission: 11am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, 11am to 6pm on Saturdays; Closed on Sundays

Johannesburg Art Gallery

Address: Klein Street, Joubert Park Johannesburg

Admission: Free Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm

Rand Easter Show

Where: The Nasrec Expo Centre at the corner of Randshow and Nasrec Roads,Johannesburg

When: 22 April to 2 May 2011

Joy of Jazz Festival

Where: various venues in Newtown,Johannesburg

When: 25 - 27 August 2011

FNB Dance Umbrella

Where: various venues in the Johannesburg CBD: WITS Theatre Complex, Market Theatre, The Dance Factory, University of Johannesburg Arts Centre, Nelson Mandela Square and Mary Fitzgerald Square, Johannesburg Art Gallery,Johannesburg

When: 17 February - 4 March 2012

Vaal River Meander Wine Route

Where: Various estates along the Vaal River. Inventory available online,Johannesburg

When: 9 July to 14 August 2011

Gramadoelas

Address: Market Theatre Complex, Bree Street, Newtown Johannesburg

Food Type: Local

Moyo

Address: 5 Melrose Square, Melrose Arch Johannesburg

Food Type: African

Al Dente

Address: 173 Rochester Place, Rivonia Road, Morningside Johannesburg

Food Type: Italian

Linger Longer

Address: 58 Wierda Road West, Sandton Johannesburg

Food Type: International

Turtle Creek

Address: 58 Wierda Road, Wierda Valley Johannesburg

Food Type: Mediterranean

Wombles

Address: 17 3rd Avenue, Parktown North Johannesburg

Food Type: Steakhouse

Montego Bay

Address: Shop 31, Nelson Mandela Square, Rivonia Road, Sandton Johannesburg

Food Type: Seafood

Browns of Rivonia

Address: 21 Wessels Road, Rivonia Johannesburg

Food Type: International

Cool Runnings

Address: Fourways, Melville, Benoni Johannesburg

Food Type: Café