Johannesburg Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Johannesburg

Johannesburg, or Joburg, or "City of Gold", as it is often informally called, is South Africa's largest city. The area's original inhabitants included hunter-gatherers from the San tribes and the Ndebele, a tribe associated with the Zulu. A gold rush in 1884 lead to Johannesburg's founding in 1886. Within a decade, the population had grown to 100,000 inhabitants.

Much of Johannesburg's modern construction occurred during the 1930s through the 1950s. The apartheid racial segregation system in place from 1948 saw opposition during the 1960s through 1980s that led to the dismantling of the apartheid system. Today, much of Johannesburg's inner-city area is a hub for the arts and shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Visitors interested in immersing themselves in local history will want to see The Old Fort complex, a former high-security prison going back to 1892. Johannesburg City Hall is an Edwardian Baroque building constructed between 1910 and 1914. Ansteys Tower, which dates to 1937, has an impressive Art Deco style.

Gandhi Square is a booming area of the city featuring a plaza with numerous shops and a statue commemorating Mahatma Gandhi. Joubert Park, the city's oldest park, is host to a mud building designed to demonstrate sustainable construction practices. The Johannesburg Art Gallery falls within the confines of this park, highlighting contemporary works from African artists and Dutch, British, and other European paintings spanning the 17th through 19th centuries.

This self-guided walking tour is an excellent way to get to know Johannesburg's history and most popular attractions.