Johannesburg -- City of Gold

There are some great spots to hit around Johannesburg, including Sandton City, the many top-notch shops, movie theaters, and top-class restaurants.

The suburb of Melville, an artsy area, is a great spot for the 20s and 30s crowd, very hip and quaint. From a Jamaican restaurant to an all-night restaurant to pool halls, coffee shops, and cigar rooms, it has something for everyone.

Johannesburg also has several casinos, including Caesars, near the airport, and one in Fourways Gardens, which looks like an old Italian village down to the cobblestone.

North of town is the Lipizzaner Centre; many people have heard of the world-famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna, and have delighted at the white stallions performing to music. Every Sunday at 11am in Kyalami, the team of lady riders perform with their Lipizzaner stallions. This is the only other school of performing Lipizzaner stallions in the world that''s approved by the Spanish Riding School.

Quick Tips:

Before going to Johannesburg, you may want to check out www.conferencejohannesburg.com/city.htm for tourist information. Please note that the 2003 Cricket World Cup is being held in South Africa, and that may affect getting around the country.

Johannesburg''s airport is regarded as the main airport in the country--in fact, in southern Africa--and is a great place to jump off from a visit to neighboring countries. If you''re nervous about learning your way around Joberg, request your hotel pick you up from the airport. The airport is at least 45 minutes from Rosebank/The Firs area, and between 45 minutes and an hour from Sandton, depending on the time of day.

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get around Johannesburg due to its sprawling nature is by rental car. Be warned, however, that there are extensive carjackings, and don''t ever leave anything in the car or even on the seat next to you whilst driving. At night, treat traffic lights and stop signs as yields; otherwise, take taxis, especially if you are not familiar with the streets.

Avoid downtown; if you do go downtown, organize for a driver or taxi, as there are many one-way streets and it''s very easy to become lost, especially at night.

Cellphones for security are a must-have and can be picked up at the airport.

The Butcher Shop is not family-friendly, in fact, there is a notice requesting no children under 14 years of age. The great thing is that adults can truly enjoy the ambience and great South African food.

This steakhouse is truly not somewhere you go for a salad or seafood, although you can get calamari, giant prawns, and normally there is a fish of the day. What people do go for are the steaks.

The average price of steak is about R65 depending on the cut and size (the exchange rate is about US$6.50). A first-class meal at bargain basement prices.

Please note the Butcher Shop only serves burgers at lunch time.

They also have an extensive alcohol list, and don't forget the cigar menu, it includes a selection from Cuba.

One final hint: you will be amazed at the knives they give you for the steaks, you may in fact want to pick up a set as a momento.

A Brazilian restaurant, Rodizio is probably one of the best examples of Johannesburg’s diversity. Attracting a wide and colorful range of patrons, this establishment has something to offer everyone. If you’re looking for live entertainment, Rodizio has it. If you’re looking for a dancing venue, Rodizio has it; satellite sports, Rodizio has it!

Rodizio offers a diverse mixture of music from the DJ and live Latin cabaret shows all of which are guaranteed to get you on your feet.

The decor puts you in the mood for an evening of fun and laughter. With bright, vibrant colors and artfully painted walls of colorful characters and Brazilian streets, you will soon see why!

The menu is excellent, great value and is about as diverse as its customers. From great steaks and grills to seafood, vegetarian dishes, and prawns, you will find something to tantalize the taste buds. If you’re going to try something different, be sure to check out Rodizio’s famous "eat as much as you can". Robots (wooden carvings - when the green side is showing it means keep bringing food, red means hang on a bit, my plate is overflowing) [you can turn it back to green when you're ready], or it can stand for enough [one more bite and I'll pop]).

Personally I opted for the very Brazilian special (named Rodizio), the as much as I could eat special. I skipped the pork and chicken dishes, but between the lamb and beef dishes was soon very full. The waiters bring the meat to the table on large skewers, you tell them how much you want. The special was also served savory rice, crisp potato chips, and fresh seasonal vegetables. These were replaced as we finished them. This is really good value for money at R65 p/p (less than US$8) for excellent food.

If you'd like a peak at the menu before going, it's available at this site.

Rodizio was voted as the best dinner and dance venue for 1999 and 2000.

It bustles during the day but evenings are when Rodizio really comes alive. A favorite with big parties, this is an establishment that teams with life at night. At Rodizio anything goes as long as you're having a great time and looking for fun.

They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 12:30am to 15:30pm, and 18:30pm till late. On Sundays they are open for lunch, and closed on Mondays. I suggest calling ahead not just for the reservation, but also because they will close the restaurant on occassion for functions. Also phone to find out which nights they have a ballroom couple come in to dance. It's highly enjoyable to watch.

This Vietnamese restaurant is tucked away on the upper lever of this small strip mall. At the entrance is a rickshaw and two leonine sentinels.

Saigon’s red and earthy colors are eye-catching. Flags, banners and lanterns, a calm central basin, walls adorned with bamboo lattices, hanging ferns, and stone deities and a show-kitchen at one end, all beneath a stark, hangar-like roof. Rattan-weave chairs and oil lamps impart a cozy informality.

We started with crystal (rice-paper) vegetable spring rolls filled with bean sprouts, shredded vegetables, and herbs and served with tangy black bean sauce. My grilled prawn mousse, a typical specialty, was actually more mince than mousse, bound by egg and clumped around two short sticks of sugar cane. It was served with leaves of mint and basil (for flavor) and lettuce (for wrapping). Dip the leaves in fish sauce and chili paste. Then suck the sweet cane for contrast.

Kingklip chunks, simmered in a clay pot in caramel and pepper sauce, were superbly cooked, textured and tasty, again ideal with a dab of chili. Equally simple and just as good was the stir-fried pork and pumpkin. The pieces were flat and firm, done in not-over-rich coconut cream and lemongrass. With these, we ordered stir-fried rice and noodles dishes, the latter mingled with crispy bean sprouts.

Having been to this restaurant several times I must say that my all time favorite is the Duck in Plum sauce on a bed of greens. Do give that a try.

Desserts were not as good as the rest of the meal.

There appears to be a Spur just about around every corner in South Africa. This being the one closest to my old job, it was the one I most frequently went to. Out of the many times I ate there, only a couple of times was the food not particularly good.

I was particularly fond of the steaks, which will run you about R40 to R50. They come with chips and used to also come with onion rings.

Most people go for the burgers. The original 140-gram burger will run you about R22 (about US$3), while the mushroom burger will run about R27 and the double burger R32 (about US$3.50).

There is, of course, a kids'' menu. Children will definitely like Spur and there is almost invariably the sort of children''s play area set up outside most Spurs as there are outside McDonald''s in the U.S.

Designed to replicate an ancient Tuscan hilltop village, something is always on the go at the Montecasino Village. Entry to the actual casino area is via three bridges which span the stream dividing the casino from the variety of family entertainments and the village in the rest of the complex. Each bridge has security controls--ensuring that no one under 18 years old has access to the adult casino playground.

There is an online events calendar (http://196.15.128.216/frameset_find.html). You can always leave the kids in the Bambini Creche while you experience what Montecasino has on offer, or if they're old enough, they'll find plenty to keep them occupied while you indulge in more adult pursuits!

The casino will also provide a shuttle service if you're having trouble getting there.

North of Johannesburg is one of the more unusual game parks in the region. The 200-hectare lion reserve features more than 60 lions, and the population is growing. Visitors drive along a (one-way) winding road through the game area, where they may see black wildebeest, gemsbok, impala, blesbok, zebra, and ostrich. Thereafter, they travel through the lion area. The lion park is open daily between 8am and 4:30pm.

To reach the park from Johannesburg, drive to Fourways, north of Bryanston, and then follow the signs towards the Pretoria/Krugersdorp road and turn left.

While America may have the Disney, Universal and Six Flag theme parks, Johanessburg's Gold Reef City has a magic all of its own.

Aside from the rides there are also robotic shows, clowns, bands, tribal dancing displays, magicians, can-can girls, strolling minstrels, gumboot dancers and even a mini farm.

Gold and the history of Johannesburg are intertwined. The discovery of gold in the late 1890's led to a gold rush by prospectors from all over the world to the area now known as Johannesburg in the province of Gauteng.

Gold Reef City reflects the history of the discovery of Gold and style of life to those who worked on the mines. The center of the City is Shaft Number 14 which was started in 1887 and only closed as a working mine in 1971.

This mine now offers escorted underground tours which show mining techniques of the early 1900's and those of today. On surface the actual pouring of gold can be seen.

Be sure to visit the original old chapel, where you can in fact be married. The hotel is a great place for lunch and don't forget to stop in to see how old newspapers were put together.

R50 p/p (about US$6) includes minor rides, plus all shows and entertainment, to enjoy the major rides a wristband can be purchased at an additional cost of R15 p/p. Mine tours are optional and cost an extra R40 p/p. The cost for senior citizens is R32 p/p. On weekends, school holidays and public holidays the cost goes up to R65 per person. Children under the age of six years are not allowed on mine tours. Parking is free.