Modern Johannesburg was born with the discovery of gold.
Almost overnight, it became one of the fastest-growing cities in the world as fortune-seekers rushed in.
The stories that make up the Joburg’s past shape its character today, rewarding visitors who venture beyond the sanitized streets of wealthy Sandton to discover the real heartbeat of Egoli, the “City of Gold,” as it is also known.
It has golden foundations
The richest city in South Africa, Joburg is also one of the biggest economies in Africa overall — its wealth built upon that discovery of gold in the late 1800s.
“There was no indigenous population, no water and the only reason for this city’s existence was the discovery of gold,” says Nechama Brodie, editor of The Joburg Book, a guide to the history of the city.
“It laid the foundation for everything else that happened, even the layout of the roads.”
–
The earliest residents can be traced back 3 million years — their presence preserved in a World Heritage Site called the Cradle of Humankind (+27 14 577 9000) 50 kilometers north of the city.
The area has been the scene of some of the world’s most important paleontological finds, including the perfectly preserved hominid skeleton “Little Foot.”
Maropeng, the visitor center housed within a giant grassy mound, has displays showing humankind’s journey through time.
You can also walk through the Sterkfontein Caves, scene of some of the most exciting archaeological finds in the area.
Museum Africa (121 Bree Street, Newtown; +27 11 833 5624) has a wide range of displays exploring Africa’s first civilizations.
Melville Koppies (Judith Road, Emmerentia; +27 11 482 4797), a nature reserve in the heart of Joburg with evidence of Stone Age settlements, is a good place to escape the hectic pace of the city. It’s inadvisable to go here alone, so join a guided walk.
