Jo’burg, as it’s more commonly known, is without a doubt the electrical starting point of the South African central nervous system. Not only is it the economic epicentre of the country and the foremost financial centre on the African continent, but it’s also recognised globally as the stage on which much of the country’s tumultuous history has played out.

Expats moving to Johannesburg will find a city with a personality as complicated as that of the elusive Dr. Jekyll and Hyde; it’s at once a metropolis who’s vibrancy, fast pace and continuous growth can be marred by a darker side; riddled by crime and extreme poverty.

Still, for many South Africans it’s the land of opportunity where thousands flock every year in the hope of achieving their professional ambitions and negotiating a higher standard of living for themselves and their families.

The pace of life in Jo'burg can be frenetic as business people pursue their ambitions and consumers shop with apparent disregard for their high levels of debt. Johannesburg is known to locals as Egoli (Place of Gold), a reference to the concentration of gold below the ground and the proliferation of wealth above it.

There are some downsides to the lifestyle in Johannesburg: with no viable public transport, barring the kamikaze-propelled minibus taxis, and walking unadvised due to safety concerns and the large distances, owning a car is essential. There are few parks, lakes or rivers where residents can relax; instead, locals head to the mega malls for shopping, socialising and movie watching.

Johannesburg is not without beauty though. The affluent suburbs are spacious, leafy and quiet, and beyond the electrified fences, one can find landscaped gardens of Edenic splendour. For those that can afford to live in these safe and bucolic neighbourhoods, Johannesburg offers an exceptionally high standard of living coupled with great economic opportunity.

 

It is, however, a city with a reputation for violence and crime. Happily, the crime rate has dropped substantially over the past few years and with basic precaution and adequate home security you can maximise your levels of safety.

 

Expats often remark on the ideal climate that Johannesburg enjoys, and the weather is certainly one major attraction for many people moving to Johannesburg. (This is far different from the capricious weather of Cape Town in the south.) Johannesburg has summers of long, hot days and unblemished blue skies, with spectacular late afternoon thunderstorms; winters feature bitterly cold mornings resolving into dry, warm days.