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Johannesburg Day 2 - I’ll be back!!!

Again we found ourselves on route further north of Johannesburg city centre, this time to Dunkled West where the Backpackers Ritz is situated. This unbelievable mansion set upon a wonderful little koppie is just beautiful. With a lovely huge garden and plenty of room and a couple of crazy huge dorms it’s a fantastic place.

Along with these huge circular dorms there is a lovely quaint little bar situated a little underground. It’s a lovely place to escape to for a refreshing drink when the sun gets a bit too warm.

All in all there are a total of 88 beds and in my opinion this would be the most ideal location for any group to stay. With a beautiful blue pool and a breath taking view of the city and all the facilities you could possibly need its perfect. There are plenty of exciting places to visit in this area, including great clubs and bars and some out of this world shopping opportunities such as the Rosebank roof top market.

A little further back up Jan Smuts Avenue is Africa’s Zoo Lodge. This property is a typical old Johannesburg home with wooden floors and some delightful decoration. With a cosy lounge area and pool table and ample room it’s a fine choice.

As mentioned before it is situated on Jan Smuts Avenue which allows one great access to a variety of fantastic clubs, pubs, bars and restaurants, not to mention it’s conveniently located near to two great shopping malls.

This property has a fantastic huge pool with a large patio next to it where you can enjoy the sun and relax while smelling the fantastic scent of the regular braai’s.

Johannesburg is definitely a place one should visit at least once, however when doing so make sure your trip is carefully planned as the city is beautiful and full of character but there is still very much an element of crime within the capital so one should always be aware. There are many great tour operators which can ensure you safety by escorting you from destination to destination with street smart tour guides. One great tour company that is definitely worth a mention is the Baz Bus. Their service allows you to travel all over the country at your own pace but with the knowledge that you are in experienced and safe hands.

Whether you visit Johannesburg whilst en-route to Cape Town or just before you fly back home make sure you visit the Apartheid Museum and the new city centre and see the Nelson Mandela Bridge as well as the beautiful statue of Madiba at Sandton Square in Johannesburg.

After all the visits around the city it was time for me to pack up my things and head to the airport myself to fly back to London. From the beautiful warm weather in South Africa to the now very cold UK it was a bit of shock to the system when I arrived back. More than anything though it was sad to say goodbye to my parents and friends back in Johannesburg but no doubt I will be visiting again in the not too distant future.