Johannesburg & Pretoria
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by
population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa,
having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa. The city is one of the
40 largest metropolitan areas in the world, and is also the world's largest city not situated on a river,
lake, or coastline. It claims to be the lightning capital of the world, though this title is also claimed by
others. The city is the source of a large-scale gold and diamond trade, due to its location on the
mineral-rich Witwatersrand range of hills. Johannesburg is served by O.R. Tambo International
Airport, the largest and busiest airport in Africa and a gateway for international air travel to and from
the rest of Southern Africa. The city enjoys a dry, sunny climate with late afternoon thundershowers
in the summer months of October to April. Winter is the sunniest time of the year, with mild days and
cool nights, dropping to 4.1 °C (39.4 °F) in June and July. The temperature occasionally drops to
below freezing at night, causing frost. Johannesburg has over ten million trees, and it is now the
biggest man-made forest in the world. Johannesburg's residential areas range from luxurious, wooded
suburbs, to shanty towns and squatter settlements. The population of Johannesburg is around 7
million.
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, approximately 50 km (31 mi) north of Johannesburg. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive (administrative) and de facto national capital, it also hosts the foreign embassies and diplomatic missions. Pretoria in South Africa is popularly known as "The Jacaranda City" due to the thousands of Jacaranda trees planted in its streets, parks and gardens. It lies at an altitude of about 1,350 m (4,500 ft) above sea level, in a warm, sheltered, fertile valley, surrounded by the hills of the Magaliesberg range.
