Jo burg, the capital of the region Gauteng, is a fascinating city with a modern centre, combining its ways with the older surroundings.

It is a very modern city by African standards. Sights in Johannesburg include the new Museum Africa, which offers an honest and self-critical look at the nation's sometimes troubled past and the Market Theater Complex which houses theaters and a Saturday flea market.

There are many things that are unique to Johannesburg. It features a distinct street entrepreneurship, and motorists are able to buy almost anything from vendors selling goods at traffic lights. This includes food, umbrellas, soccer balls, cellular phone accessories and many other goods. Barber shops consisting of nothing but a chair and an enthusiastic barber can be found on the sides of roads.

History buffs will be interested in the Smuts Library at the University of the Witwatersrand where South African statesman Jan Smuts book collection is preserved. The university's Gubbins Library has an extensive collection of books on Africa.

Tours are easily arranged in Johannesburg for those interested in visiting the suburb of Soweto (the name is an abbreviation of Southwestern Townships). The tours begin with the ultramodern township hospital and continue through all types of neighborhoods ranging from shanty towns and worker's hostels to the modern home of Nelson Mandela (he lived there for only a short while upon his release from prison). The tour also includes Mandela's earlier and more humble home where he lived when he was arrested more than 30 years ago. For us the most striking sight was a functioning high school with every single window broken and, surrounded by razor-wire fences. Also consider visiting Oriental Plaza, a shopping complex, where the majority of shop owners are South African Indians.