Sandton, Soweto, and Everything Between
Johannesburg is a city of extraordinary contrasts. Within 25 kilometers, you can travel from Africa's wealthiest square mile to townships born from struggle. From gleaming skyscrapers to vibrant street markets. From corporate boardrooms to shisa nyama smoke.
This isn't inequality on display - it's a city still transforming, still bridging divides, still writing its story.
Experience the economic reality of Johannesburg's districts:
Africa's Richest Square Mile
Cappuccino
R45
($2.50 USD)
Restaurant Meal
R250
($14 USD)
Monthly Rent (1BR)
R18,000
($1,000 USD)
The Township with History
Coffee (Street)
R15
($0.80 USD)
Shisa Nyama Plate
R80
($4.50 USD)
Monthly Rent (Room)
R2,500
($140 USD)
Sandton is the financial heart of Africa. This is where deals are made, where the JSE (Johannesburg Stock Exchange) trades billions daily, and where the skyline rivals any global city.
Luxury shopping mall. Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Rolex. The playground of the wealthy.
Africa's tallest building (234m/768ft). Apartments selling for R50 million+.
Africa's largest stock exchange. Market cap: R20+ trillion ($1.1 trillion USD).
6-meter bronze statue of Madiba. Upscale restaurants and boutiques.
Locals call it "Africa's Richest Square Mile" - a play on London's famous financial district. It's not hyperbole. The concentration of wealth is staggering.
Soweto (South Western Townships) is where history was written. Home to over 1.3 million people, this is the birthplace of legends, the site of resistance, and a thriving cultural hub.
Former power station cooling towers, now painted in vibrant murals. Bungee jumping and abseiling destination.
The only street in the world where two Nobel Prize winners lived (Mandela and Tutu).
Street braais everywhere. Buy your meat, they grill it. Authentic township experience.
Minibus taxis are the lifeblood. 15 million trips daily across South Africa. Soweto is the hub.
"Soweto is not just a place - it's a state of mind. It's resilience, it's creativity, it's ubuntu (humanity towards others). It's where struggle became strength."
Maboneng (Place of Light) is Johannesburg's hipster heartland. Once a rundown industrial area, it's been transformed into loft apartments, art galleries, rooftop bars, and street markets.
Murals covering buildings. Open-air art galleries. Creative energy everywhere.
Artisan cafes, craft beer breweries, food markets. The young professional scene.
Converted warehouses into trendy apartments. Walking distance to everything.
Market on Main - food stalls, live music, crafts. The place to be on Sundays.
The Central Business District is where it all began in 1886. While Sandton stole the corporate crown in the 1990s, the CBD is experiencing renewal.
284m cable-stayed bridge connecting Braamfontein to Newtown. Iconic yellow lighting at night.
269m tall. Once a tourist attraction, now a telecommunications tower dominating the skyline.
Iconic cylindrical apartment tower (54 floors). Infamous in the 90s, now being renovated.
South Africa's highest court. Built on the site of the Old Fort Prison - justice from oppression.
Johannesburg's challenge and opportunity lie in bridging these worlds. Economic integration, spatial transformation, and shared prosperity are the goals of 2026 and beyond.
Gautrain connects Sandton to Soweto. BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) systems expand access. New developments aim to mix income levels. The city is slowly, imperfectly, building bridges.