As cooler months approach in the Northern Hemisphere, warm climates in the Southern Hemisphere start to look ever more attractive. With a warm climate almost year-round and a growing economy, Johannesburg is becoming an increasinglypopular destination.
With a population of roughly 8 million, airports are available in various parts of the metropolitan area. If you are traveling to Johannesburg on a business aviation trip, inflight catering is available for your departing flights from Rand Airport (FAGM), O. R. Tambo International Airport (FAOR), Grand Central Airport (FAGC) and Lanseria International Airport (FALA) through the Air Culinaire Worldwide Network.
If you have extra time to explore, you will find that the majority of the population speaks English and Afrikaans (similar to Dutch), and English is widely understood. The weather in Johannesburg makes for a busy events calendar, with annual happenings like the Joy of Jazz (held each September); Dance Umbrella, a contemporary dance festival (held each February); and the Arts Alive Festival (held at the beginning of spring each year in September).
For the more adventurous, Johannesburg has safaris available through a number of tour groups. Also of interest are the various caves and ancient sites where fossils up to 2 million years old have been discovered. The area known as the “Cradle of Humankind” is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 200 caves. Some of the more popular sites are the Wonder Cave and Sterkfontein Caves; both of which are about an hour from the city.
South African cuisine is quite unique due to the mix of cultural influences that have occurred throughout the country’s history. Here you will find samosas (the same as Indian samosas), bobotie (a dish of curried minced meat; of Malay origin) alongside distinctly African items like ting (sour porridge) and snoek (a popular type of fish from off the coast). Tea lovers will want to stock up on rooibos (translates to “red bush”) tea while in South Africa, since it originates here. Some popular restaurants are Five Hundred, known for experimental four- and six-course contemporary dining (located in the Saxon Hotel); The Grillhouse Rosebank, consistently voted as the best steakhouse in the city; and Cube Kitchen for a memorable three-hour tasting experience.
Questions?
If you have any questions about this article or in-flight catering in South Africa, contact weborders@airculinaire.com.
