9 hours in johannesburg

hi! i will have 9 hours in johannesburg airport (daytime), waiting for my connecting flight. could someone recommend me something to do during this time? also, i've heard that the city is highly dangerous, is this true? is it dangerous to take a bus to downtown and walk around during the day, or is it not that bad? if you can tell me the number of the bus, or shuttle, etc, where to drop off, i would much appreciate it. thanks!! daniel

ok now i've read some of the comments and i get it that people are pissed off from answering if the city is unsafe. so could you then plaese let me know which bus or shuttle or train to take, and to which station/area of the city it would be nice to spend some hours: having a meal, walking around, seeing a couple of interesting things, and that type of visit. thanks again!

hm, there are a couple of backpacker hostels/lodges near by the airport (Purple Palms, Airport BP etc). Just contact them and ask them for a daylong stopover at their place... You can leave your hand luggage there and have a meal, hang around and get yourself prepared for the flight... There are actually some more hostels around the airport - just click through the links... I was too lazy... sorry http://www.travelcomments.com/traguide_hostel_gg.htm

Seb

Greetings - the "city" as a whole is not highly dangerous especially in the day - but like any other in the world, there are certain suburbs to stay out of. For entertainment very close to Joburg International Airport, you could visit Ceasars Casino - that has a variety of shops and restaurants. Alternatively, you could visit Gold Reef City (closed on mondays)in Joburg where you would probably enjoy yourself more as it is very safe and has a greater variety of things to do and see. Nearby there is the Apartheid Museum that is also interesting. Getting to Gold reef City may be expensive - there are no trains or busses from the airport to this destination and taxis are expensive.

The airport is not in JHB but about 30 min from the city. The only public transport from the airport is a bus that you will find outside the terminal going to a bus terminus close to JHB station. Not a very nice area and not much to see or do. Emperor's Palace is across the road from the technical area of the airport. Use to be Ceasar's. As Keith said gold Reef City would be more interesting but you will have to get a taxi and will take about an hour there and an hour back. If you are prepared to pay cab fare you can go to Montecasino in Fourways, stunning place, safe, lots to do or to Melville, Rosebank">Rosebank, Sandton. A lot of the hotels in these areas have shuttle busses that picks up passengers from the airport. Maybe you can con one of them to take you with. Getting back to the airport might just be a problem than.

If nothing else works out you can also take a cab to East Rand Mall. 10min from the airport. Not the same standard as Rosebank and Sandton city but enough to keep you busy for 9 hours. There is movies, lots of places to eat, tons of shops, a fleamarket, games areas, etc

Completely safe area. Do shopping there regularly.

Hope it helps a bit.

East Rand Mall can be seen here: www.eastrandmall.co.za

Have just called their info desk and they say the metered taxis are R80 to R90 to the airport. The metered taxi rank is at entrance 3 of the mall.

If you've decided not to venture out, go to the domestic arrivals and departures section of the airport, there's more shops and restaurants there and you can chat to local people.