Johannesburg

Key points and character – Sandton: Africa’s richest financial, banking and business district, houses the headquarters of major commercial and state funding institutions, local and international. However, the area is also home to one of the largest de luxe shopping malls on the continent, Sandton City/Nelson Mandela Square, where a great mix of local much-loved SA brands (such as Woolworths, Mr Price and hypermarkets like Game and Pick 'n Pay) may be found alongside most 'big name' global luxury brands.

Key points and character – Old Johannesburg CBD: Although most of South Africa’s large business and banking institutions have moved their head offices to Sandton, the old CBD remains home to traditional mining houses such as Anglo American, as well as some banks and major firms. It is highly recommended that first time visitors take a half-day walking tour of the city's historic downtown area, which dates from 1886, the date of the great gold strike. The tour takes participants past various neighbourhoods, including the grand pedestrian walkway of Edwardian Main Street, home for much of the 20th century to the country's gargantuan reserves of mining capital.

Key points and character – Rosebank: Rosebank has become a major regional nodal centre for some of South Africa's major corporations (Standard Bank for example, which has just built a huge new campus in Rosebank), but it is, equally, a popular leisure destination, with its low-rise expanded luxury mall and shaded open courtyards that play up the city's fabulous weather. Rosebank has a selection of great restaurants, many funky shops and luxury brands, as well as a branch of SA's art house movie chain, Cinema Nouveau, making it a key destination for meeting friends and socialising at any time of the day or evening.

Key points and character – Hyde Park Corner: Hyde Park is a small, extremely exclusive enclosed mall offering a selection of top luxury brands, some great restaurants and a luxurious, high-end boutique cinema complex.