It is a region that was built on gold. Gold had been found in the area as far back as but it was not until that anyone realized just how big the gold reserves were. By Greater Johannesburg had grown into a rowdy frontier town full of brothels, beer halls and gambling dens. In that year alone more than ounces were recovered from the reef. To the North of central Johannesburg lies Sandton City, a vast complex of hotels, shopping malls and banks all under one roof.
This is, without doubt, the finest shopping complex in Africa and one of the world's finest shopping malls, with over stores and shops gathered together under one roof. Sandton has become the new business centre of Greater Johannesburg as most of the big institutions have moved out of the old Johannesburg CBD. Sandton also boasts four nature reserves, two bird sanctuaries and five river trails.
Entertainment in the area includes the Montecasino Leisure Complex in Fourways. Midrand is situated just to the North of the N1 highway that circles Johannesburg and is bordered by Centurion in the North. Because of its position halfway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, Midrand has become the most attractive area for industrial and commercial development, and Africa's largest mall is planned to be built there in the near future.
The whole of the rural area around Midrand is devoted to equestrian pursuits and there is a Lippizaner showground arena with regular shows of these famous horses.
In the Kyalami suburb of Midrand is the famous motor racing circuit where regular meetings are held. There are bird sanctuaries in the suburbs of Glen Austin and Beaulieu. There are two film production studios on the Old Pretoria Road in Midrand. The number of tourist attractions in Greater Johannesburg are too numerous to list all of them, and can be seen suburb by suburb. There are several live theatres including the large new Johannesburg Civic Theatre, numerous cinemas, helicopter trips, the Johannesburg Zoo , theme parks, craft markets galore, such as the Rosebank African Craft Market and flea markets in several different parts of Greater Johannesburg, including the Bruma Flea Market near Bedfordview.
