Many travellers will overlook this South African city in favour of coastal Cape Town. But it’s a mistake to trade one for the other, as they are entirely different beasts.

Johannesburg is South Africa’s true cultural heart. It’s where the country’s movers and shakers birth new musical genres (most recently, Amapiano), open world-class galleries (Gallery MOMO and Wits Art Museum are regional agenda-setters), and drive South Africa ever forward.

But this vibrant city isn’t just about the future – it also reckons deeply with its past. The Apartheid Museum offers a window into an era of officially sanctioned segregation, with deeply moving exhibitions that contextualise modern South Africa. At Constitution Hill, you can glimpse the two-tier justice system that subjugated the country’s black residents. A tour through the Southwestern Townships offers a glimpse of the black rebels’ struggle for democracy.

Though local history may be blighted by darkness, the Johannesburg of today is optimistic, fast moving, and a lot of fun. Uber-cool Maboneng is lousy with third-wave coffee shops and lively bars. Chic boutiques stocking locally made tat line the streets of Hyde Park. And live music joints like Bassline and Carfax cement Joburg’s status as a hub for music.

Best of all, you’re only a hop-skip from some of the world’s best game spotting. The outer fringes of South Africa’s largest safari park, Kruger National Park, are accessible by day trip; ditto the more bijou Bothongo Rhino and Lion National Reserve. Jo’burg’s blending of forward-thinking culture and bucket-list nature make it one of the most enchanting cities on the African continent.