Nobody expect, Johannesburg attracts expats looking to accomplish a lot and integrate quickly, bursting with the energy and pace of a big city but with the friendliness town.

 “The thing I love most about Joburg is that it is a city of opportunity,” said Crystal Espin, originally from Cape Town and founder of local blog Joburg’s Darling. “You get the feeling that everyone is here to make something of themselves.”

 Gerrard Hattfield, originally from Cape Town and founder of travel site Flight Factory, agrees, calling the city ‘The Silicon Valley of South Africa’. He explained that “compared to Cape Town, which is more laid back, Joburg is extremely hard working.”

 South Africa’s largest city has significantly invested in the growth of small businesses, with the creation of the Ministry of Small Business Development in 2014. The city also recently hosted The Global Entrepreneurship Congress, which brought together entrepreneurs, investors and researchers from 165 countries to discuss start-up strategies and policy ideas. Other large and growing industries in the city include financial services, mining, telecommunications and biomedical research.
Though industrious residents are often rushing to get to work or their next meeting, when they do slow down they’re known to be extremely friendly.
“It is very easy to start a conversation with strangers in Johannesburg, and this can lead to all sorts of interesting opportunities,” said Jean Bernard, originally from Cape Town, where he says it is much more difficult for newcomers to break into society.
A strong ‘going-out’ culture makes it easy to mingle after work and on the weekends. “Around 8pm, most people have stopped working and the bars and restaurants start filling up,” Hattfield said. Since the perpetually sunny weather means the outdoor spaces fill up fastest, he suggests The Living Room, a popular rooftop bar in the city, for cocktails.
Despite the city’s always-on energy, residents remain welcoming to all. “I still remember the day we moved in; about 30 minutes later we got a knock on our door and the neighbours introduced themselves and welcomed us,” Hattfield said. “After five years here, we have experienced that most of the residents in Johannesburg always have a smile on their face.”

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