A Digital Nomad Guide to Johannesburg

A Digital Nomad Guide to Johannesburg Read on for the ultimate guide to digital nomadism in Johannesburg.

Planning a Digital Nomad trip to Johannesburg? Asia was the original boom destination for digital nomads, with most moving to Bali. But this has changed to Africa taking the lead. Major technological advances in recent years have made African cities focus on startups, coworking spaces, internet connectivity and wireless infrastructure.

Africa has a lot to offer digital nomads, and there’s no better place for your first foray into the continent than Johannesburg. The biggest city in South Africa, Johannesburg has been consistently ranked among the best cities for nomads to live in Africa, and with good reason.

An up-and-coming nomad destination, Johannesburg is the perfect gateway to South Africa’s major attractions. It’s also a great place to

work remotely, and boasts a delicious restaurant scene with vegan/ vegetarian options, coworking opportunities and lots of unique things to see and do.

Why Johannesburg?

A hip and modern cultural and business hub, Johannesburg is the ideal destination for digital nomads. Vibrant and dynamic, the “City of Gold� has changed a lot in recent years: new, hip neighborhoods have popped up, artists and other creatives are increasingly moving to the city and it is getting safer.

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As a regional tech hub, Johannesburg has great infrastructure to accommodate digital nomads, remote workers and entrepreneurs.

As a cultural hub of South Africa, Johannesburg is a great destination to experience and appreciate the country’s rich diversity.

As the economic capital of southern Africa, all major roads and flight routes lead into and out of Johannesburg, making it a great base for exploring the rest of the country and the region.

The Best Time to Visit Johannesburg The best time for digital nomads to visit Johannesburg is during the low seasons that stretch from March to May and from September to November. During these periods, the crowds are fewer, prices are lower and the weather is pleasantly warm and dry.

Cost of Living Digital Nomad in Johannesburg can live comfortably without breaking the bank. The city is pretty affordable for general lifestyle purchases such as food, transport, accommodation and entertainment. The average cost of living in Johannesburg is US $1,500 per month.

Getting Around Although Johannesburg has multiple public transit and taxi options, the best way to get around the city is by car. For safety reasons, walking around the lower-income neighborhoods of Johannesburg or to the city’s main attractions is discouraged. Uber service is available in Johannesburg.

Internet Johannesburg enjoys reliable internet connectivity with fast speeds of up to 25Mbps. Most accommodation and coffee shops around the city offer strong Wi-Fi free of charge. As such, nomads visiting Johannesburg can work from their Airbnb apartment, their favorite café or coworking space.

Coworking Johannesburg boasts an array of comfy coworking spaces where nomads can connect with diverse professionals and share ideas, skills and knowledge. There are also opportunities for networking and collaborations that could foster professional development.

The best coworking spaces for a digital nomad in Johannesburg are: •

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Workshop17 Firestation: Located in Rosebank, Workshop17 is a beautifully designed coworking space that offers flexible membership plans with both day passes and monthly rates.

Boasting uninterrupted views over the Johannesburg city skyline, this modern workspace provides dedicated offices with hot desks, meeting rooms, lounge areas and a café.

JoziHub: Located in Braamfontein, JoziHub is so much more than just a coworking space. It is a creative space ideal for sharing ideas and collaborating with like-minded entrepreneurs. Members enjoy access to lots of desks, private boardrooms and presentation equipment. You can also network with trendsetters and attend inspiring events and workshops.

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Perch: Located in Rosebank, Perch offers a comfy workspace on a flexible or short-term basis, making it ideal for startups, freelancers, entrepreneurs and independent professionals.

Remote workers can choose from hot desks, dedicated desks, private offices and meeting rooms. There are also many restaurants and cafés nearby where you can get a bite to eat on your lunch break.

Digital Nomad-Friendly Cafés Digital nomads who prefer to work from cafés can choose from a variety of spots in Johannesburg that perfectly meet the needs of remote workers, with good coffee, a great ambience, abundant electrical sockets and fast, stable Wi-Fi. The best digital nomad-friendly cafés in Johannesburg are: •

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Motherland Coffee Co.: Located in Rosebank, Motherland Coffee is an ideal out-of-office workspace that offers 2 hours of free Wi-Fi. The café serves coffee sourced exclusively from countries of the Motherland – Africa, along with a range of delicious salads, sandwiches, and baked goods that are made daily in store.

Doubleshot Coffee & Tea: Located in Braamfontein, Doubleshot Coffee & Tea is a small-batch coffee roastery that also specializes in freshly-brewed craft iced tea, tea lattes, and an array of delicious pastries. Remote workers can pull up a chair near the window and soak up all that the vibrant Braamfontein neighborhood has to offer for the ultimate creative inspiration.

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The Whippet: Located in Linden, The Whippet is popular for its impressive bistro-style breakfast and lunch menus. The atmosphere is always lively and ideal for getting together with co-workers and exchanging ideas. The long communal tables are perfect for large groups while the benches against the wall often host individuals with laptops. The bonus here is the free Wi-Fi!

Vegan/ Vegetarian-Friendly Cafés & Restaurants Johannesburg is a vegan/ vegetarian-friendly city with an array of fantastic restaurants and cafes that cater to vegans and vegetarians with delicious food options. From breakfast to brunch, dinner and lunch, Joburg’s selection of eateries is guaranteed to deliver the best plant-based dining experience.

The best vegan/ vegetarian restaurants and cafés which a digital nomad can explore in Johannesburg are: •

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Free Food (Vegan): Free Food is a small restaurant that offers delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes at a reasonable price. All their food is soy-free, gluten-free, and made without any additives or preservatives. Foodies can sample from a selection of wraps and bean burger patties. Their vegan ice cream is a must!

Fresh Earth Food Store (Vegetarian): Fresh Earth Food Store serves healthy and nutritious vegetarian dishes prepared from scratch using all-natural and organic ingredients, without any additives or preservatives. In addition to their delicious vegetarian treats, you can shop for healthy groceries at their store.

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The Greenside Café (Vegan): The Greenside Café serves fresh and tasty vegan cuisine that will sway even the most committed carnivore. Their wide selection of healthy dishes includes salads, wraps, nut bakes and pasta ribbons, as well as fresh juices. Be sure to try their French pizza with mustard, tomato, onion and avocado.

Health Food Stores & Markets Health conscious nomads will be satisfied by the choice of natural foods and organic products available at Johannesburg’s health food stores. The city also hosts a slew of markets where you can find fresh produce, including seasonal fruits and vegetables.

The best health food stores and markets in Johannesburg are: •

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Wellness Warehouse (Health Food Store): Wellness Warehouse is a natural and health food market chain that stocks a wide selection of natural, organic and healthy food, lifestyle and beauty products. Their stores also hosts the Wellness Café, which offers vegan options.

Fourways Farmers Market (Farmers’ Market): The Fourways Farmers Market is especially popular on Sundays, when locals flock for breakfast, as well as to purchase some of the finest local artisanal products and fresh fruit and vegetables sourced from farms that fringe the city.

Yo Co Vegan Ice Cream (Vegan Shop): Located in Maboneng, Yo Co Vegan Ice Cream makes vegan ice cream by hand using organic fruits. All their ice creams are both dairy-free and eggfree, and they also don’t use refined sugar.

Accommodation Johannesburg has several good neighborhoods for digital nomads to stay. These are the nicest and safest parts of the city that boast good infrastructure, while remaining affordable and offering a myriad of spaces to work from.

The best neighborhoods for a digital nomad in Johannesburg for digital nomads are: •

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Maboneng & Braamfontein: Located in the Central Business District (CBD), Maboneng and Braamfontein are among the coolest neighborhoods in Johannesburg, featuring many hip restaurants, cafes, shops and modern apartments. The Johannesburg CBD is also famous for its nightlife, with a great selection of bars and nightclubs.

Rosebank & Parktown: Some of Johannesburg’s oldest and grandest suburbs, Rosebank and Park are lovely neighborhoods situated near the city center. Rosebank has many free-standing properties with big parks, restaurants and smaller village-like communities. Parktown is characterized by large, elegant houses on streets lined with colorful jacaranda trees.

Melville & Northcliff: The suburbs of Melville and Northcliff boast some of the city’s most beautiful scenery. Northcliff Hill is especially stunning with its winding roads and beautiful houses nestled on the slopes. Melville is trendier with a bohemian vibe, a lively nightlife, and lots of street cafés, unique restaurants, antique shops and used-book stores.

Fitness

A fitness lover’s dream, Johannesburg has something for everyone when it comes to gyms and workouts. Staying fit is easy thanks to the many activities available, such as hiking, biking, running, swimming and rock-climbing.

For nomads that prefer the structure and convenience of a gym, Johannesburg offers a plethora of good venues that will inspire you to work-out every day, so as to keep you fit in between working and exploring.

The best gyms where a digital nomad can go to in Johannesburg are: •

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Roark Gym: Workouts at Roark comprise of a warm up, strength program and high-intensity interval and cardiovascular work. Focused on functional training, Roark uses a variety of machines, weights and movements to produce the best possible results for clients.

Virgin Active: The largest gym franchise in South Africa, Virgin Active has several branches in Johannesburg. The gyms vary in size, but are all fully-equipped to offer a wide range of fitness activities, ranging from classes, swimming and squash facilities.

Planet Fitness: Planet Fitness offers world-class facilities including a state-of-the-art cardio room. Innovative workout classes enable enthusiasts to make fitness fun by trying out new trends such as power boxing, aqua-thai-chi, or bosu (workouts that utilize a stability ball).

Things to See & Do

Because the digital nomad lifestyle involves spending a lot of time staring at your laptop screen, it is important to regularly take a step back and unplug. Achieving the perfect work-life balance couldn’t be easier than in Johannesburg, which offers many ways to kick back.

The best things to see and do for a digital nomad in Johannesburg are: •

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Apartheid Museum: The first of its kind, the Apartheid Museum illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid. Here, visitors can gain insights into South Africa’s turbulent past through exhibits that bring many of the country’s landmark events into stark relief.

Constitution Hill: Constitution Hill is a living museum that tells the story of South Africa’s journey to democracy. A former prison and military fort, the site bears testament to South Africa’s turbulent past and is today home to the country’s Constitutional Court.

Soweto: No trip to Johannesburg would be complete without a tour of Soweto, the city’s largest township. Soweto’s biggest attractions are the anti-apartheid struggle sites, including the Mandela House Museum and the Hector Pietersen Museum.

Maboneng: The trendiest spot in Johannesburg, Maboneng Precinct is a great place to spend Friday nights. Also visit on Sundays to attend Market on Main, a bustling market that sells everything from tasty food to locally-designed clothing and jewelry. The market is set on the Arts on Main complex, which hosts a slew of art galleries.

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Melville Koppies Nature Reserve: Boasting ridges that have looked exactly the same for hundreds of years, the Melville Koppies Nature Reserve offers a great hiking spot close to the city center, among rich indigenous vegetation comprising highveld grasses, flowers and trees.

The Neighbourgoods Market: Held every Saturday at Braamfontein, The Neighbourgoods Market is a cool hangout spot that brings together Johannesburg’s finest designers, artisanal producers, organic merchants and local farmers to sell their delicious wares.

Beyond Johannesburg A Digital Nomad looking to venture outside of Johannesburg can explore South Africa’s biggest attraction – the Kruger National Park.

The world-famous park offers spectacular safari game drives where you can see the “Big Five” animals and experience the African wilderness.

The best way to visit the national park is by renting a car and taking a scenic 5-hour drive along the Panorama Route. For the ultimate safari experience, plan to spend a minimum of 5 nights at Kruger National Park.

So what are you waiting for? Book your next digital nomad trip to Johannesburg today! For more updates on the best digital nomadic destinations, do check out our digital nomad travel blog.