Johannesburg sits high on a plateau at about 1,750m, so it has a mild, dry climate and rarely gets oppressively hot. The best months are the dry, sunny autumn and winter (April to September): days are clear and around 16-22C, nights are cold (sometimes near freezing in June and July), and the lack of foliage actually makes wildlife easier to spot on nearby safaris. Summer (November to March) is warmer and greener but brings dramatic late-afternoon thunderstorms most days. Avoid arriving during nothing in particular and instead try to catch the Joburg Jazz scene year-round; Heritage Day (24 September) and Freedom Day (27 April) are good cultural moments to be in town.

Almost everyone arrives at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), Africa's busiest, about 25km east of the city. The Gautrain, a fast, clean, modern rail line, runs from the airport to Sandton, Rosebank, and Pretoria and is the smartest way into town (roughly R200 to Sandton, around 15 minutes). For everything else, use ride-hail: Uber and Bolt are cheap, reliable, and the default way locals get around. Johannesburg is sprawling and car-dependent, so do not plan to walk between neighborhoods; walking is for within precincts like Maboneng, Braamfontein, or Rosebank by day. Avoid minibus taxis unless you know the system, and do not wander unfamiliar areas on foot after dark.