Johannesburg is the capital of South Africas smallest - and richest - province, called Gauteng, a Sesotho name meaning "Place of Gold". Gauteng makes up just 1,4% of South Africas land area, but it is home to more than a fifth of the population and produces a third of the countrys wealth. Gauteng is predominantly urban, consisting chiefly of industrial and mining satellite towns surrounding the twin cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Johannesburg is one of the worlds few large metropolitan areas to be based on neither an ocean port nor a major river. The sea is a six hour drive to the east. The nearest major river. the Vaal River, is a two hour drive to the south. Ironically, the city is ranked as the biggest port in southern Africa, thanks to an export/import railway freight facility called City Deep.

Johannesburg sits on a high-altitude inland plateau 1 753 metres (6 000 feet) above sea level.
The weathers balmy 10 months of the year, generally warm, but not as stiflingly hot as many other African cities. Nights however, can be chilly, particularly in winter. Seasons are the reverse of the northern hemisphere, with summer from October to March, and winter from June to August.