Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and is home to some of the nation's most interesting attractions. Johannesburg first began to prosper when gold was found nearby in the 1880s. This sparked a gold rush in which people from other parts of South Africa as well as several European countries immigrated to the area. Several important locales of note are the Apartheid Museum, Mandela House and The Lion Park.
The Lion Park was established in 1966 and is located in Gauteng-Tshwane. The park consists of two areas, one for herbivores and the other for carnivores. Many lions, other big cats, hyenas, giraffes and antelope live at the park. In addition, The Lion Park is home to several rare white lions. There are only 50 white lions in existence in South Africa and other zoos worldwide. Though white lions are not albinos, their coloration is a result of a recessive gene. Survivability for white lions in the wild is low, as their coat doesn't provide the same amount of camouflage as that of a normal lion. Visitors to The Lion Park can drive through four different camps to see animals up close in a natural setting or visit "cub world" for the chance to interact with lion cubs.
The Apartheid Museum is dedicated to documenting South Africa's history in the 20th century. Most of this history deals with apartheid, or racial segregation, which began in South Africa in 1948 and lasted until 1994. The museum contains artifacts, films and photographs relating the affect of apartheid on the individual lives of South Africa's citizens.
Mandela House was home to former South African president Nelson Mandela from 1946 to 1962. Nelson Mandela was the first president elected in South Africa in a truly democratic election. He is an anti-apartheid activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner. The interior of the house has been restored to the state in which the Mandela family lived. It contains artifacts from the former presidents life and ongoing legacy of freedom and equality. The house was declared a national monument in 1999.
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