After more than a month of traversing the country and exploring its many natural wonders, the Xtractor expedition finally made it to South Africa’s main urban center and undisputed economic engine: Johannesburg. Commonly known as Jo’burg and Jozi, this city is home to almost 9 million people. It rose to prominence on the strength of gold mining, becoming a manufacturing and financial hub as well. This is also the place that the great Nelson Mandela called home, first as a lawyer fighting against apartheid, and later after his release from prison. Just to the south lies Soweto: the uprising there in 1976 was a defining moment in the anti-apartheid struggle. We relished the opportunity to soak up all this history.