With its tall office buildings, busy lifestyle and diversity of cultures, the South African city of Johannesburg that Ms Zanele Makina describes sounds, strangely enough, rather like Singapore.

'But it's a lot larger,' the 48-year-old South African High Commissioner to Singapore says. 'And people don't work as hard as they do in Singapore.'

Ms Zanele Makina

Born in the South African city of Durban in 1959, Ms Makina has lived in other cities there like Port Elizabeth and Buffalo City, but not Johannesburg. Still, her familiarity with the City of Gold stems from spending most of her school holidays there with her grandmother.

In 2004, she moved to Singapore to take up her current posting. She returns to Johannesburg three times a year.

Here are her six recommendations to having a good time there.

1. Watch a boxing match at Emperors Palace Casino.

In this boxing-crazy country that has produced several international champions, boxing matches are often held in stadiums of up to 10,000 people.

To catch a piece of the action, head to Emperors Palace Casino in Gauteng, where amateur and professional matches are held almost every weekend.

A famous boxer who has competed there is Laila Ali, daughter of the legendary Muhammad Ali.

2. Drive cross-country instead of flying.

Opt for wheels over wings if you're travelling between cities to truly experience South Africa. You'll see herdsmen driving cattle to drink, farmers harvesting crops and herds of wild animals like springbok, South Africa's national animal.

3. Visit Sterkfontein, the Cradle of Humankind.

At this United Nations' World Heritage Site, a 45-minute drive from Johannesburg's city centre, you'll see fossils of primitive man which experts say prove that all humankind came from there.

Admission fees: 65 rand (S$13) for the museum and 65 rand for the cave.

4. Get the all-African experience at Moyo restaurant.

Live African music and local dance performances entertain diners as they tuck into dishes from all nine South African tribes. Some must-try dishes include samp (dried corn kernels) and pap and vleis (a kind of porridge with meat).

In winter, coal fires in halved tin drums are lit, South African-style, and customers are handed blankets to keep themselves warm.

Dinner costs between 85 rand and 150 rand.

Where: 10 Melrose Boulevard, Melrose Arch.

5. Stay in a guesthouse instead of a hotel.

Guesthouses, sometimes known as bed and breakfasts, are fast gaining popularity. They offer tourists the experience of living in a South African home, the hospitality of the guesthouse owners as well as the home-made breakfasts that you won't get in hotels. Prices range between 950 rand and 165 rand per room.

6. Catch a performance at Market Theatre.

This arts complex that has developed some of the nation's top actors, dancers and musicians is 'alive 24 hours a day'. Besides a variety of jazz, dance and theatre performances, it also has several great restaurants serving local food.

Where: At the corner of Bree and Wolhuter streets, west of the Central Business District.

Singapore Airlines flies daily to Johannesburg.