Confessions of a Capetonian...
I live in Cape Town. I have lived in a few other parts of the world. I've travelled to numerous countries and had an adventure or two. I love South Africa. I have never been to Johannesburg.
Well, not really. Apart from my birth, I've stopped there many times on my way to another destination. I stayed the night there a couple of times too. When SAA staff were striking and when planes were delayed or cancelled. I've stayed the night in parts of Joburg that I can't even remember now, although the Formulae 1 Hotel does ring a faint, faint bell although I think I've actually blocked it.
It was hosting a new friend from the City of Gold this weekend that got me thinking...how could I have missed Johannesburg on my list of Must See Places? It's true that Capetonians live in there own little Western Cape world and that anything that doesn't have it's own mountain, doesn't deserve a visit. But maybe it's time to change that.
Chatting to my very own visiting Jo-burger, I tried to extract a motivation for visiting the country's money district because now, I'm curious. I'm not alone in my second hand pre-conceived notion that Johannesburg is a cold, lonely and dangerous place. Sans beaches, sans mountain, sans green trees and overly-familiar residents who are all on some sort of "spiritual path". I'd always thought I would visit Joburg, just for the sake out it, but only when it became more like Cape Town.
That's perhaps a little unfair. What's more is that although I love, love, love Cape Town, I rarely visit the beaches, have never actually climbed Table Mountain as an adult and am really not that invested in anyone else's spiritual anything. It's ironic and shameful. So I'm considering a visit to the City that Never Sees Capetonians For Pleasure.
In the name of research, I had a look at some of the best things to do in Gauteng. I was surprised really, lots of indoor activities, gambling, dining, clubbing, day spas...you know...that sort of thing. My favourite thing about travelling anywhere is to just immerse myself in the culture and go with the flow, see what happens you know. But I might have to adjust my style for an itinerary. I've extracted my own list of top ten things to do while in the country's capital. Once I've completed these ten things, I will have officially earned myself the title of a Proud South African, so to the final frontier...to Johannesburg and the whole of the Gauteng Province!
1. Sun City
2. Gold Reef City
3. Township tour of Soweto
4. Johannesburg Zoo
5. The Vaal Dam
6. Lesedi Cultural Village
7. Sabi Sands Safari Lodge
8. The Apartheid Museum
9. The Cradle of Humankind
10. Montecasino Bird Gardens
How does that sound? A little too conservative for me, although definitely must be done. But just for the sake of it I put together my own little list of non-descript and odd things to do - there were more options for this list, let me assure you.
1. Ten Pin Bowling at Galaxy World in Rosebank
2. Skateboarding at Boogaloos Skate Park
3. Power Swing across Soweto
4. Hot Air Balooning in the Cradle
5. Breaking it down at the Drum Cafe
6. Michael Mount Organic Village Market
7. Bunny Park in Benoni
8. Paintball in Germiston
9. Go karting / racing
10. Visit the statue of Nelson Mandela
Now there's a holiday...
