Johannesburg, South Africa — Activities
Johannesburg Culture
Culture in Johannesburg ranges from small projects and artistic developments to comedy acts, large-scale operas, art exhibitions, intimate theater performancse and poetry readings. For listings, consult the Tonight supplement of the city's main daily newspaper, The Star (www.tonight.co.za), or visit www.702.co.za
Tickets to cultural events are available from Computicket (tel: (011) 340 8000 or 083 915 8000; www.computicket.com), the national reservations system, which also has kiosks in the larger shopping malls.
Music
Carfax
The lusty lyrics and irresistible dance beats of kwaito can be heard blasting out of taxis, clubs, shebeens and street parties throughout Johannesburg. The genre uses local languages and street slang in lyrics that reflect life in South Africa and employs a distinct South African style of dancing and dressing.You can listen to kwaito at a number of venues in the city, including Carfax.
39 Pim Street
Tel: (011) 834 9187.
Website: www.carfax.co.za
Kippies Jazz Club
Jazz is also popular and one of the best venues in Johannesburg is Newtown's Kippies Jazz Club.
Market Theater, 121 Bree Street
Tel: (011) 836 1805.
Website: www.kippies.co.za
Theater
Market Theater Company
Since 1976 and the days of protest theater, the Market Theater Company has gained a reputation for putting on productions that are socially relevant.
121 Bree Street, Newtown
Tel: (011) 832 1641.
Website: www.markettheater.co.za
Civic Theater Complex
This complex comprises the Nelson Mandela Theater (formerly Civic Main), Tesson, Thabong and Pieter Roos theaters and an art gallery. Shows are mainly local productions, musicals, ballet, comedy and pantomime (when in season). The incredibly powerful 26-strong Soweto Gospel Choir regularly play here too.
Loveday Street, Braamfontein
Tel: (011) 877 6800.
Website: www.showbusiness.co.za
Pieter Toerien's Montecasino Theater
Owned by the great impresario who gave it his name, this theater gives both new and established artistes opportunities for new directions and growth. The complex includes a 1,900-seater theater.
Shop 65, Montecasino Boulevard, Fourways
Tel: (011) 511 1818.
Website: www.montecasinotheater.co.za
The Sound Stage
Another well known theater and cabaret figure, Richard Loring, runs a supper theater, The Sound Stage.
Old Pretoria Road, Midrand
Tel: (011) 315 5084.
Website: www.soundstage.co.za
Dance
Dance Factory
This hosts a huge range of international and local performers, often mixing classical and ethnic styles.
President Street, Newtown Cultural Precinct
Tel: (011) 833 1347.
Johannesburg Tours
Walking tours
Walktours organizes guided walks, lasting four to eight hours. Routes include exploring Sandton, Africa's richest shopping, business and residential areas, a walk along the Braamfontein Spruit (stream), the Central Business District, Melville Koppies, Constitution Hill, Alexander Township, Zoo Lake to Emmarentia Dam and back, and for groups of 10 or more, dinner and a nocturnal tour of Johannesburg Zoo.
Alternatively, for self-guided tours, pamphlets are available from Northwards, 21 Rockridge Road, Parktown, (daily 0900-1300). The ‘Mansions & Minor Masterpieces' walk explores the stately Sir Herbert Baker-designed ‘mining-magnate' homes of Parktown and the artworks that decorate them. ‘From Cliff to Forest' starts at Westcliff (another historic suburb) and ends in Forest Town, where the zoo and Military History Museum are located. ‘Northcliff and Melville: Pre-History to Present' covers the ancient Stone Age sites on Melville Koppies, the heights of Northcliff, the Louw Geldenhuys farmhouse, Emmarentia Dam and the Botanical Gardens.
Tel: (011) 444 1639.
Website: www.walktours.co.za
Bus tours
Dozens of tour operators in Johannesburg offer full- and half-day tours. Most use minibuses, have registered guides and pick up from all hotels. Destinations include Soweto, Gold Reef City, the Lion Park, Newtown, the viewing platform at the top of the Carlton Center, Lesedi Cultural Village and Pretoria.
Moratiwa Tours
Tel: (011) 869 6629.
Website: www.moratiwa.co.za
Karabo Tours
Tel: (011) 325 7125.
Website: www.backpackers-ritz.co.za/karabo
Lords Travel & Tours
Tel: (011) 454 6080.
Website: www.lordstravel.co.za
Historical tours
Historical tours to Soweto visit several local landmarks, including the evocative Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, named after a 13-year-old pupil, who was one of hundreds shot by police during a 1976 uprising against apartheid. Other highlights include the Regina Mundi Catholic Church, which still bears the bullet holes left by police who fired on students who had taken refuge there and the Walter Sisulu Square of Independence, which marks the site where the Freedom Charter, calling for equality for all, was presented by the ANC. Visit Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's house, built by Nelson Mandela for his estranged wife soon after his release from prison in 1990, and the former residence of Bishop Desmond Tutu.
JMT Tours
Tel: (011) 980 6038.
Website: www.jmttours.co.za
Shebeen tours
Irish miners may have introduced the word to South Africa but shebeens, outlawed by the apartheid regime, have become synonymous with the often raucous social life of Sowetans. Ranging from a few stools in front of a shack to stylish, flashy nightclubs, the shebeens are increasingly popular to visit as part of a guided tour. Discover Wandi's Place (Dube), which serves traditional dishes, such as umngqusho (stamped corn and bean stew), morogo (wild spinach) and chakalaka (chilli and bean salad). B's Place (Orlando East) is decorated with newspaper clippings documenting events in Soweto during apartheid. Sorghum beer is accompanied by township specialties such as mogodu (tripe) and pap (maize porridge). At Pinky's Place, drinks are still served in the lounge of a house.
Jimmy's Face-to-Face Tours
Tel: (011) 331 6109.
Website: www.face2face.co.za
Gay friendly tours
GALA’s ‘Queer Johannesburg’ tour takes in sites of past and present significance to the struggle for gay rights in South Africa.
Tel: (011) 717 1963.
Website: http://web.wits.ac.za/Library/Gala/Cultureandeducation/QueerJohannesburgTour.htm
Balloon tours
Bill Harrop's Original Balloon Safaris offers sunrise tours over the majestic Magaliesberg Mountains in a huge colorful hot-air balloon. The flight lasts for about an hour and is followed by a superb hot breakfast with champagne. Balloon excursions depart from the Balloon Safaris Country Base in the Magalies River Valley, near Hartebeespoort Dam, 65km (40 miles) north of the city.
Tel: (011) 705 3201.
Website: www.balloon.co.za
