Jacaranda season

The Jacaranda season is almost upon us! In October/November all of the Jacaranda trees in Joburg start flowering. Their beatuiful purple flowers add a special something to the landscape that is the urban forest of Joburg.

They're orginally from South and Central America and were planted all over the city.

I recommend going to almost any viewpoint to take a look out over the city at the gorgeous colours. Parktown is always good for viewing as is Northcliff Hill (though I hear you need to be alert up there).

And when they fall off the trees, the flowers cover the roads wiht a carpet of purple (and make a fantastic popping noise as you drive over them!)

Melville Koppies

A couple months back, Daddles and I eventually got around to going on a guided walk of the Melville Koppies.

We arrived early one summer morning, all ready to go. My in my trusty pair of walking Havaiana flip flops and everyone else in their hiking boots. And I’ll have you know I didn’t get a sock tan and had the last laugh when we walked through the river. Ha!

The Melville Koppies is a nature reserve and Heritage site just off Beyers Naude at the bottom of Melville and across the road from Mark’s Park (where the original Louw Geldenhuys farmhouse is). The walks are through Melville Koppies Central. They do dog walks through Melville Koppies West. Melville Koppies East is open to the public but people are advised not to walk alone (as with most of these areas in Joburg)

The area is on a granite ridge and as you walk around, you can see where the granite has been pushed to the surface. There are all sorts of different colour stones – ranging from clear, to white to brown to black - in different areas, I would assume as a result of different veins of granite and conditions.

The guided walk took us up the koppie, through a foresty area where we looked at all sorts of mushrooms, lichens and pretty flowering plants growing there and also sampling the edible fruits and berries that grow there. All the plants are indigenous. There is even a plant that looks like the seeds of the Tree of Souls in Avatar.

We walked up to the top of the koppie and to where the Iron Age furnace can be found. They have set up a roof and put up educational signage boards and information about the ages of man in the area. Our guide quickly ran through the 250 000 year history (Stone Age an onwards) and who moved through the area and what they left behind. There are arrow heads made of stone, cutting tools, pots, kraal walls and so on. They have also found San artefacts.   

Further up, is a view to die for! You get a 360° view of Johannesburg… its breath taking! On a clear day you can see all the way out to Magaliesburg.

From there we walked down the back of the hill towards the Westdene Spruit, that runs along Beyers Naude and into the Emmarentia Dams. It’s a lovely, cool, quiet area and a nice way to end the walk. All in all, it’s about 3 hours (I think). The guides are passionate about the area and their particular specialisations, such as the plants, insects and history.

They do regular guided walks and also do speciality walks like Geology, birding, ecology and trees. Visit their website on www.mk.org.za for more info.

View from the Top of Africa

The Carlton Centre... it brings back so many memories from my childhood. My dad used to work there and it was always a treat to go visit! My mom also worked there at some stage, when it was the office block to be in. They used to go to the bar at the top for drinks after work. My dad was there when the building was bombed by the ANC. We were also once treated by my dad to the fanciest dinner ever at the Three Ships before it closed down.

The other day I took a friend out for a different day. On the to-do list was the Top of Africa - the 50th floor of the Carlton Centre. So, off we went into the centre of Joburg one Saturday afternoon. Driving into the underground parkade, memories came flooding back... it has a steep driveway down into (what feels like) the centre of the Earth - this was always my favourite part of visiting my dad!

After quite a bit of walking around the shopping centre on the ground floor trying to find the lift to the top, we paid our small entrance fee and caught the lift to the top. We were also hit up for money by the security guard, but that's just par for the course...

We stepped out of the lift and walked towards the light... the view was breathtaking! We could see for miles, all sides of my city. There was Sandton, the stadiums, the mine dumps, the Nelson Mandela Birdge, the old IBM building, Ghandi Sqaure, the airport.... pretty much everything! They have photos and architects renderings on the walls and also some information about the Indian community (though how that fits in, I'm not sure)

It wasn't very busy either, so we had plenty of space and could take our time. I suppose the CBD issue puts people off - though it really shouldn't! I can imagine the sunsets must be awesome from up there!

So do yourself a favour, visit the Top of Africa and while you're in the CBD, enjoy a drive around looking at all the old buildings.

Cedar Farm

I’m not a parent but I do have friends who are. So I get to go to kids parties, as a spectator, once in a while.

It suits me just fine! I get to watch their kids eat loads of sugar, run around like headless chickens and just go mad. And then I get to say goodbye and go home to my quiet house, and sit with my very calm cat.

On Sunday, I went to my bff’s son’s party at Cedar Farm, on Cedar Ave. what a fun place!! They have a big property and lots of cute farmyard animals. There is a thatched area where they have a bar (that you stock) and tables and chairs. There’s a sand pit, jungle gym and they can put up a jumping castle. So perfect for kids and (very tired) parents! The staff were great and friendly and seemed to have everything well organised.

The animals were the highlight for me! They had three baby bunnies (SOOOOO cute!) and a batch of baby piggys (stinky, but also SOOOO cute!!). There were also two ducks, a very loud cock, a pony, a sheep and some grown up bunnies and piggys.

So if you’re looking for a kids venue – though I reckon it would work for grown-ups too – this is a great place to go!

http://www.cedarfarm.co.za/

Great views...

I have also decided to add photos of great views in Joburg when I am inspired.

So here is the first one... it's a view of Sandton at sunrise from my office building balcony.

A little piece of doggy heaven

The other day I ventured out to Walkhaven Dog Park with the Muppet (and his 3 gorgeous girls) and Princess S (and his little dog). It’s outside Joburg, over the N14 in Muldersdrift. According to their site, it’s a 22 hectare property – having no sense of size and distance, I am going to assume that’s HUGE! Because it looked like it.

You arrive and are greeted by all sorts of dogs… big, small, gay, straight, you name it, they have it! As long as you have 4 legs (even that’s optional) and are of the canine variety, this is the place for you! (and they are obviously welcome to bring their ‘owners’ aka the people – who have the money and the food.)

Once you’ve paid, you’re free to make use of the area, including a dam, a wetland (mud pit) and an area of really long grass, where once in a while a dog pops up, doing a rabbit impression. Most of the dogs are well behaved and well socialised, though there’s always one who just doesn’t fit in. It’s mostly a leash-free environment, so the dogs get to run around and just go crazy.  They swim, chase balls, sniff each other, you know, the usual dog stuff.

There is also a picnic area and a restaurant where you can order food and drinks and just relax. There is even a doggie spa, where they can get washed and pampered after a tough day of being a dog.

On the “puppy hugging” side of things, Walkhaven also do their bit by doing fundraising and creating awareness about animal welfare organisations.

So, if you have dogs and want to treat them to a day out, this is a great place!

Old Joburg Architecture

One of my ultimate favourite things about Joburg is the architecture. Not just any architecture, the Arts & Crafts style of the Rand Lords and early pioneers and inhabitants of Joburg.

Most of them built their mansions in Parktown, along the ridge, overlooking the Sachsenwald and in the distance, the mines and the Magaliesberg. As with development in any growing city, some were torn down so that hospitals and highways could be built. However, quite a few remain.

The architect who I think is the founder of this style was Sir Herbert Baker (also the architect of the Union Buildings and train station in Pretoria). I adore his style! I don’t know why or exactly what it is, but his style just speaks to me. He used rock mined from the sites where he built the houses, had archways, sloping shingled roofs, great craftsmanship and tiered hillside gardens. I can imagine what it would be like living in one of his grand houses, sitting on the patio with a glass of bubbly and my golden retrievers, between the arches, looking down over Johannesburg towards Magaliesberg (though I’d have much better sanitation and a more comfortable corset). Sigh…

This brings me to the Parktown Westcliff Heritage Trust. It’s a non-profit organisation that makes sure all the historical buildings in Joburg are looked after and kept safe from government and developers. They organise weekly walking and bus tours around various houses and suburbs in Joburg. The first one my dad and I did was of the Brixton Cemetery (I love cemeteries, but not in a creepy way!). It was fascinating to hear the stories about the people who had been such a huge part of the Joburg history and growth, both good and bad.

We then discovered homes like Northwards, Villa Arcadia (owned by Hollard), Emoyeni (now a conference venue), Stone House (Herbert Baker’s own house), and historic streets like The Valley Road, Rock Ridge Road and Pallinghurst Road and the list goes on. I saw where gold was discovered - and contrary to what I had been taught, George Harrison did not stumble over a lump of gold, he blew a hole in the ground. We’ve done a tour of the Freemasons Lodge in Parklane, we’ve been walking through Hillbrow and the battlefields in the south.

I even owe my existence to one of these historical houses – Eikenlaan. It’s now the Mike’s Kitchen on St Andrew’s in Parktown. This is where my grandparents met after the war. My grandfather was in the RAF, my grandmother had moved to Joburg to work and they were staying in the same boarding house. My granny spotted my grampa (who was rather good looking and dashing) and offered him a cup of warm Milo…. and here I am!

So, do yourself a favour and check out their website www.parktownheritage.co.za and take a tour or two. The houses they have deemed historical and protected all have blue circular plaques outside.

Stone House

 Northwards

I HEART Joburg... I really, really do!

This is blog post #1... I made the decision, while walking through the Melville Koppies, that it was time to blog about my home city, Joburg.

I love Joburg. I have always lived here and am constantly surprised and inspired by my city. I have seen lots of other cities but none of them have the same vibe and feel. They don't inspire me nearly as much!

So, what I plan on doing is writing about great places I have been to in Joburg, fun and interetsing things to do and places to get good stuff... I welcome comments, input and suggestions, so feel free to share!

Well... here goes! Next post to follow soon!