Liliesleaf Farm On 11 July 1963, a group of anti-apartheid activists were having a crucial meeting in a little cottage on a smallholding in Rivonia, north of Johannesburg. Little did they know that their lives were about to change forever. A “laundry van” pulled up and armed policemen jumped out with police dogs. Knowing that […]
If your children love to fidget / experiment , are budding scientists or struggling with science, then you definitely need to take them to Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg’s Newtown district. Here the words “Don’t Touch” don’t exist and they can touch, feel, press and play to their little hearts’ content. Scientific concepts are explained with […]
The Westcliff Hotel aka Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff If you ever doubted that Johannesburg was an urban forest, then you should look at it from the Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff (aka The Westcliff Hotel ). You will see a canopy of verdant treetops with sprinklings of purple jacaranda blossoms and the occasional red-tiled rooftop, stretching […]
27 Boxes, Melville 27 Boxes is an innovative shopping centre in the trendy suburb of Melville, Johannesburg. What makes it unique is that it is made entirely of shipping containers - a first in South Africa. Opened in 2015, it was inspired by the Boxpark in London and the George Pompidou Centre in Paris . For those […]
I walked into the huge open-plan lobby of the Radisson Blu Gautrain and was immediately struck by its size – extending all the way from the Central One Restaurant on the one end to the bar at the other, with the reception area in–between. The public areas seemed to flow together harmoniously, welcoming me to […]
Nizamiye Mosque - "Where heart and mind meet" As one travels on the busy highway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, it is likely that one’s eye will be caught by a striking vision of domes and minarets, a sight one would be much more likely to see in Istanbul, Turkey than in Midrand, Johannesburg. It is […]
Animal World at Emerald Resort I much prefer animals to be in their natural habitats than in enclosures. The joy of seeing wild animals roaming freely on safari far exceeds that of seeing them in captivity and of course the animals are usually much happier. However not everyone can go on safari as it can […]
Days of the Dinosaur Exhibition in South Africa When I first heard about dinosaurs coming to South Africa, I asked my son if he wanted to go and see them. Having just watched the Jurassic Park series, his first question was “Real ones?”. No, my son, (un)fortunately not. But this is as close as you’re […]
Review: Holiday Inn Johannesburg Sunnyside Park Hotel It is not often that one gets to spend the night at a national monument and historic treasure. I had the privilege of doing just that recently. Right on my doorstep, in the historic suburb of Parktown in Johannesburg, is a national monument and heritage site constructed as […]