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The Urban Adventure Begins
City walks
South Africa boasts big cities and plenty of urban culture.
© South African Tourism
Did you know?
Several cities boast chilling Ghost Walks. Kimberley Ghost Walk is particularly thrilling
While South Africa is deservedly known for its natural splendour and beauty, the country also boasts big cities and plenty of urban culture. One of the best ways to experience the city is through city walks.
Tthere is a fascinating selection of walks in and around various cities that show off another side of the urban experience entirely. Cape Town, for example, has a number of city walks that are well worth doing. The city centre itself is compact and easily walked, and here you can see many historic buildings, squares and monuments.
One such walk is to start at the Castle of Good Hope and proceed west to the corner of Darling and Buitenkant Streets where you'll find the Grand Parade - where Nelson Mandela made his first memorable speech after being released after 27 years of imprisonment under apartheid. This is also the site of Cape Town's City Hall.
If you keep walking to the top of Adderly Street you'll come to the Company Gardens and Cape Town's Cultural History Museum. The reconstructed tombstone of Jan Van Riebeeck can be found in the courtyard.
Durban features the architect Anwar Jahangeer's CityWalk which moves from the suburban shopping mall of Musgrave Centre, down Berea Road, through the bustling Warwick Street district, into the City Centre and ending at the harbour's edge. This route takes you through the entire spectrum of Durban city life in all its diversity and colour.
Johannesburg is home to the famous Parktown Heritage walk where you can view mansions of the original mining magnates, many of which were designed by the famous architect Herbert Baker.
The best advice is to consult your city guide in each major centre that you visit to find out what walks are available in that area.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Johannesburg Tourism
Tel: +27 11 214 0700
Johannesburg City Parks
Web: www.jhbcityparks.com
The Original Jo'burg Walking Tour Company
Jo Buitenbach
Tel: +27(0) 11 678 3905
Cell: +27(0) 83 701 3046
Email: past.experiences@hotmail.com
Web: www.pastexperiences.co.za
Cape Town Tourism
Tel: +27 (0) 21 405 4500
Email: info@tourismcapetown.co.za
Durban Tourism
Tel: +27 (0)31 366 7500
How to get here
City walks are all accessible by car, bus and taxi
Tours to do
The Original Jo'burg Walking Tour Company, Past Experiences, offer unusual, fascinating walks
Length of stay
half day
What to pack
don't carry too much in the way of equipment but arm yourself with good walking shoes, sunhat, water bottle, sunglasses, camera