Johannesburg & Pretoria

Gauteng is the wealthiest of South Africa's provinces. Gold was the reason at first, discovered here in the 1880's, but even today this region is the nation's economic engine with two of the nation's most important cities, Johannesburg, and Pretoria.

With a population of 8 million, Johannesburg is by far the largest city in South Africa. It has all the attending problems faced by big cities, such as pollution, traffic, and crime. But the city invested heavily in its infrastructure in preparation for the 2010 World Cup, and it’s looking better than ever. Among the urban sprawl you’ll find some beautiful parks and interesting modern architecture. Melville is a nightlife hub, full of coffeeshops, restaurants and clubs. Seventh Street here is lined with used bookstores, antique dealers and body-piercing salons. The Apartheid Museum, located near here, tells the story of pain, struggle and final triumph of the human spirit during that period of South African history. Outside the city are national parks where you can see lions, cheetahs, and other animals.

Pretoria, located just to the north of Jo'burg is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive center, and de facto national capital. This major center of Afrikaner culture has roughly 400,000 Afrikaners among around 1.2 million people in the metro area, giving this city the largest population with European ancestry in all of Africa. The Voortrekker Monument here commemorates the journey of Dutch settlers from the Cape Colony they had lost. The edifice combines a German-mansion exterior with interior Art Deco and African Atenist style, influenced by the Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor, Egypt. British colonial architecture also abounds, and English is the common language of commerce, in a city where six major African languages and Africaans are also spoken.

Although it’s not a well-known gay destination, these cities have a large gay community between them. Tens of thousands turn out every October for Johannesburg Gay Pride, and most of the gay businesses are located in areas between Johannesburg and Pretoria. Same-sex marriage became legal in South Africa on November 30, 2006 with the Civil Unions Bill -- the fifth country in the world where this was done, and the first in Africa.

Getting here

O.R. Tambo International Airport is about 13 miles northeast of downtown Johanesburg and 28 miles south of central Pretoria. It’s a completely renovated facility, spiffed up just in time for the World Cup events in 2010, and serves as the main air transport hub for the whole Southern Africa region. There are rail and bus links with downtown, as well as taxis.

From Cape Town the Blue Train travels approximately 1,600 km (1,000 miles) to Pretoria and back, 3 or 4 times each month. One of the world's most luxurious train journeys, it features butler service, fine dining, smoking and non-smoking lounge cars, an observation car, and gold-tinted picture windows. Some compartments come equipped with full-size bath tubs.

Getting around

A car and driver is the best way to get around Johannesburg. You can also ask your hotel to call a taxi.

See the folks at the Jozi Experience for an African adventure; the sights, sounds and tastes, up close and personal, of lifestyles in and around Johannesburg. Graton Tours & Transfers will also get you around Johannesburg, or beyond, to Sun City, Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon or the beaches of Kwazulu-Natal.

Currency and Money

The rand is the local currency. Each rand is divided into 100 cents, making this an easy currency for foreigners to learn. ATMs are plentiful in Cape Town.

Media and resources

Exit Magazine is the country’s gay news source. MambaOnLine is the most useful gay website. I am Gay - South Africa is a support and information resource for the GLBT community.  For bears events around the country, see the website S.A.Bears.

The Queer African Reader has online African LGBTIQ news, commentary, resources, and links across the continent and around the world.

Official tourism websites include Gauteng for province-wide information, and SouthAfrica for the nation. For a good guide to restaurants in Gauteng, or elsewhere in South Africa, see EatOut Magazine.

The Mail & Guardian and the Times have general news, opinion, arts and culture for South Africa, and throughout Africa. AllAfrica is another continent-wide source for news online

The Jo'burg-based Daily Maverick has online "news, analysis, insight and opinion that you need."

Lodgings

de Pinna's Executive Guesthouse (3 Gregory Ave, Melrose; 27-11-447-3081), guest room, and two cottages each with living room, kitchen, bedroom, washer/dryer and private garden.

Graton Guest House (4a Oaklands Rd; 27-11-728-2340), a Jozi oasis, five double rooms, all amenities, secure parking, WiFi, full English breakfast, airport transfers, laundry on request, many local restaurants - variety of cuisines.

33 On First Guest House (33, 1st Ave; 27-11-726-7172), 6 large stylishly decorated rooms in Melville near freeways to Pretoria, Sandton, airport; shops, restaurants. Substantial breakfasts.

Voelkop (voelkop.co.za), men-only holiday resort, clothing optional Bushveld hideaway in the Magaliesberg, open every day. Unspoiled natural beauty, congenial climate, 90 minutes drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria.

Going out

Amuse Café (34 5th St, Linden), gay-friendly laid-back bar/lounge, live music, games, movie nights, restaurant, northwest of Johannesburg.

Babylon (South Lake Centre, Centurion), Saturday night dance party, stripper boys, dusk to dawn, just south of Pretoria.

Camp David (46 Selati St - beneath Caraffa Restaurant), Pretoria SE suburb of Alphen Park, 7-night, members-only nude men's cruise bar with clothing lockers

Detour (680 Rubenstein Ave, Moreleta Park), gay party bar in suburbs east of Pretoria; dancing, drag shows. Friction is their guys-only backroom cruise bar, terrace, pool tables, open daily from 6pm to late.

Cool Cats (Northrand at Rietfontein Rd, Boksburg; Main at Witkoppen, Bryanston), two dance party clubs, performers, drag shows, and theme nights; former Risque Lounge.

Liquid Blue (7th Street, Melville), cocktail lounge, restaurant, music bar in Johannesburg northern suburb.

Ramp Divas (1 Margaret Lane, Wild Waters Complex, Boksburg), Friday and Saturday dance club, men & women, theme nights, pageants.

Simply Blue (36 Rogers St), Selby, Johannesburg, Friday and Saturday gay club, black men and friends, restaurant, cigar lounge, dance floor.

Club Therapy gay dance nights take place from time to time in Johannesburg. For other special dates check the events listings at Mambaonline.com.

Saunas

Rec Room (Phoenix Centre, off Malibongwe Dr), just south of N1 Freeway in Randsburg, the largest licensed gay bathhouse in South Africa, two indoor and one outdoor Jacuzzis, steamroom, sauna, video lounges, private cabins, maze, video lounge and bar.

Sauna Boyz (309 Lynnwood Rd, Menlo Park), new Pretoria sauna/gym, with Jacuzzi, steam, massage, restaurant/bar and entertainment nights.

For locations and website links to the above businesses, see our maps & listings tab.

See Durban for gay places in the coastal city, and other nearby KwaZulu-Natal destinations. See Cape Town for gay Mother City listings.