Walking 'round the Richiest Square Mile in Africa

Vince and I are forever fleeing Sandton where we live to explore "greener cultural pastures" on the weekends. We bemoan the city's apparent lack of walkability and interesting heritage sites to discover.









My neighbor Daphne happily proved me wrong today when I accompanied her on a walk around Sandton City center on the "Richest Square Mile in Africa" walking tour. Daphne has lived and worked in Sandton for more than 30 years and has watched the city transform from a country retreat to a major financial center.






 

 

Beryl in front of the Sandton City "bird", the crane.

The walk was led by Beryl Porter of Walk & Talk Tours. Beryl is a successful Sandton business person and a gregarious walking fanatic. She too has watched Sandton grow up before her eyes as she walked around the city for exercise and leisure. When Beryl leads a walk, she adds her own considerable commentary to the Information System cell phone recordings on the city's self-guided tours.

She also encourages walkers to share their own stories and recollections of Sandton and Johannesburg with the group as we walk in order to further enrich the narrative. One woman visiting from England on our tour today told us she is a descendent of the original English geologist who successfully found a water source in the bedrock under the City of Gold in the late 1800's.


 Some of the things I learned about Sandton today:

Mushroom Farm Park is called Mushroom Farm Park because it was a Mushroom Farm! The original homestead is still on the park property and is used by the maintenance staff. I use the park as a landmark when I am driving around because you can see the hot air balloon for miles, especially when it has fully ascended into the sky.

There are art installations and sculptures all over the downtown. You just can't see them when you are whizzing by in traffic. You gotta walk!

There is a "secret" passage along Rivonia Road called the "Hole in the Wall" ...

where you can climb a few steps up to Stella Street which has  ...














the only Blue Plaque heritage site in Sandton City. (The only other Blue Plaque in Greater Sandton marks the entrance to the Granite Tor in Lonehill.)

 The former Dutch Reformed Little Church in the Pines.

















The most expensive apartment in Sandton is this 4 story penthouse on top of the Michelangelo.


















The Sandton Convention Center connects to Nelson Mandela Square by a series of catwalks.The Convention Center was host this week for the One Young World Conference featuring the likes of Arianna Huffington, Bob Geldorf, Kofi Annan and Francois Piennaar.











Kids everywhere are kids. When it's hot, they play in water. Even in tony Nelson Mandela Square.

Thanks Daphne for showing me Sandton!