I am Joburg’s most passionate advocate and its fiercest defender. But I am also first to admit that Joburg is not an easy city to get to know. Jozi is sprawling and overwhelming. Public transport is spotty and difficult to figure out, and getting behind the wheel is daunting. Newcomers are bombarded with warnings about things they shouldn’t do and places they can’t go. And although there are dozens of fun things to do here on any given weekend, those things can be hard to find if you don’t “know someone”.

I wrote an article for the February issue of High Life magazine – the in-flight magazine for British Airways – about my favorite quirky places in Joburg. I wish I could direct you to go out and buy the magazine, but I can’t. If you want to read the story you’ll have to book a BA flight in Southern Africa, before the end of this month.

Swaziland is my second home in Africa. I knew Swaziland long before I knew South Africa, and long before I decided to move to Johannesburg. I’ve been to Swaziland six times in the last six years.

Last night I slept in the most beautiful place in downtown Joburg. I normally try to avoid superlatives but in this case I am not exaggerating – it was literally THE most beautiful place in the city.

UPDATE (February 2021): The Blanket Shop in Clarens is no longer located on Naauwpoort Street, and is sadly no longer run by Minnie and Gertie. But their family has re-opened the shop in downtown Clarens, next to Time and Again restaurant.