On Oct 21, in collaboration with Johannesburg Heritage Foundation, expert guides Brian McKechnie and Jo Buitendach take you for a trek up the ridge, ending with one of the best views in Joburg. Along the way, they chart the beautiful heritage and contemporary homes dotted along the cliffs, including houses by renowned architects Wilhelm Pabst, Louis Louw, Ian Gandini and M.J. Harris.
The 2-hour walking tour includes an introduction to some of the suburb’s more prominent personalities, including anti-apartheid activist Dr Beyers Naude and everyone’s favourite 90’s chat show host, Felicia Mabuza-Suttle.
The suburb of Northcliff Ridge was established in 1934 by the effervescent entrepreneur Fred Cohen, who built himself a palatial Old Hollywood-style mansion on Hearn Drive. During the walk, you can head to the location of the tearoom and ‘plastic’ theatre that Cohen constructed right at the top of the hill, before it burned down.
After enjoying the panoramic views from the top of the ridge, you can either walk back down or call an Uber.
Need to know: this is a steep walk. Good walking shoes, a reasonable fitness level, sunscreen and drinking water are essential. Meet outside Olivias Coffee Bake on Beyers Naude Drive to start at 09:30.
While you're there, don't forget to enter our #JacarandaInYourPocket photo competition! It's now open and it's our biggest one yet; go here for more.
