Sandton
More than 50 years ago this area was the ‘mink and manure’ heartland and the hunt would set off from Inanda Club, today an exclusive members-only polo club. It’s often quoted that the then head town planner for the area described Sandton as a "community of 30,000 whites and 15,000 horses”. From rolling farmland and a pastoral idyll, Sandton later became a rest stop between Pretoria and Johannesburg city centre. The first hotel - Balalaika Hotel, today Protea Hotel Balalaika Sandton - opened its doors in 1949 as a tea garden with a few rondavels (thatch-roofed African-style huts) for overnight travellers. Today the lush gardens of this 330-room hotel are still a refuge, but now from the busy business district beyond the door.
Beyond the central business district Sandton spreads north with a variety of suburbs and diverse attractions. Among them is historically significant Rivonia which is home to Liliesleaf - the secret headquarters of the banned African National Congress's Armed wing led by Nelson Mandela in the 1960s - and now an impressive museum. Rivonia is also well-know for it's many Asian food restaurants. In Fourways the vast Montecasino complex is a major drawcard with its offer of 24/7 bright lights and a multitude of attractions, including a range of hotels, a theatre, comedy club, tons of restaurants and a bird garden. Closer to Sandton Central is Kramerville, a hub for interior design that has developed into an after-hours hangout with quirky bars and great views of Sandton's skyline (see above).
Click on the categories below to find your way around Sandton.