Johannesburg's Grit & Ghosts: A Botanist's Unexpected Detour
okay, so. johannesburg. i wasn’t planning on johannesburg. my whole trip was supposed to be about tracking down rare succulents in Namibia, you know, the usual. but a flight cancellation and a very persuasive travel agent later, here i am. and honestly? it’s… something.
I just checked and it's clinging to a damp chill, like a forgotten raincoat. 16.72 degrees, feels like it too. Humidity’s punching me in the face - 89% - which is not ideal for delicate plant specimens, let me tell you. Pressure’s 1018, ground level’s 892… numbers, numbers. I’m a botanist, not a meteorologist.
I’m staying in *Maboneng, which is… intense. Graffiti everywhere, street art battling with crumbling buildings. It’s got this raw energy, this feeling like anything could happen. I spent a good hour just staring at a mural of a giant aloe vera plant battling a robot. Seriously.
I’ve been wandering around, trying to find some green spaces. There’s a surprisingly decent botanical garden - the Johannesburg Botanical Garden and Emmarentia Dam - which was a welcome respite. Found a few interesting Crassula varieties, though nothing I haven’t seen before. Still, nice to see some familiar faces. Check it out on TripAdvisor: Johannesburg Botanical Garden.
Someone told me that the vibe in Yeoville is… different. Apparently, it’s a hub for immigrants and has a really vibrant, chaotic market. I haven’t ventured there yet, but it’s on the list. I’m a little nervous, to be honest.
Food-wise, it’s been… an adventure. I had some amazing bunny chow - seriously, google it - and some pretty questionable street food. I heard that the best place for authentic Zulu cuisine is in Soweto, but getting there feels a bit daunting on my own. Maybe I’ll join a tour. Yelp has some decent options: Johannesburg Food Tours.
I’m also trying to track down some indigenous medicinal plants. Apparently, there’s a lot of traditional healing happening here, and I’m fascinated by the knowledge that’s been passed down through generations. I found a forum online with some local herbalists: Johannesburg Herbalists Forum.
If you get bored, Pretoria and Durban* are just a short drive away. I might pop over to Durban for a day trip - I hear the beaches are incredible.
Honestly, this trip has been a total curveball. I came here expecting to find rare succulents, and I’ve found… a city with a complicated history, a vibrant culture, and a surprising amount of grit. It’s not pretty, it’s not perfect, but it’s definitely memorable. I’m even starting to appreciate the humidity. A little.
Oh! And something a local warned me about: don’t walk around with your phone out at night. Apparently, pickpockets are rife. Noted.
I'm also looking into some local art galleries. I saw a post on a local board about an exhibition featuring botanical illustrations: Johannesburg Art Scene.
Right, I’m off to find some coffee. I need caffeine. Lots of it.
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