11 Unusual Date Ideas To Try In Johannesburg

From cooking classes and stand-up comedy to roller skating and hot air balloon rides, opt for something out of the ordinary with one of these unusual date ideas to try in Johannesburg.

Explore the city on foot

Explore the best of Johannesburg by taking a walking tour with Past Experiences. You’ll see everything from street art to historic buildings. Choose between the Joburg Inner City tours, Soweto tours, or archaeology tours, which will guide you to the outskirts of the city and towards the Cradle of Humankind.

Call +27 83 701 3046 for more information

Sky Table, a platform suspended 5o meters (163 feet) in the air, can host 22 guests and is sure to be an unforgettable dining experience. Choose between a champagne breakfast, lunch or three-course dinner.

Sky Table, 40 Peter Place, Lyme Park, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, +27 11 024 3433 or +27 81 247 1207

1. Learn to cook

Instead of dining out, why not learn to cook romantic dishes at the Taste Buds Cook Club? Each couple in the group whips up a meal, either a starter, main or dessert, after which all the dishes are served buffet style. Classes are R365 per person.

Taste Buds Cook Club, 10 Aries Avenue, Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Learn to make pasta | © Sarah Boyle/Unsplash

2. Go rock climbing

CityROCK Johannesburg is the biggest indoor climbing gym in Africa with 2000 square meter (21,500 square feet) of high wall climbing and much more. Whether you’re date is a beginner or an experienced climber, City ROCK boasts the best facilities to learn and explore. And, for those who want to center themselves before or after a climb, the studio also offers yoga classes.

CityROCK, 173 Republic Road, Fontainebleau, Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, +27 10 007 2732

3. Watch a comedy show

Visit the hub of South African stand-up comedy, Parker’s Comedy and Jive at Montecasino, for a night filled with laughter. The club hosts big local and international names in the industry and is open from Wednesday to Sunday.

Parker’s Comedy and Jive, Montecasino, Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa, +27 11 511 0081

A comedy show is a sure fire way to impress your date | Courtesy of Parker’s Comedy & Jive

4. Check out an exhibition at WITS Art Museum

Museum, Store, University

The WITS Art Museum hosts an amazing collection of both contemporary and classic African art. Situated in Braamfontein, one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods, you can grab a bite to eat or browse a record store after visiting the gallery.

WITS Art Museum, University Corner, c/o Jorissen and Bertha Sreets, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa

Attend an art class

From painting and drawing to working with pottery, there’s something for everyone. And for those who doubt their artistic flair, most of the studios offer classes perfect for beginners. Check out our list of top art classes to take in Johannesburg and book a session for your next date.

There are many art classes to attend in the city

5. Go roller skating

Roll Egoli is a casual skating rink complete with disco ball, pizzeria and Italian gelato. The rink has open sides and a beautiful courtyard where couples can relax in between skating sessions. The facility is cashless, so remember your bank card.

Roll Egoli, 296 Main Road, Bryanston, Johannesburg, South Africa, +27 83 232 9861

6. See the king of the jungle

Park

A visit to the Lion & Rhino Nature Reserve is always eventful. Situated in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, the beautiful reserve is home to many wildlife species, including lions, buffalo and rhino. Take a self-drive trip through the park and stop by the graveyard to spot the vultures. From R160 per adult.

Lion & Rhine Nature Reserve, 520 Kromdraai Road, Kromdraai, Krugersdorp, Johannesburg, South Africa

The park homes lions, rhinos, cheetahs and more | © Hans Veth/Unsplash

7. Bungee jump from Orlando Towers

If your date is an adrenaline junkie there’s no better way to impress than with a trip to Orlando Towers. The 100-meter (328-foot) bungee jump is situated between two massive cooling towers, and the world’s highest SCAD free-fall can be done inside one of the towers. Bungee jumps cost R500 per person, and SCAD free-falls cost R400 per person.

Orlando Towers, Chris Hani Road, Klipspruit, Johannesburg, South Africa

Take a hot air balloon ride

Situated just outside of Johannesburg in the Cradle of Humankind, Air to Air Africa offers hot air balloon rides over the open planes of the area surrounding Johannesburg. After the ride, once back on solid ground, guests are greeted with mimosas to celebrate the experience. From R1950 per person.

Call +27 84 602 3491 for more information

A hot air balloon ride is one of the most romantic ways to spend a morning

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.