One of the oldest and most established suburbs in Johannesburg, Parkview has a high density of green spaces where several reputable schools are based and with graceful homes located along streets named after Irish counties. The suburb was originally laid out in 1907 with large residential properties and open public spaces the norm. Fortunately Parkview has escaped mall fever and the public spaces and leafy avenues remain. Parkview’s distinguished schools, championship golf course, easy access to the main highways, high speed fibre bandwidth and community parks have attracted young families and those seeking respite from Johannesburg’s relentless pace.
Parkview has a genteel village charm with strong community ties.
Top 6 reasons to visit Parkview
1. Stroll through the suburb to visit the happening Tyrone Avenue with its pavement cafés and unique shops, George Hay Park where the residents arrange regular outdoor events, the old Parkview Castle modelled on an ancestral home in Kilkenny, Ireland and end off at the Lawn Tennis Club to watch or participate in a game of tennis with the locals.
2. Take a walk to Zoo Lake, a large lake set in a community park. Every Sunday, Zoo Lake hosts an open air Artists under the Sun event, popular for those seeking to purchase unique and affordable artwork. The park is also used for jazz and other music festivals.
3. Spend a day at the Johannesburg Zoo to view the more than 2000 animals housed here. The zoo is renowned for having successfully bred Siberian tigers and has a popular white lion enclosure. A fun run called the Zoo Trot passes through the zoo grounds and the Zoo Snooze is a fun family overnight campout.
4. The Wits Art Museum exhibits artwork ranging from traditional west- and central- African art to local contemporary works. Open Wednesday to Sunday. Travel the Nelson Mandela Bridge while there.
5. For some late night entertainment, visit the many clubs, bars and lounges along the strip in nearby Melville suburb. The Roxy Rhythm Bar is one of the oldest and where many of South Africa’s top acts launched their careers.
6. The 100-year old Parkview Golf Club has an 18-hole course with challenging 15th hole that requires a great deal of accuracy to avoid the dam. The club’s most famous patron was Bobby Locke.
Transport
Parkview is 35 minutes from OR Tambo International Airport. National flights arrive and depart from Lanseria Airport, a 50 minute drive north of Parkview. The Gautrain (express rail service) operates between the airport and Rosebank, the nearest stop from Parkview only 8 minutes away. Order a car rental from the various agencies at the airport or online. There are a number of metered taxi and shuttle service companies operating in Johannesburg or you could register with Uber and order a ride via your mobile phone.
Did you know?
The Johannesburg zoo, as part of a conservation exchange programme with a Japanese and Canadian zoo, were given 2 one-year old polar bears in 1986. During their stay at the zoo, they were the only polar bears in Africa and the female and male lived for 27 and 28 years respectively, an indication of how well the zoo provided for these arctic creatures.
The nearby University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is currently ranked 6th best higher learning education centre amongst the emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). The university has 26 museums on the campus.
