11/10/2026
What a fabulous day exploring one of Johannesburg’s most colourful, historic and culturally diverse neighbourhoods!
Our Adventures for Love ladies enjoyed an adventure walking tour of Fordsburg which was a wonderful mixture of history, culture, food, fascinating shops, street art and, of course, plenty of laughter and good company.
Fordsburg dates back to Johannesburg’s gold rush in the late 1800s. Originally a working-class suburb, it became home to a fascinating mix of cultures and communities.
In 1922, the area was at the centre of the Rand Revolt, when striking miners clashed with government forces.
Fordsburg also played an important role in Mahatma Gandhi’s passive resistance movement. In 1908, thousands gathered near the Hamidia Mosque to burn registration certificates in protest against discriminatory laws.
Today, the neighbourhood reflects generations of Indian, Pakistani, African and Middle Eastern influences.
One of our first missions was a very important one – finding the best samoosas in Fordsburg!
The Oriental Plaza was established during the apartheid era to accommodate Indian traders displaced from their businesses in nearby Fietas under the Group Areas Act. Opening in stages from 1974, it became a new home for many family businesses.
Today, the Plaza is a bustling shopping destination filled with fabrics, clothing, jewellery, spices and delicious food.
And the samoosas? Well, naturally, we had to taste a few to make an informed decision!
Another interesting stop was Archie’s Bar, giving us a glimpse of the neighbourhood’s social character. Locals made way in such a friendly way for our group.
Fordsburg has long been a place where people from different backgrounds have worked, traded and socialised. Its older bars and gathering places are reminders of the many generations who have called this area home.
We wandered into perfume shops filled with the most incredible fragrances.
The scents of oud, musk, rose and amber reflect the rich perfume traditions of the Middle East and South Asia.
Beautiful bottles, exotic aromas at such reasonable prices and an entirely different shopping experience!
The spice shops were another highlight.
The wonderful aromas of cumin, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon and countless masalas filled the air.
These shops represent generations of culinary traditions, with family recipes and spice blends handed down over the years.
It was impossible to leave without buying something!
One of the most memorable discoveries was a striking mosaic portrait of a woman on an old grey building in Albertina Sisulu Road, with dozens of pigeons gathered along the rooftop.
At first glance, she appeared to be a mysterious face silently watching over the streets of Fordsburg.
But her story is particularly special.
The artwork is attributed to South African artist Hannelie Coetzee and depicts her great-grandmother, who migrated to Fordsburg more than a century ago following the Anglo-Boer War.
What a wonderful tribute to family history, migration and the generations who helped shape Johannesburg.
It was a reminder that street art is not simply decoration. Sometimes it tells a deeply personal story about the people who lived there long before us.
Our visit to Kentucky Milk Bar was another lovely stop.
The old-fashioned milk bars and corner cafés of Johannesburg were once important community gathering places, where neighbours caught up on local news and children spent their pocket money on treats.
Of course, no exploration of Fordsburg would be complete without sampling some delicious baklava!
This rich, sweet pastry, made with layers of filo, nuts and syrup, has roots in centuries of Middle Eastern and Ottoman culinary history.
A Day of Discovery, Friendship and Fun
We walked, explored, tasted, shopped, laughed and learned so much about a part of Johannesburg that many of us have driven past without ever really discovering.
Fordsburg is a neighbourhood where every street has a story, every shop has its own character and every corner offers something unexpected.
And perhaps that was the greatest lesson of the day.
You don’t have to travel halfway around the world to have an adventure. Sometimes the most fascinating places are right on your doorstep!
Another wonderful day of making memories with Adventures for Love.
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