Sure Travel Journey Vol 5.1 Summer 2019 | Page 36

© ALL PHOTOS MELANIE VAN ZYL
1
1. TUCK INTO OFFBEAT
STREET EATS IN FORDSBURG
On a historical street food tour through
friendly Fordsburg in Johannesburg, Gilda
Swanepoel of Eenblond Tours paints a
vivid picture of this crazy city, starting in
Newtown in the city centre.
Gilda reminded us that Jo’burg started
out as a mining town built on the work of
immigrants, and it’s still a city that hustles.
Muslim, Middle Eastern, Asian and African
residents call Fordsburg home, and the
rich mix of culture spills out on the streets
36 // MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE
in the form of sensational street cuisine.
There are few menus to be found on this
walking tour, and it’s gritty at first, but
Fordsburg opens up when you explore with
Gilda at your side.
Starting with a sweet coconut samoosa
from the Oriental Plaza, you can literally
eat your way through the history of this
fascinating suburb. Street vendors offer
fresh coconut juice shipped in from the
shores of Mozambique; there’s sugarcane
juice and mango lassis, too (or avocado if
you prefer); sweetmeats are available in
every colour imaginable and, of course, an
abundance of spicy snacks. Meet the guys
behind smoking tandoori chicken fires and
learn more about Mahatma Gandhi, who
started his campaign of passive resistance
in these very streets.
THE DETAILS: Each three-hour tour
is limited to a maximum of 15 guests.
You’ll walk from Newtown to Fordsburg,
then catch an Uber back. The tour
includes lunch and snacks, but bring
cash for takeaways. R495 per adult.