Johannesburg city tour and skateboarding lesson in Maboneng

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/21

Duration3h

GroupUp to 5

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

You'll skate past Nelson Mandela's old law firm and learn Johannesburg's history from the ground up.

This three-hour skateboarding class and walking tour in Johannesburg starts with a beginner lesson in Maboneng, then combines skating and walking through four neighbourhoods—Maboneng, Gandhi Square, Marshalltown and Newtown—while a local guide shares the city's complex history from 1886 onward. No prior skateboarding experience is needed; all protective gear and skateboards are provided, and transport back to the meeting point is included.

The Experience

The experience opens in Maboneng with a skate lesson covering how to stand, push, turn and stop on a board. Once you have the basics, you'll skate around this neighbourhood—named one of the world's 12 coolest by Forbes in 2018—and move through its street art, hangout spots and street life on your own board. The pace alternates between skating and walking depending on the terrain and what the guide wants to show you.

From Maboneng you skate and walk to Gandhi Square, where the guide explains Mohandas Gandhi's time in Johannesburg between 1903 and 1913, then continue through Marshalltown learning about the city's origins from 1886 onward. You'll pass the site of Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo's old law firm on Fox Street. The route ends in Newtown, where the guide covers Johannesburg's arts and culture scene and its role in South Africa's development. A local perspective on the city's complicated history runs through the whole three hours.

All protective gear—skateboards, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards and helmets—is supplied. The guide speaks English and the experience is designed for all skill levels; children from age 8 can join if accompanied by an adult for the full duration. Transport back to Curiocity Backpackers, the meeting point, is included at the end.

What’s included

Skateboard, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards and helmet for the full three hours.
beginner skateboarding lesson covering stance, pushing, turning and stopping.
English-speaking local guide leading you through Maboneng, Gandhi Square, Marshalltown and Newtown.
transport back to Curiocity Backpackers at the end.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by City Skate Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to learn skateboarding basics while moving through the city with a small group and a local guide—the combination of hands-on instruction and walking history means you're not just sightseeing, you're actually riding the streets and hearing them explained as you go.