Dating in Johannesburg, South Africa - Date Single Men and Women in Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and has the largest economy among all other metropolitan areas in Sub-Saharan Africa. Variously known as Jo’burg, Jozi or eGoli, Johannesburg is not only an important commercial center of the continent but in fact one of the best places to live and love in this part of the world.

The modern history of Johannesburg has been definitively shaped by the discovery of vast reserves of gold and diamond in the adjoining areas in late nineteenth century. This led to a scramble among the Western colonial powers which was eventually resolved by British victory in the Boer Wars. The apartheid government of South Africa undertook a series of major infrastructural development in Johannesburg in the mid-twentieth century which created a swanky central business district. Towards the end of the century however with an elected government in South Africa, Johannesburg saw the focus shift towards decentralized townships, shopping malls, office districts and recreational centers, all of which today make it one of the few African cities to have a world-class social life.

The demographic profile of Johannesburg indicate a multi-racial society even though Africans at 73% constitute an overwhelming majority of the three million strong city population, according to figures provided by the 2001 South African National Census. Caucasians make up 16%, coloreds 6% and Asians 4% of the rest of the population. Dating in Johannesburg has quite a multicultural aspect at present even though in the past the races had been socially segregated because of the practice of apartheid.

After the policy of decentralization was taken up by the city administration, Johannesburg saw numerous suburbs coming up on every direction. Today the north and northwestern suburbs are some of the most up market areas of the city with most of the big retail brands, shopping malls, swanky pubs and fine dining places located here. Areas like Melville are replete with bars, cafes and nightclubs which draw singles with their colorful and Bohemian nightlife. Among the immediate city suburbs one of the hangouts most popular with the young people of Johannesburg, especially its African crowd, is Yeoville and despite the ill-repute to which it has fallen in recent times, it continues to draw singles looking for a date and a good time. Other suburbs which offer popular dating opportunities with their cafes, pubs and restaurants are Newtown, Parkhurst, Norwood and Greenside. Among the nightclubs and lounge bars where the rich and fashionable of the city let their hair down are Vacca Matta Montecasino, Pharaoh’s, FTV Lounge Sandton, Movida and Olive Lounge.

Singles who are interested in art and culture are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing dating venues in Johannesburg. The Johannesburg Art Gallery showcases the best of African and European figurative painting while Museum Africa traces the cultural history of the city with many pieces on rock art. Besides these there are the Apartheid Museum and the Hector Pieterson Museum. Then again for those interested in performing arts there is the Market Theater complex as well as the Johannesburg Civic Theater which host world class productions, both in English and local languages. Other venues in Johannesburg like the city Zoo and the Gold Reef City, a vast amusement park, can offer ideal dating opportunities for singles who like fun ways to socialize.

The people of Johannesburg have a thing for sports and when it comes to dating, high-profile matches and after-match parties make for some great opportunities to spend an evening with a partner. Among the venues which host the most popular soccer, cricket, rugby and association football games in Johannesburg are the Wanderer Stadium, the Rand Stadium, Alexander Stadium, Soccer City and the Coca Cola Park.

The presence of several public and private universities in Johannesburg is evidence that students make up a sizeable percentage of the city’s young population. While the recently-constituted University of Johannesburg and the University of Witwatersrand are the most renowned centers of government-funded higher education, among the privately-owned institutes the Monash University and the Midrand Graduate Institute have the best reputation. The campus is thus both a determinant of dating trends in Johannesburg as well as venue where students from various cultures and places can mingle and get to know each other socially.

Johannesburg is also known for its ample and beautiful green spaces. The parks and gardens of the city in fact are quite popular as dating venues with couples as much as they are frequented by single nature lovers looking for a co-enthusiast. The Johannesburg Botanical Garden at Emmarentia, the Delta Park at Blairgowrie and the Huddle Park at Linsfield are a few of the best maintained natural spaces in Johannesburg.

For those singles of Johannesburg too busy to do the bar-and-nightclub routine or looking for something specific in a partner, the Internet offers several dating opportunities. There are a huge number of dating websites specifically directed at the singles of Johannesburg as well as cultural and social portals dedicated to the city which also function to bring its men and women together on a common platform.

Overall, the plenitude of cultural and recreational offerings of the city, make Johannesburg one of the best places in Africa to have a full and busy social life.