The Victoria Yards 5km

The 5 km route is ideal for families with children and those seeking a gentle walk. The route starts at Ellis Park, crosses over Bertrams Road and goes around Joburg Cricket Club’s beautiful cricket oval at Hope Village.

The Joburg Cricket Club is a community-focused club with a deep-rooted history in community development and social upliftment. The ground serves as a hub for youth development, offering a safe space for sport and community engagement.

The route then goes past the Nando’s head office in Lorentzville. Known as the Central Kitchen, it’s a beautifully repurposed industrial building reflecting the brand’s "fun and fiery" personality.

Nando’s is the largest collector of contemporary South African art in the world. Their head office serves as a massive gallery, filled with sculptures, paintings, and bespoke furniture from local designers. By keeping their headquarters in the inner city rather than moving to wealthier suburbs like Sandton, they helped spark a creative corridor in the district.

Opposite Nando’s, the route enters Victoria Yards. It was transformed from a derelict steam laundry, built in 1913, into a thriving urban ecosystem centred on art, community, and vegetable gardens. It is home to over 40 tenants, including world-class artists, designers, and Jozi My Jozi’s Babize Bonke hero, the artist James Delaney.

Crossing over the Jukskei river, whose source is under Ellis Park, the route winds back past the Troyeville Hotel, which was established in 1939.

Famous for its authentic Portuguese cuisine, it’s one of the best places in the city for grilled piri-piri chicken, prawns, beef trinchado, and pastéis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts). There are stunning 360-degree views of the city skyline from The Troyeville.

After walking through the Ellis Park Stadium, the 5 km walk finishes next to the Johannesburg Athletic Stadium, where walkers are invited to spend the rest of the day relaxing, listening to the Walk the Talk concert.