Gay Guide to Johannesburg
Johannesburg's gay scene is smaller than Cape Town's but lively, centered on the bohemian suburb of Melville, especially 7th Street, with more events in Illovo and brunch spots in Parkhurst. Babylon is the popular drag-and-dance bar, alongside the unpretentious Ratz and the crossover Liquid Blue just down the road. Johannesburg Pride, held each October, is a multi-day celebration and one of Africa's oldest. South Africa was the first country in the world to constitutionally protect gay rights, and Jozi pairs its fast pace with a welcoming, spread-out scene.