Lesley gave us a great overview of Johannesburg: it's history, ongoing issues, and a good understanding of its culture. She was friendly and accommodating, and I would recommend booking with her!
Private tour in Johannesburg Lesley O
4.8
(49) reviews
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Lesley O.
4.9
Guide rating
307
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Tours delivered
11 hrs
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I love my country passionately and have always had a deep-seated interest in all it holds, especially its history and wildlife. South Africa is blessed with the most incredible variety and richness of landscape, flora, fauna and people. There is nothing I enjoy more than showing this bounty to visitors and giving my guests an insight into my world. I enjoy one-on-one communication, discussing points of interest raised by the guests. I always customize the itinerary to suit special interests, and am quite happy to change things to suit during the tour, provided no pre-bookings have been made. My special interest is wildlife, and therefore I have trained as a field guide as well as a tour guide. This allows me to add depth to any tour, but especially the Nature tours. I strive to deliver a quality, personal touring experience. No matter whether historical, cultural or natural, the journey is both unique and unforgettable. I have lived in South Africa most of my life, and have been resident in the Gauteng area for 50 years. I have a passion for history and the natural world and enjoy sharing my knowledge with others. I have a personal interest in ornithology (that's birds!) and trips to suit those with a special interest in birds and birding can be arranged with the greatest of pleasure. I believe that every place has a story. As a guide, I strive to tell such stories in an interesting and informative way. Visiting the setting around which the story evolved brings a feeling of reality to the events. Whether visiting a museum or exploring a game reserve, on a day trip or on a long journey to the lesser-known parts of the country, I plan my routes through interesting areas imparting as much local knowledge as possible along the way. Many visitors want to see where and how local people live, so I take the back routes rather than flying past on the highways. Wherever possible, I vary my return route so as to enjoy as much of this beautiful country as possible. I do not have set itineraries. I tailor each tour to suit the client - from the food to the route, the places and the people. The museum may be the same, but the route we take and what we see along the way will be planned according to the client's interests ensuring a unique, personal experience. Registered South African Tourist Guide for Gauteng, North-West and Mpumalanga provinces. Field Guide registered with Field Guide Association of South Africa. Field Guides are essentially Game Rangers, proficient to take tourists through Nature and Game Reserves.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Lesley O.
Do you have a few hours between flights with nothing but the airport lounge to fill them? Instead of sitting there, let me show you a little of the City of Gold. I will customize a tour for you to fit the time available and your interests. Want some exercise? A drive to the National Botanical Gardens will show you a cross-section of the city, and a hike to the top of the waterfall will reward you with views of the city, the natural vegetation and possibly a glimpse of our city-nesting Verraux's Eagles! A drive to the site of the first gold strike passes through old suburbs giving a glimpse of areas of early development and how people live. Johannesburg has unique museums and an intriguing history - all waiting for you! I can customize the itinerary to suit your interests. On all tours I tell the story of our part of the world.
Lesley gave us a great overview of Johannesburg: it's history, ongoing issues, and a good understanding of its culture. She was friendly and accommodating, and I would recommend booking with her!
We had a great tour with Lesley. Learned the geologic history which greatly impacted local history. Toured the neighborhoods saw great architecture, street art while discussing Joburg today. Lesley is a fountain of information on the people and the various roles they played in the formation of this city. We are still talking about the tour as we safari.
Lesley provided an excellent 6 hr private tour of Johannesburg for the 4 of us in March 2026. We had limited time in Joho because had an 18 hr stopover before flying to Victoria Falls. She made good suggestions on how to make the best use of our time. Her large VW vehicle was spacious for the 4 of us, with excellent visibility of the outside views.
Lesley was terrific. When we arrived at the airport, she greeted us on time, with a clearly written sign with my name on it. Knowing that passengers often arrive hungry & dehydrated, she had snacks, fresh fruit & water waiting for us. She gave us a wonderful tour, telling us the history of her country, in between stops. Lesley is incredibly knowledgeable and easy to be with. Highly recommended!
Lesley O is THE BEST! Don’t miss an opportunity to tour with her. She has incredible knowledge about South Africa, a great passion for her country, and she is entertaining and engaging. She takes extra special care of her clients with snacks and beverages, a clean, comfortable tour bus and kindness. We appreciated Lesley’s wonderful tours. Book with Lesley O!
Well planned and very informative day trip around Joburg. Leslie knows the history of her city and presents it in a super interesting way.
- We travel through the suburbs, new to old, to the site of the first discovery of gold, George Harrison Park west of the city. We pass through areas such as Rosebank, Sandton, Parktown North, Parkhurst, Emmarentia, Melville and Brixton. - From there we go into town to Mary Fitzgerald Square and MuseumAfrica in Newtown - Chancellor House where we can stop at the outdoor museum on Mandela in Johannesburg - Down Diagonal street, past the Library to Main Street Mall for the mining exhibits - Through the city passing City Hall, the old shopping district to the Carlton Centre. I try to give as wide a view of the city as possible in the time available and discuss the history fully. I highlight what was, what happened and the changes taking place today. The time you have available will determine how much we can fit in. If you wish to go out of town to the Botanical Gardens or similar, please ask for a customised quotation.
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I have a VW Microbus, able to take a maximum of 7 passengers, 5 excluding the middle seats, in air-conditioned comfort.
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide: The airport, or your place of accommodation.
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