Gay Travel in South Africa

Our incredibly beautiful country coupled with our warm welcome, make us a sought after destination. It is also a favoured destination for Gay and Lesbian travel. Since 1994 it has been the only country in the world where equality is guaranteed to the gay and lesbian community by a constitutional Bill of Rights, and as a leading tour operator, we offer travel services to the gay and lesbian community. Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria have all become places where gay life is widely accepted.

Gauteng and Johannesburg
Gauteng is a good base for those who want to incorporate a safari experience and combine it with a vibrant city visit. Johannesburg offers an energetic night life with a wide variety of night clubs and bars, and truly versatile shopping experience with venues such as the northern suburbs of Sandton, Rosebank, Hyde Park, all offering a range of shopping styles.

Pretoria
Pretoria has a few gay places of interest. There are several night clubs and bars that are gay friendly and shopping in Pretoria's Menlyn Centre provides a worthwhile shopping experience.

Durban
Although the gay scene is small in Durban, there are excellent gay-friendly restaurants and bars here. The Durban Lesbian & Gay Community & Health Centre has been established in order to provide services, support to the gay community and staff are on hand with information on what is happening on the gay scene in the city.

Cape Town
Cape Town city is gay friendly and there is a vibrant nightlife, numerous pubs, clubs, entertainment and organizations. There are also a vast amount of accommodation facilities. Aside from the cluster of gay clubs and bars in the city area, the vast majority of the nightspots (and there are plenty) offer a relaxed and stylish atmosphere for everyone. Cape Town is also known for its extraordinary beaches and Sandy Bay is no exception - situated on the Atlantic seaboard, it is known for its natural beauty and is also the only beach where you will find visitors basking nude in the South African sun.

Gay Events
Certain events on the calendar are also the foundation of South African gay culture such as:

The annual Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - Generally held during February, this festival showcases the best in the genre of the past year as well as showing a number of classics. The festival runs in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and Pretoria.

Pink Loerie Festival - Situated in Knysna on the Garden Route in the Western Cape, this festival is held annually and features theatre, art and partying events over a weekend in May.

The Mother City Queer Project - This annual costume party is held annually usually 10 days before Christmas in Cape Town is fast becoming one of the biggest events on the international queer calendar. Each year a new unique theme is created and participants are expected to dress accordingly. Some recent themes :Farm Fresh, Toy Box, Army Camp, the Twinkly Sea Project, The Locker Room and The Wedding.

Gay and Lesbian Pride - Johannesburg plays host to this South Africa's only Gay Pride. Consisting of a parade with many colourful floats as well as a party, the pride was first held in 1990 and is now an annual event at the end of September and attracts over 35 000 people. The event includes a week of activities which all lead up to the Pride March on the Saturday and is enriched by a range of simultaneous events in theatre, art, film, television and partying.

TOGS - the Organisation of Gay Sports which showcases athletic talent in the gay community. This Organisation hosted the Federation of Gay Games Annual Meeting in 2001. The Federation is the umbrella body of the Gay Games and South Africa will be putting in a bid for the Gay Games VIII in 2010. South Africa's first participation was in New York in 1994 with 14 athletes representing the country. The games last for two weeks and are usually held in September / October. In 2007 a team of approximately 40 contestants represented Johannesburg at the games which were held in Chicago.

For any enquiries for bookings of accommodation or tours, please contact us

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