It is early Saturday morning in Johannesburg, and I am perched on the back seat of a Safari vehicle in search of the Big Five. No, we were not heading to Johannesburg Zoo, but rather to Jozi’s inner-city and burbs to admire some of the best graffiti in Africa.
The word graffiti comes from the Italian word ‘to scratch’. Graffiti, or street art as it is often called, is arguably the biggest single modern art movement in the world today. The graffiti artist Banksy’s shredding of his little-girl-holding-a-red-balloon painting not only got everyone talking about graffiti but probably also put it on the map as a recognized art form.
While most people see graffiti as vandalism, Eelco Meyjes, a retired marketer and Johannesburger, has great admiration for the art form and the artists behind it. He has made it his mission to introduce people to this unique art form. And Johannesburg is the perfect place to do just that. With its high walls and electric fences, the city has thousands of open-air canvases for graffiti artists to share their work both legally and illegally. Today Jozi is the new Mecca of graffiti art on the African continent. Some of the best graffiti artists in the world call Jozi home.
Eelco is not only an art-lover, but also an avid cyclist. On his many rides through the city, he started noticing some impressive graffiti and street-art. As time passed, he realized that Johannesburg’s graffiti and street art needed someone to string them together and make a huge street art gallery of them. And he was the perfect guy for the job. So, in January 2019, with more than 800 graffiti walls in his memory-map and his trusty e-bike, Eelco started Graffiti Coffee Rides. These rides’ popularity has grown since then, and large numbers or cyclists now join the once-a-month graffiti tours. As the tours grew, cyclists started asking how their non-cycling friends and family could also enjoy the burgeoning street-art gallery.
October 2021 saw the introduction of Graffiti Safari tours. To experience Jozi and her graffiti and street-art gallery from a Safari vehicle is something special. The vehicle seats 9 people and you can bring your own refreshments. Remember a blanket as it can get chilly on the back of the vehicle. Children are also welcome if they are accompanied by an adult. There are four routes to choose from. Route A takes you to the northern suburbs while route C visits the Westdene graffiti art project. To see some of the best graffiti in Newtown and Braamfontein opt for Route D. These two areas are considered to be the graffiti epicentre of South Africa. But if the Big 5 is what you are looking for, then you’ll want to ask for Route B. Route B takes guests in search of graffiti wildlife all over the city.
Both the Safari Tours and Coffee rides are great outings for a family or group of friends. It is also a great way to showcase Johannesburg to tourists. Taking tourists on a Jozi Safari before taking them to the bush will ensure a safari experience that will not be forgotten.
To book your spot on the next Graffiti Safari Tour or Graffiti Coffee ride contact Eelco Meyjes at ebikersa@gmail.com or 082 457 4936.
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Images: Provided by Eelco Meyjes, Fay van Eeden
