Sometimes, the best way to discover a city is not on a tour, but over a good conversation. Charlie and Gerald are available to meet you at a venue of your choice – a hotel, restaurant, coffee shop, or wherever suits you – and share the captivating history of Johannesburg or Cape Town in a personal LocalPlaces Story Session.
This is an especially attractive option for guests who do not have sufficient time to join a tour. Let us meet you for lunch, dinner or coffee and share some of our amazing stories with you. In just a couple of hours, you can gain a fascinating background understanding of the country and the cities you are visiting — and perhaps see them quite differently afterwards.
Cape Town Story Sessions:
Choose the period that interests you most.
Ancient & Dutch Times (1200 – 1795)
The surprising and fascinating early history of the Cape.
British Times (1795 – 1910)
A period of extraordinary change as British influence transformed the Cape and its place in the wider world.
Recent Times (1910 – 1990)
The complex and often turbulent story of Cape Town and South Africa through the twentieth century.
Contemporary Times (1990 – 2026)
The remarkable story of change, democracy and the Cape Town of today.
Johannesburg Story Sessions:
Explore the fascinating story of Johannesburg through three defining periods.
Ancient times to Gold Rush (1200 – 1902)
From ancient societies to the gold rush that transformed a dusty Highveld landscape into a rapidly growing city.
Glory to Apartheid Days (1902 – 1973)
The rise of Johannesburg as South Africa’s economic powerhouse and the contradiction of Apartheid.
Changing Times (1973 – 2026)
The dramatic social, political and economic changes that shaped the Johannesburg we know today.
Or simply come with questions:
You don’t have to choose a particular period. We can simply meet you for a relaxed question-and-answer session, allowing you to explore whatever aspects of Johannesburg, Cape Town or South Africa you are curious about.
Costs:
Up to 4 guests: R2400
Plus Uber transport to and from the meeting venue.
More than 4 guests: R600 per person.
Plus Uber transport to and from the meeting venue.
For groups of more than 6 guests, we can prepare a custom quote.
A Story Session typically takes one and a half hours. Allowing time for discussion, we recommend setting aside two hours. Longer or shorter sessions can also be arranged to suit your schedule.
Come and meet us. Bring your questions. We’ll bring the stories.