Step on to the Mystery Ghost Bus and experience a night of fun, interesting facts and possibly a cold shiver here and there. Get to experience a whole new side of Joburg as you hear the haunted stories of well-known Joburg venues.
We got to experience the Joburg Mystery Ghost Bus Tour last month; we met at the Pound & Penny Pub at Sunnyside Park Hotel and had a meal before the tour began, then everyone gathered at the entrance and learned about the history of the paranormal activity at the sun dial opposite the hotel’s main entrance’s stairs.
Then it was time for the adventure to begin, on route to the Devonshire Hotel, we drove past the Old Transvaal Children’s Memorial Hospital, Women’s Prison, The “Old Fort”, Statue of Godzilla and Queen Victoria Hospital, while passing each we heard about the haunted encounters people have experienced and some of the known spirits, one such is the infamous Daisy de Melker who holds the title of being the first serial killer to ever be convicted in South Africa.
In the 1920s, Daisy quietly killed off two husbands and a son, supposedly for their money. Her favoured method for murder was to poison her victims with either arsenic or strychnine – sending them to an agonising death. She was finally discovered and convicted and hanged in 1932 amidst much media attention.
Her home in Club Street in Turffontein is still standing and sometimes Daisy can still be seen there, peering out of the upstairs window. It is assumed that she is watching for one of her husbands to return home so that she can set her ruthless plot in motion. Many people passing by have noticed the curtain moving and a ghostly looking hand appearing at around six o’clock in the evening…
Once we arrived at the Devonshire Hotel we enjoyed a drink in the pub, then we went to the Dark Haunted Room…
Back on the bus we drove past the Kensington Sanatorium, Poltergeist House on Roberts Avenue, Jeppe Boys High School and again heard about the haunted sightings and happenings. We arrived at the Kensington Castle; one of the city’s most impressive castles in Kensington. Constructed in 1911, it has 10 rooms on four levels and is perched on the hill opposite Langermann’s Kop, in Highland Road.
There we heard the story of Englishman Samuel Scott Wilson who built it for his wife Kate MacKirdie, who agreed to marry him on condition that he build her a castle.
It is believed that the castle was modelled on the Rothsay castle in Scotland, with help from Herbert Baker’s architectural firm. Its walls are one metre thick, with battlements and two walk-on roofs, and a ship’s cannon in the garden.
When we got on the bus again we heard a dramatic recording, classic old radio style of “Spook Wagon of the Spokeveld”
Our next stop was the Troyeville Hotel where we were able to order refreshments and heard about the Ducktail Gang ghost, you may just feel an icy presence as you enter the building
We took a drive to the Braamfontein Cemetery whilst listening to EVP recordings. At the cemetery everyone got to experience using Dowsing Rods followed by a walk to some of the graves where we heard the stories of people who have long since passed away but are still here in spirit.
After a night full of adventure and gaining knowledge of Joburg’s haunted spots it was time to return to the starting pub.
I would definitely recommend this tour; it’s a great night out with many stops and experiences.
About the Tours
R 299 per person (excluding Meals & Drinks). 15 Years & Up. Duration: 5 Hours.
Venues, stories & routes change all the time (especially for our repeat visitors).
