In the early 1960s, Rivonia was a quiet farming area on the northern edge of Johannesburg, and Liliesleaf was a smallholding with a farmhouse, outbuildings and a thatched cottage. It was bought, through a front, by the South African Communist Party and used as a secret headquarters by the leadership of the liberation movement, including Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress. Nelson Mandela lived here for a time under a false name, posing as a worker called David Motsamayi. On 11 July 1963, police raided the farm and arrested much of the leadership, seizing documents that led to the Rivonia Trial, in which Mandela and others were sentenced to life imprisonment. Mandela's speech from the dock, declaring an ideal for which he was prepared to die, became one of the defining moments of the struggle against apartheid.
Liliesleaf is now a museum and heritage site, with exhibits telling the story of the raid, the trial and the wider struggle. In 2024, it became part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites. The once-rural farm is now surrounded by the affluent northern suburbs of Johannesburg, with walls, security gates and busy roads, a stark contrast with the secret life it once hid.
The riding in Johannesburg's northern suburbs is urban, with heavy traffic, traffic lights, minibus taxis and potholes. Personal security is a concern, so ride in daylight, keep valuables out of sight and park in secure areas. For better riding, head north-west towards the Cradle of Humankind, a World Heritage site of caves where some of the most important early human fossils have been found, including at Sterkfontein. The roads through the rolling grasslands and hills of the Magaliesberg, towards the Hartbeespoort dam, are popular with local riders, with curves, climbs and views.
The Highveld climate is pleasant for much of the year, with sunny days and cool nights, though summer afternoons bring dramatic thunderstorms with lightning and hail. Winter mornings can be cold.
Fuel, food and every service are easy to find in Randburg, Sandton and the surrounding suburbs. Try boerewors, a spiced sausage grilled on the braai, or a plate of pap and chakalaka, a maize porridge with spicy relish, at a local restaurant.