Wait, you can actually do that in Jo’burg?

There’s a whole other side of the city that involves jumping out of towers, cycling through the city at night, floating above the Cradle of Humankind and even scuba diving.

So, if you’ve been saying “there’s nothing to do in Joburg” lately, allow us to prove you wrong. Here are some things you can actually do in and around the city.

Do an escape room

Put your problem-solving skills and your friendships to the test with an escape room. You and your group are locked into a themed room and have to work together to find clues, solve puzzles and make your way out before time runs out.

For something properly competitive, try The Gr8 Escape in Fourways or Hashtag Escape in Bedfordview. It’s the kind of activity where you’ll quickly discover who in your friendship group is actually useful under pressure.

Go paintballing

Forget sitting around a table, get competitive instead. Paintball is a great group activity when you want a little chaos, strategy and bragging rights.

Fun Paintball in the south of Joburg and Paintball Place in Noordheuwel are two options to check out. Or make your paintball session even more memorable and head to Soweto Towers, where you can play inside the bottom of one of the old cooling towers.

Go karting

Because nothing says “I’m doing something this weekend” quite like trying to overtake your friends at 40-something kilometres an hour.

There are several karting options around the city. Go for the racing, stay for the inevitable argument about who was actually fastest.

Go for a proper hike

Jo’burg doesn't get enough credit for how green it can be. You can go from city traffic to walking through grassland, koppies and indigenous vegetation surprisingly quickly.

Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve is one of the best places to start, with more than 700 hectares of natural space and hiking as its main activity.

For something closer to the city, The Wilds offers scenic trails and views across Jo’burg.

Basically, you don't need to drive to the Drakensberg every time you want a proper hike.

Laugh With Strangers At Artistry Sundays

Swap another night at the bar for a night of stand-up at Artistry Sundays. Their comedy nights bring together local comedians and a crowd of strangers looking for a good laugh, which honestly is a pretty solid way to spend a Sunday evening.

Catch a show at one of Jo’burg’s theatres

If you haven't been to the theatre in a while, consider this your sign to book a ticket. Jo’burg has stages all over the city, putting on everything from major musicals and ballet to local plays, comedy, experimental theatre and live performance.

A few worth keeping on your radar: Joburg Theatre, The Market Theatre, Theatre On The Square, The Teatro at Montecasino, The Lyric Theatre, Roodepoort Theatre and Soweto Theatre.

Cycle through the city at night with Banditz

Seeing Jo’burg from the seat of a bicycle is a completely different experience, especially after dark.

BANDITZ BICYCLE CLUB/CYCLE BOUTIQUE runs regular rides around the city, including the Homies Night Ride every Thursday. It’s a social way to explore Jo’burg after dark, meet other cyclists and see parts of the city from a completely different perspective.

You don't need to turn the ride into a serious cycling mission. Just bring your bike, your energy and a willingness to keep up.

Go on a hot air balloon ride

If you want to do something that feels like you've left Jo’burg entirely, take to the skies.

AirVentures Hot Air Ballooning operates flights over the Cradle of Humankind, about 45 minutes from Johannesburg. Their classic experience includes an early-morning balloon flight over the landscape followed by breakfast.

And if you're lucky, you can even spot wildlife from above during one of their safari flights.

It's definitely more of a splurge than most activities on this list, but it's also one of those experiences you'll remember.

Try horse riding

You don't need to be an experienced equestrian to give horse riding a go.

Ravenwood Stables in Linksfield is one option within Johannesburg, while there are also a number of riding experiences around the city's outskirts.

It's a slower-paced option for when you want to spend time outdoors without necessarily spending the day hiking or cycling.

Go indoor rock climbing

Get off the couch and onto a wall.

CityROCK Johannesburg - Indoor Climbing Gym in Fontainebleau offers an indoor climbing environment where beginners and experienced climbers can test themselves.

It's part workout, part problem-solving and part “why can't I get my foot up there?”

Hit a water park when it's hot

When Joburg decides to turn up the heat, you can always swap the beer garden for a water slide.

Mzansi Happy Island Theme Park in Muldersdrift is a full water-park day out, with slides, pools and rides. It operates seasonally, so check the latest opening dates before making the trip.

It's particularly good for a group of friends who want something fun, active and guaranteed to make you feel like a child again.

Spend a day at Bass Lake

For something that feels much further from the city than it actually is, make your way to Bass Lake Henley in Henley on Klip.

The 75-hectare adventure resort, around 45 minutes south of Sandton, offers a surprisingly long list of things to do: scuba diving, fishing, kayaking, swimming, snorkelling, hiking, 4x4 activities and camping.

Bass Lake is particularly known as an open-water diving spot, with a 10-hectare spring-fed lake and depths reaching up to 23 metres.

You could easily make this an entire day — or stay overnight and turn it into a mini escape from the city.

Bungee jump at Soweto Towers

If you really want to test yourself, there's always the big one.

SOWETO TOWERS is home to a 100m bungee jump from the suspension bridge between the iconic Orlando cooling towers.

But you don't have to throw yourself off a tower to have an adventure there.

The site also offers SCAD freefall, a 700m zipline across Orlando Dam, paintball, a lift ride and viewing experience, and a straightjacket bungee.

So whether you're looking for a full-blown adrenaline rush or just want to see Soweto from 360 degrees above the ground, there's something here for you.

And if you really do need a drink…

Look, we said this list was about doing something other than drinking, but we’re not here to judge.

If a glass of wine is what you need after all that activity, you don't even have to leave the city. Gerakaris Family Wines brings wine tasting to the heart of Jo’burg, giving you the chance to sample locally produced wines without making the trip out to the Cape Winelands.

Because sometimes the answer isn't another night out, it's just a really good glass of wine.

So, what are you doing this weekend?

Johannesburg might be famous for its nightlife, restaurants and social scene, but there's a whole other side of the city waiting to be explored.

Sometimes you don't need another place to eat or another bar to try. You just need to actually do something.