Hi, my name is Jonathan but please feel free to call me Jono for short.

I'm from Cape Town, South Africa and I'm a musician by profession. I play trumpet in a number of different bands, I teach part time and I write and arrange music.

I'm passionate about my country and education. South Africa is a country of huge inequalities and it is still suffering from the lasting trauma of apartheid which ended in 1994. It's also a country of incredible beauty and diversity and there is a lot of hope for the future. I run a music program (with an organisation called Bottomup) in a township that is near to my home. Over the years I've also helped with teaching Maths and Physics in townships and rural areas of my country as it energises me to see youth empowered with opportunities.

I love the outdoors, new adventures and new experiences. I enjoy running/hiking and exploring mountains. I'm into hang gliding and windsurfing. I also enjoy riding motorcycles and going on roadtrips to new places with friends. It's all about the people for me. Whether I'm traveling or doing activities with friends, or meeting new people along the way - it's the people that make the experience.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I would love to travel and stay with real people who can share stories and new perspectives. I like the idea of taking the pretentiousness out of traveling and getting to know places through the eyes of a local. If I have my own place some day I would love to host.

Interests

• music
• hiking
• windsurfing
• trail running
• hang gliding
• motorcycling

Music, Movies, and Books

Music - All kinds of Jazz. Some favourites include: Clifford Brown, Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, Bill Evans. Some bands that I love are The Cat Empire, Anderson Paak, Childish Gambino, Vulfpeck and too many more to name.

Books - Some books I've recently enjoyed: Born to Run, The Martian, Ender's Game, Outliers.

Movies - Some of my favourites include: Star Wars, Black Panther, Whiplash, Interstellar, Lion.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've backpacked through the Umfolozi Game reserve for a week, sleeping under the stars, taking night watches with friends all while witnessing incredible wildlife such as rhino, elephant, crocodile, hyena, wild dogs, zebra, giraffe and the list goes on.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share my knowledge on music and insight into South Africa. I'm also more than happy to cook a meal for you (if you trust me enough..) and do some chores!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, Italy, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe