The old Johannesburg suburb of Orchards is a very small suburb that sits between Norwood and Oaklands to the west of Louis Botha Avenue. The suburb is one of older, larger houses, many of which have been divided into apartments. Orchards is well placed for the many primary and secondary schools of the surrounding suburbs and for the quaint old fashioned high street shopping of Norwood.

Orchards is close to several golf clubs. The Houghton Golf Club is just to the southwest of Orchards, and a few blocks to the east is the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club. There are a further three courses at Huddle Park, which sits just to the north of Linksfield Ridge, the koppie that dominates the eastern suburbs of Johannesburg. Orchards is just a few blocks drive from the on ramp to the M1 highway that cuts through the centre of Johannesburg.