Johannesburg and Soweto Historical Half Day Tour

Walk through the sites that shaped South Africa's fight for freedom

A half-day tour of Johannesburg and Soweto led by a native guide who lived through the history you're visiting. The route covers Mandela House, the Hector Peterson Museum documenting the 1976 student protests, Regina Mundi Church, Constitution Hill and Freedom Square, where the Freedom Charter was adopted in 1955. Private transport and all museum entrance fees are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Soweto1h · entry included
2. Mandela House30m · entry included
3. Constitution Hill1h · entry included

Explore Johannesburg and Soweto history

• Visit Hector Peterson Museum
• See Mandela and Tutu houses
• Visit Regina Mundi Church
• Tour Constitutional Hill
• Learn at Freedom Charter site

The experience

Your guide meets you for a five-hour tour that starts in Soweto and moves through downtown Johannesburg, stopping at sites central to South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle. The Hector Peterson Museum holds the weight of the 1976 uprising: the government had ordered schools to teach in Afrikaans, and students organized protests that turned into a turning point for the country's politics. Hundreds of schoolchildren were shot. Many died, others fled into exile. Your guide, born and raised in Johannesburg or Soweto, walks you through what happened and what it meant.

Mandela House sits on the same street as Desmond Tutu's home. Nelson Mandela's house is now a family museum open to the public, and a visit shows how he lived with his first wife and later his second wife Winnie, and how they navigated security police raids during apartheid. Regina Mundi Church, called "the people's parliament," hosted funerals for those killed in the protests from the 1970s through the 1980s. Desmond Tutu presided over many of them. At Constitution Hill, an accredited site guide takes you through the orientation room and traces the precinct's history from its opening as a prison in 1893 to the Constitutional Court's inauguration in 2004. Freedom Square is where the Freedom Charter (ten guiding principles for the struggle against apartheid) was adopted in 1955.

The air-conditioned vehicle handles all transport between sites. Museum entrance fees are covered in the price, and your guide speaks English throughout the day.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• all museum entrance fees.
• a live English-speaking guide.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday to Sunday

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 90 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Kharivhone Exclusive Tours

Is this one for you?Five hours leaves room for other activities in your day if you're visiting Johannesburg for the first time or have a free afternoon, but it covers the major sites that shaped the country's anti-apartheid movement without rushing through them.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happened at the Hector Peterson Museum and why does it matter?

The Hector Peterson Museum documents the 1976 student protests in Soweto, when the government ordered schools to teach in Afrikaans. Students organized the uprising themselves. Hundreds were shot and many died. The protest became a turning point in South Africa's politics and the fight against apartheid.

Can I visit Mandela House on this tour?

Yes. Mandela House, now a family museum, is one of the stops. It shows how Nelson Mandela lived with his wives and navigated security police raids during apartheid. The house sits on the same street as Desmond Tutu's home.

What is Constitution Hill and what will I see there?

Constitution Hill is an accredited heritage site where an on-site guide takes you through the orientation room and explains the precinct's history. It was built as a prison in 1893 and later became the home of South Africa's Constitutional Court, which opened in 2004.

Who are the guides on this tour?

Your guide is a native South African born and raised in or around Johannesburg and Soweto. They have lived experience of the country's history and speak English throughout the tour.