Johannesburg, Apartheid Museum & Soweto tour with guide

Gold rush origins, apartheid prisons, and the street where two Nobel laureates lived

A guided tour of Johannesburg covering the city's gold-mining origins, its apartheid-era prisons at Constitution Hill, the Apartheid Museum's chronological account of the system's rise and fall, and Soweto's Mandela House on Vilakazi Street. A live English-speaking guide leads the route with hotel pickup included, and the itinerary spans from the city centre to the township where the 1976 uprising began.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Constitution Hill1h 30m · entry included
2. Newtownpassing by
3. Apartheid Museum2h
4. Mandela House30m · entry included

Explore Johannesburg and Soweto highlights

• Visit Ignatius Phillip Ferreira mine stope
• Tour Constitution Hill museum and prisons
• Explore Maboneng precinct
• Pass by Newtown and its bridge
• Visit Apartheid Museum
• See stamp battery crushing equipment
• Drive through Diepkloof Extension hostels
• Pass by largest hospital in Africa
• View Soweto cooling towers bungee jump site
• Walk Vilakazi Street
• Tour Mandela House museum
• Visit Hector Pieterson memorial and Avalon Cemetery
• Pass demonstrations site at Mzimhlophe station
• Drive through Bulte township

The experience

The tour starts in central Johannesburg at the Ferreira Mine Stope, a gold-mining shaft uncovered during construction of the Standard Bank building in the 1980s and now open to visitors daily. It dates to 1886, when prospector Ignatius Phillip Ferreira struck gold just three months after arriving from the Eastern Cape to join the Gauteng rush. From there, the route moves to Constitution Hill, a ridge between Hillbrow and Braamfontein that holds the Old Fort and Number Four prison block: notorious detention centres during apartheid where Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi were both imprisoned for their pro-democracy activism. The prisons now sit alongside the Constitutional Court, a symbol of South Africa's post-apartheid democracy.

The Apartheid Museum comes next, the first of its kind, illustrating the system's rise and fall through its exhibits. After that, the tour crosses into Soweto, the township established through forced removals and the site of the 1976 uprising. Vilakazi Street is the only street in the world to have housed two Nobel Laureates as residents: Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Mandela House, at 8115 Vilakazi Street, is the small face-brick home where the Mandela family lived from 1946 to the 1990s and now operates as a museum celebrating his life through artwork. The tour also passes the Hector Pieterson Memorial, which commemorates the 12-year-old who became the first child killed by police gunfire on June 16, 1976.

An air-conditioned vehicle transports the group throughout the day, and a live guide in English narrates the stops and their historical significance. Hotel pickup is included. Lunch can be added at checkout if you want it. The route is wheelchair accessible, and all areas and surfaces at the sites accommodate wheelchairs. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available in the vehicle.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle transport throughout the day.
• live guide in English.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• entry to Constitution Hill's former prisons.
• entry to the Apartheid Museum.
• access to Mandela House and Vilakazi Street in Soweto.
• the Hector Pieterson Memorial visit. Lunch can be added at checkout.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday to Sunday

AgesAdult (22 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Youth (13 to 21 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2): 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.

Paid on siteUS$ 11.70

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Lets Go Travel and Leisure

Is this one for you?The tour moves between multiple sites across Johannesburg and Soweto with a guide leading the stops, so it suits travelers who want context and history explained rather than self-guided exploration. An air-conditioned vehicle handles the transport, making it manageable for those who prefer not to navigate the city's layout independently or use public transit.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 21 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What is the Ferreira Mine Stope and why does it matter to Johannesburg's history?

The Ferreira Mine Stope is a gold-mining shaft that dates to 1886, when prospector Ignatius Phillip Ferreira struck gold just three months after arriving in Johannesburg to join the gold rush. It was rediscovered during construction of the Standard Bank building in the 1980s and is now open daily to visitors as a window into the city's earliest mining days.

Who was imprisoned at Constitution Hill during apartheid?

Constitution Hill held many political prisoners during apartheid, including Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, both imprisoned for their pro-democracy activism. The site also detained striking mineworkers, those deemed "anti-establishment," and people who violated the pass laws. The prison complex now stands alongside the Constitutional Court, representing both South Africa's dark past and its democratic future.

What can you see at Mandela House in Soweto?

Mandela House at 8115 Vilakazi Street is the small face-brick home where Nelson Mandela's family lived from 1946 to the 1990s. It is now a museum celebrating his life through artwork and stands on Vilakazi Street, the only street in the world that housed two Nobel Laureates as residents: Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.

What does the Hector Pieterson Memorial commemorate?

The Hector Pieterson Memorial commemorates the 12-year-old who became the first child killed by police gunfire on June 16, 1976, during the Soweto uprising. He is buried in Avalon Cemetery, where many of apartheid's victims are laid to rest.

Is this tour accessible for people using wheelchairs?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible throughout. All areas and surfaces at the sites accommodate wheelchairs, and the air-conditioned vehicle is equipped with wheelchair-accessible transportation options. Infants can also ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available in the vehicle.