Johannesburg, Soweto & Apartheid Museum tour: Full day

Stand on Vilakazi Street where two Nobel Peace Prize winners lived

A full-day guided tour of Johannesburg, Soweto and the Apartheid Museum with hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport. The route moves through Johannesburg's city center and Constitutional Hill, then into Soweto to visit Nelson Mandela's house, the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Vilakazi Street, before ending at the Apartheid Museum to see exhibits on South Africa's apartheid era and transition to democracy.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Johannesburg, Soweto, and Apartheid Museum

• Pickup guests and introduction
• Visit Houghton estate and Mandela house
• Drive through Munrho and Sj college school
• Tour Johannesburg city center and landmarks
• Visit Apartheid Museum exhibits
• Explore Soweto landmarks and neighborhoods
• Drive back to hotel

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel and a drive through Johannesburg's neighborhoods (Houghton estate, Hillbrow, and Constitutional Hill) to set the context of the city's history. You'll cross the Mandela Bridge and see the Transnet towers before heading into Soweto, where the itinerary centers on the township's landmarks and the people who shaped the country. Nelson Mandela's house sits on Vilakazi Street, the same street where Desmond Tutu lived before moving to Cape Town. You'll walk past both homes and understand why this single block holds such weight in South African history.

Soweto itself unfolds across the day's middle hours. You'll see the Hector Pieterson Memorial, marking where the first student was killed during the 1976 uprising against Afrikaans-language education. The route also passes through Diepkloof extension, the high-class residential area, and the tin houses of lower-income Soweto, so you encounter the township's full range. Soccer City Stadium, which hosted the 2010 World Cup opening and closing ceremonies, and the Orlando Towers, a former coal power station, anchor the stops. Winnie Mandela's house, where she spent her final years, is also on the route.

The Apartheid Museum closes the day. Its exhibits walk through the country's complex history under apartheid and the struggle for freedom, showing the journey to democracy through photographs, documents and personal accounts. The museum is the only structured indoor stop on the tour. Everything else is seen from the vehicle or on foot in the open air. An air-conditioned vehicle carries the group throughout, and bottled water is provided. The tour runs seven hours total, ending with a drive back to your hotel.

What’s included

• Bottled water and air-conditioned transport throughout the seven-hour tour.
• live English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup and return.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day11 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (17 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (6 to 16 years) · Child (2 to 5 years): free · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 12

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Zeb Tours and Transfers

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a guide explaining the apartheid history and Soweto landmarks as you visit them, rather than exploring independently or reading plaques on your own.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 16 years); Child (2 to 5 years): free; Infant (under 2): free.

What is Vilakazi Street and why does it matter?

Vilakazi Street in Soweto is where Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu both lived at different times: the only street in the world where two Nobel Peace Prize winners had homes. You'll walk past both houses on the tour and see the street itself, which is central to understanding South Africa's anti-apartheid movement.

What will I see at the Hector Pieterson Memorial?

The Hector Pieterson Memorial honors the first student killed during the 1976 uprising against the enforcement of Afrikaans-language education in township schools. The memorial marks a pivotal moment in the struggle against apartheid and is one of Soweto's most significant sites.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You'll have time to eat during the day, but you'll need to arrange and pay for it separately.

How much of the tour is spent inside vehicles versus walking?

Most of the tour is spent in the air-conditioned vehicle, which takes you through Johannesburg's neighborhoods and Soweto's streets. You'll get out to walk at specific stops (Nelson Mandela's house, Vilakazi Street, the Hector Pieterson Memorial, and the Apartheid Museum), but the bulk of the route is covered by car so you see the full geography of both cities.

Is the Apartheid Museum accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes. The museum is wheelchair accessible, and all areas and surfaces throughout the tour are accessible. The vehicle is also wheelchair accessible, and specialized infant seats are available if needed.