Johannesburg Tour: Soweto, Apartheid Museum & Heritage

Nine hours, three eras of South African history in one day

A full-day guided tour of Johannesburg covers the city's landmarks, Soweto township, and the Apartheid Museum with an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned transport. The itinerary includes Nelson Mandela's last home, Constitutional Hill, Vilakazi Street, the Hector Pieterson Memorial, Freedom Square and the museum's account of racial segregation and the liberation struggle. Pickup is included. Children from age 3 are welcome. WiFi and bottled water come with the vehicle.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Johannesburg and Soweto highlights

• Drive past Nelson Mandela’s last home
• Photo stop at Upper Houghton city views
• Walk through Constitutional Court and trial block
• Photo op at Mandela Bridge
• See Chancellors house - Mandela & Tambo law firm
• Brief stop at Gandhi Square statue
• Visit Maboneng Precinct arts and culture hub
• Drive by Soccer City Stadium
• See three classes of Soweto and hostels
• View Baragwanath hospital
• Visit Orlando towers
• Optional walk to informal settlement slums
• Visit Vilakazi Street
• Tour Nelson Mandela’s House Museum
• See Desmond Tutu’s former home
• Walk around Hector Pieterson Memorial
• Visit Freedom Square where freedom charter was signed
• Tour Apartheid Museum

The experience

Nine hours means the day holds all the major stops without rushing between them. You start in Houghton Estate, driving past Nelson Mandela's last home, then move through Constitutional Hill and the Constitutional Court (where you walk the awaiting trial block) before a photo stop at Mandela Bridge. Gandhi Square, the Maboneng Precinct arts hub and a drive past Soccer City Stadium fill the morning. The guide narrates the city's layout and history as you move through it.

Soweto takes the afternoon. You see three distinct residential areas and the hostels, pass Baragwanath Hospital and Orlando Towers, then walk Vilakazi Street to visit Nelson Mandela's House Museum and see Desmond Tutu's former home. The Hector Pieterson Memorial marks where the 1976 Soweto Uprising began. A short walk around it connects you to that moment. Freedom Square, where the Freedom Charter was signed, closes the township portion. An informal settlement walk is optional. You choose whether to include it.

The Apartheid Museum is the final stop. It documents South Africa's system of racial segregation and the decades-long fight against it, moving through the country's recent history in one building. The air-conditioned vehicle waits between stops. WiFi and bottled water travel with you. The guide speaks English throughout.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned transport throughout the day.
• English-speaking guide.
• bottled water.
• WiFi on board.
• all entry fees and taxes.
• hotel pickup and return.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 09:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by MHLANGANISI TRAVEL AND TOURS

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the major sites (Mandela's homes, Constitutional Hill, Soweto's streets and the Apartheid Museum) in a single day without arranging transport or navigating between neighborhoods yourself. The fixed schedule and included pickup mean you show up and the day unfolds. The guide handles the route and the history.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is Vilakazi Street and why does the tour spend time there?

Vilakazi Street in Soweto is where Nelson Mandela's House Museum stands, along with the former home of Desmond Tutu. The tour visits both residences to show where two of South Africa's most significant figures lived during the struggle against apartheid.

Can I skip the informal settlement walk, or is it mandatory?

The informal settlement walk is optional. You decide at the time whether to join it. The rest of the itinerary proceeds either way.

What does Constitutional Hill involve, and how much walking is there?

Constitutional Hill includes a walk through the Constitutional Court and the awaiting trial block, a historic prison section. The tour description notes it as a walk-through stop rather than a lengthy hike, suited to mixed fitness levels.

Is lunch included in the nine-hour tour?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You will have time during the day to eat, and the guide can point you toward local food options, but you arrange and pay for your own meal.

Does the tour pick me up from my hotel?

Yes, pickup is included. The operator will arrange collection from your accommodation in Johannesburg as part of the booking.