Johannesburg Soweto Tour: Apartheid Museum Mandela House

From the city of gold to the township that shaped a nation

A full-day guided tour of Johannesburg and Soweto takes you through Constitution Hill, a former prison turned democracy monument, across the mining district, and into the township where Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu lived on the same street. The tour includes stops at Mandela House, the Hector Petersen Museum, Vilakazi Street, and the Soweto Towers, with a lunch break and visits to street markets. A live guide in English or French narrates the history and culture throughout, and hotel pickup is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Constitution Hill1h 30m · entry included
2. Mandela House45m · entry included

Johannesburg and Soweto full-day tour

• Visit Constitution Hill museum
• Drive through Braamfontein and Nelson Mandela Bridge
• Tour Johannesburg mining district
• Stop at FNB Stadium
• Take photo at Soweto welcome sign
• Drive through Soweto and Diepkloof
• Pass Baragwanath hospital
• Drive through Soweto informal settlements
• Visit Soweto painted towers
• Pass Vilakazi Street
• Visit Mandela House museum
• Enjoy African cuisine lunch
• Visit Hector Peterson museum
• Explore Soweto street markets and curio shops

The experience

The day starts at Constitution Hill, a National Heritage Site where the old prison building was demolished to make way for the Constitution Court: a physical embodiment of South Africa's shift from Apartheid to democracy. From there, the route moves through Braamfontein and crosses the Nelson Mandela Bridge into Johannesburg's inner city, passing through the mining district where the gold rush of 1886 began. The FNB Stadium, built in the shape of an African calabash, marks the last Johannesburg stop before the drive into Soweto.

Soweto itself unfolds in layers. You'll stop at the iconic welcome sign for photos, then drive through Diepkloof (nicknamed the Beverly Hills of Soweto for its larger homes), and past Baragwanath Hospital, Africa's largest, originally built as a military facility and now a government-funded public hospital. A detour through the informal settlements shows the contrast in living conditions across the township, followed by the Soweto Towers, two painted structures that draw visitors and offer bungee jumping for those who want it. Vilakazi Street is the only street in the world where two Nobel Peace Prize winners (Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu) lived, and Mandela House, his former home, is a major stop on the route.

Lunch happens at a local restaurant serving African cuisine. After eating, the tour includes the Hector Petersen Museum, which documents the June 16, 1976 school uprising and the children who died, then time to browse street markets and curio shops for souvenirs. The vehicle is air-conditioned throughout, bottled water is provided, and WiFi is available on board. The tour runs eight hours total and is wheelchair accessible, with all areas and surfaces accommodating mobility devices.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout the eight-hour tour.
• bottled water and WiFi on board.
• a live guide in English or French.
• entry to Constitution Hill, Mandela House, and the Hector Petersen Museum.
• a lunch stop at a local restaurant.
• and time to browse Soweto's street markets and curio shops.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (5 to 90 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish and French

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 due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tourgy Tourz

Is this one for you?If you speak English or French fluently, this tour delivers the full narrative without translation gaps: the guide's commentary on Apartheid history, township culture and the sites themselves flows continuously. If you need a guide in another language, look for a different departure or confirm language availability before booking.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Constitution Hill and why does the tour start there?

Constitution Hill is a National Heritage Site that was once a prison during Apartheid. The old prison building was demolished to make way for the Constitution Court, which now protects South Africa's democracy and human rights: making it a symbol of the country's transformation from Apartheid to freedom.

Will I visit Nelson Mandela's house on this tour?

Yes, Mandela House on Vilakazi Street is a major stop. Vilakazi Street is the only street in the world where two Nobel Peace Prize winners (Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu) lived, and the tour includes time at Mandela's former home.

Does the tour include a meal?

A lunch stop at a local restaurant serving African cuisine is part of the tour itinerary. You'll eat after visiting the Soweto Towers and before the Hector Petersen Museum.

What does the Hector Petersen Museum cover?

The Hector Petersen Museum documents the events of June 16, 1976, when school children participated in an uprising against Apartheid. The museum remembers those who died and the history that shaped South Africa's future.

Is there time to shop for souvenirs?

Yes, after the museum visit, the tour includes time to explore street markets and curio shops in Soweto where you can buy local crafts and souvenirs.