Soweto and Apartheid Museum tour: Mandela House and lunch

Walk through Mandela House and the street where two Nobel laureates lived

A full-day guided tour of Soweto covers Mandela House, the Apartheid Museum, and the Hector Pieterson memorial, with lunch included at Sakhumzi restaurant on Vilakazi Street. Your guide leads you through the township's role in the anti-apartheid struggle, stopping at the sites where Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu lived and worked. The tour includes hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, and WiFi on board.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Mandela House2h
2. Soweto2h
3. Apartheid Museum2h

Visit Soweto and Apartheid Museum

• Explore Mandela House in Soweto
• Visit Hector Pieterson Memorial
• Tour the Apartheid Museum
• Have lunch at Sakhumzi Restaurant

The experience

What does it mean to stand in the rooms where Nelson Mandela lived during the apartheid era? Mandela House sits in Soweto, an acronym for South Western Townships, a place that became the center of resistance against apartheid. Your guide walks you through the home and explains its significance in the broader struggle for freedom. The township itself was a hotbed of political activism, and the tour takes you past the sites that shaped South African history.

The Apartheid Museum documents the injustices and human rights violations of the era through exhibits designed to foster dialogue and understanding. You'll spend time inside the museum learning how apartheid affected ordinary people and how the resistance movement grew. The tour also includes the Hector Pieterson memorial, marking the spot where a 13-year-old boy was killed during the Soweto Uprising on June 16, 1976, a student-led protest against the government's policy of enforcing Afrikaans-language education.

Lunch happens at Sakhumzi, a restaurant on Vilakazi Street known for its warm atmosphere, lively music, and community feel. Vilakazi Street is the only street in the world to have been home to two Nobel Prize winners: Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. The meal is included, and you eat surrounded by the history you've spent the morning learning about. An air-conditioned vehicle and your English-speaking guide carry you between stops, and hotel pickup is included in the booking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi on board.
• lunch at Sakhumzi restaurant.
• entry to the Apartheid Museum.
• guided access to Mandela House and the Hector Pieterson memorial.
• English-speaking guide throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday to SundayDepartures at 09:00, 09:30 and 10:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 3

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 8 days ago

Good to know

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

Operated by Motleys Tours and Travel

Is this one for you?Eight hours is enough to cover Mandela House, the Apartheid Museum, and lunch without rushing, but it rules out adding other Johannesburg attractions to the same day. Book this tour when Soweto's history is your focus and you want a single, complete experience rather than a quick stop between other sites.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

21 verified traveler reviews

5 ★21

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What is Mandela House like when you visit it?

Mandela House is Nelson Mandela's former home in Soweto, preserved as a museum where you walk through the rooms he lived in during the apartheid era. Your guide explains the significance of the home and Mandela's role in the anti-apartheid movement.

Why is Vilakazi Street significant?

Vilakazi Street in Soweto is the only street in the world to have been home to two Nobel Prize winners: Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Sakhumzi restaurant, where you have lunch, sits on this street.

What does the Apartheid Museum cover?

The Apartheid Museum documents the history of apartheid in South Africa, preserving records of the injustices and human rights violations that occurred during the era. The exhibits are designed to promote understanding and dialogue about this period.

How long is the full day, and what time does pickup happen?

The tour runs for eight hours and includes hotel pickup at a time arranged when you book. Your guide meets you at your hotel and returns you there at the end of the day.