Soweto & Johannesburg

Detailed Itinerary

Pick-up: From any preferred location in JHB or PTA (Airport / Hotel)
Collect: Between 8:00 & 8:30am

Guests are collected from their address in Jhb or Pta and taken on a guided tour. We start off with a visit to Mandela Square in Sandton City where there’s a gigantic bronze statue of the former President Nelson Mandela.

We then proceed with a drive through to Houghton, an affluent suburb in Johannesburg where Mandela had his last residential home with his wife Graca Machel. The drive follows a winding course up to the top of the hill where you will enjoy a picturesque view of Sandton, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Our next interesting stop is Braamfontein, a central suburb of Johannesburg containing buildings with various architectural styles. The iconic Nelson Mandela Bridge connects Braamfontein to the city centre and runs over an extensive passenger train network.

Other landmarks to acknowledge in Jhb CBD are the Constitution Hill, the Turbine Hall and the first Attorney Firm run by black partners, Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo :

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Constitution Hill

The precinct was previously the site of a fort which was later converted to a prison specifically for white male prisoners. The Old Fort was built to protect the South African Republic from the threat of British invasion, however, it was later used by the British during the Anglo-Boer War to imprison Boer military leaders. Subsequently, the fort was extended to include native cells and a women’s section called Women’s Goal.

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Gandhi Square

Gandhi Square is well known for housing Mahatma Gandhi’s legal offices. A statue in his honor was erected on the square in October 2003 From Gandhi Square, we drive past the famous Carlton Centre through to the Apartheid Museum.

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The Apartheid Museum

Opened in 2001, the Museum is acknowledged as the pre-eminent museum dealing with 20th century South Africa, at the heart of which is the pre and post-apartheid story. You will get insights on the pillars that govern the Constitution of South Africa which are located in the courtyard. You will also be exhilarated and inspired by large photos of the descendants who migrated to Johannesburg after the discovery of gold in 1886. The Apartheid Museum, the first of its kind, highlights the rise and fall of the apartheid journey through exhibitions.

Duration: +- 3hrs
Admission: entrance fee included

The tour continues to the most vibrant and largest township in South Africa - Soweto, an acronym standing for South Western Townships. The highlights of this drive include a quick stop at Soweto Stadium, Diepkloof township where we appreciate the Old Miners’ houses then Baragwanath Hospital – the largest hospital in Africa and the third largest in the world. It was formerly known as the Imperial Military Hospital, Baragwanath and was built for British and Commonwealth soldiers.

Orlando Power Station now known as Soweto towers was a coal fire power station commissioned at the end of the Second World War. These two towers adorned with mural art work are prominent landmarks in Soweto.

Lunch: at Samkhumzi, located on the famous Vilakazi Street, where both Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela resided.

Duration: +- 1hrs

We end-off the eventful and insightful day with a visit to Mandela’s home and Hector Pierterson’s memorial museum, the leading attraction centres rich in history preservation.

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Mandela Family Museum

Situated on Vilakazi Street, Orlando West, Soweto, where Nelson Mandela lived from 1946 to 1962, this museum is sentimentally referred to as the Mandela House. The house was built in 1945, and is a red-brick matchbox structure. The inside contains original photographs, a world championship belt gifted to Mandela by Sugar Ray Leonard and the original furnishings to maintain the historic ambiance.

Duration: +- 45 minutes
Admission: entrance fee included

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Hector Peterson Memorial

The Hector Peterson Museum, is named in honour of Hector Peterson who was shot and killed on 16 June 1976 during an anti-Apartheid Soweto Uprising. The museum is home to newspapers, films, photographs, personal accounts that reference to the events of the protesting school children who were killed, including Sam Nzima’s iconic photograph.

Duration: +- 1hrs
Admission: entrance fee included
Drop-off: Between 17:00 & 17:30