Soweto Cultural and Historical Experience Tour

For historical and cultural enthusiast, when on a Soweto tour with us, while visiting historical landmarks like Mandela House museum, Hector Pieterson museum & Walter Sisulu square ,you can also easily find yourself sipping tea in a local home, making friends at a local tavern, or find yourself embracing a child or sharing laughter with children from a kindergarten. Nothing is planned yet memorable human connections are made. Our tour guides do not only share wealth of information, they also share our heritage by taking you to interesting places where you can get to experience our culture through an optional visit to the traditional healer who connects with your ancestors for messages to you. When visiting the healer, you also get to have a home visit while there because she works from home. With us, no tour is the same to the other. We shape it to your interest and needs, and only have one rule. Have fun!

Not included:

• A visit to the traditional healer is an optional extra of R300pp fee, paid in cash to the healer.

What to expect:

Duration: between 4 hours and 5 hours

FNB Stadium

Gate B, Soccer City Avenue,, , Johannesburg, 2147

10h00: Pickup from Hotel.
10h30: First stop is at the FNB stadium which got a facelift for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The design concept of the Stadium is the Calabash, or African pot.
This iconic, 87 436-seater is the largest Venue in South Africa, and the Country’s proud Global Colossal located in Nasrec, South of Johannesburg. The Unique Design of FNB Stadium is highly regarded, Internationally. It is often fondly referred to, as the “Calabash” or “African Pot” after being reconstructed in time for the first ever, African World Cup in 2010. Previously known as Soccer City, the Stadium has been the Centre of Historic Events, starting with the First Speech from Former President Nelson Mandela in 1990, a few days after being released from prison where he served 27 years. The venue has hosted the biggest Sports and Music Events, this Country has ever seen. Including performances of Beyonce, Jay-Z , Justin Bieber to name a few

30 minutes

Walter Sisulu Square

Klipspruit Valley Road, Corner Union Road, Soweto

11h00: The square is our 2nd stop, this is the site where, on 26 June 1955, the Congress of the People, met to draw up the Freedom Charter, an alternative vision to the repressive policies of the apartheid state. The document emphasised a non-racial society, liberty and individual rights. The Freedom Charter remains the cornerstone of African National Congress policy and is seen by many as the foundation of South Africa's 1996 constitution.
The square has now been declared as a national heritage site. A stone throw away from the square is an informal settlement of Kliptown. Despite the lack of social amenities like minimal running water,poor sanitation, this community live with hope in a loving and welcoming environment they created. An optional walking tour at no costs can be arranged to visit a few homes or a kindergarten. Donations to the place/s visited are always welcomed

45 minutes

Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial

8287 Khumalo St, , Soweto

12h00: 3rd stop is at the Hector Pieterson museum named after the then 12 year old school boy, who was part of the students who marched in protest in Soweto on June 16th, 1976. Hector was the first to be killed. He became the iconic image of the this Soweto uprising , when a newspaper photograph by Sam Nzima – of the dying Hector being carried by Mbuyisa Makhubu rushing for help, was published around the World and caused an uproar and roused anti-apartheid sentiments Globally. What started as protest by students against the Afrikaans language as a medium of instruction at schools instead of their own languages and English, ended up with many students loosing their lives on this day.
The area has been declared a National Heritage Site. Inside you can view exhibits such as television footage of the uprising. It also contains a moving collection of oral testimonies, pictures, audiovisual displays and historical documents relating to the events of 1976.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Mandela House

8115 Vilakazi Street, Orlando West, Soweto, 1804

13h00: Get a guided tour inside the house where former South African President Nelson Mandela lived, on and off, for more than 14 years. First with his 1st wife Evelyn Ntoko Mase , then his second wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. You will learn about the bitter sweet memories that happened in this house when Winnie was left as the only parent raising their two daughters ,Zenani and Zindzi Mandela
In his landmark autobiography, The Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela describes coming back here in 1990 upon his release after 27 years in prison: 'That night I returned with Winnie [his then-wife] to No. 8115 in Orlando West. It was only then that I knew in my heart I had left prison. For me No. 8115 was the centre point of my world, the place marked with an X in my mental geography.'

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Vilakazi Street

Vilakazi Street, Soweto, 1804

13h00:Lastly , you can explore this well known street in South Africa's thriving heart of Soweto.
Vilakazi Street is the only street in the world that has had two Nobel Laureates as residents - the late Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
The entrepreneurial spirit is alive here , bringing about creative places where you can stop for accessories , African inspired fashion , and homeware. Adding to the energy of this precinct are the performers who sing and dance, found on this street
There is an assortment of restaurants to choose from on this street, where you can have a feast of authentic local Soweto-style buffet - a variety of proudly South African traditional cuisine such as samp and beans, tripe, steamed bread and lots and lots of Meat (pure beef) ,we love our meat as South Africans. Or simply have light western food with a South African flavor to it. All meals estimated at R350pp.
This is the end of the tour, depending on whether you have lunch or not.

1 hour