Johannesburg Private Cultural Heritage Tour
Discover Johannesburg's Rich History and Culture with a Private Soweto Tour Featuring Mandela's Home
people
1 participant
hours
- • Private Tour of Johannesburg's Rich History and Soweto's Culture
- • Experience an Informative Full-Day Tour Lasting 8-9 Hours
- • Explore South Africa's Most Comprehensive Apartheid Museum
Why We Love This Unique Experience
Experience the vibrant heart of South Africa with an unforgettable private guided tour through Johannesburg and Soweto. This immersive journey offers a unique glimpse into the rich history, diverse cultures, and indomitable spirit of these legendary places. From the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg, a city born from the gold rush, to the intimate streets of Soweto, known for its pivotal role in the fight against apartheid, this tour is designed to enlighten and inspire.
The adventure begins with a personal guide, showcasing iconic landmarks and historical sites that have shaped South Africa’s past. Discover the homes of global icons like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, and delve into the profound narratives of the Apartheid Museum, where stories of resilience and triumph are brought to life. A highlight of the day includes a delicious local lunch on vibrant Vilakazi Street, immersing in the culinary delights that echo the rich cultural tapestry of Soweto. Optional experiences, like exploring a gold mine or visiting Gandhi’s South African home, enhance this fully customizable itinerary to meet individual interests.
This private guided tour is not just a journey; it's a perfect gift for loved ones seeking to deepen their understanding of South Africa’s vibrant history and dynamic culture. Ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, or special occasions, this enriching experience is sure to leave lasting memories, offering both adventure and invaluable insights into a country that continues to inspire the world.
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Experience Overview:
Johannesburg And Soweto Private Guided Tour With Shebeen Lunch.This tour is private just for you with our guide. Johannesburg is the only major city in the world built because of an underground resource, gold instead of a river or port. For over 100 years it was the world's biggest producer of the yellow metal. Johannesburg and the township of Soweto together make up arguably Africa's most interesting city, least of all because of the vast diversities in race, culture, and wealth of its inhabitants. During this full-day private tour, your informative guide highlights places and events that changed the cultural and political landscape of South Africa and in some cases the world. See the former homes (both old and recent) of Nelson Mandela and spend time exploring the Apartheid Museum. Your customizable itinerary includes lunch on vibrant Vilakazi Street in Soweto. Changes can be made to add going down a gold mine, seeing Gandhis home, who, during his 20 years in South Africa he became the human rights activist we know him as today.
What's included:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- Local taxes
Not included:
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Souvenirs and curios
What to expect:
Duration: between 8 hours and 9 hours
Carlton Centre
150 Commissioner Street, Johannesburg, 2094
The Carlton Centre is located in what was once Johannesburg's most prestigious central business district, now called the "old CBD". The now dated but well-maintained building towers above the city and you can see magnificent 360-degree views from its 50th floor called the “Top of Africa”. Hailed as a huge groundbreaking feat in building design when built it is an impressive building inside and out. The shops in the mall at ground level are in themselves are full of what the South Africans who shop here want to buy. They range from the most modern of technological and consumer products to traditional African remedies potions, foods, musical instruments, and ethnic clothing. There is even the store from which Nelson Mandela bought his outfits, having moved here from the older building outside. Mahatma Gandhi practiced law from an office closeby during his 20 years in South Africa and there is a display of photos of him and turn of the 19th century Joburg scenes.
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Apartheid Museum
Northern Park Way and Gold Reef Rd, Johannesburg, 2001
The Apartheid Museum traces the history of this abhorrent form of South African society but also celebrates our emergence out of it into a brave multicultural democracy that still strives to attain equality of opportunity fro all its citizens . It has been described as a masterpiece of Museum design. There is incredible depth to the exhibits and the multi media narratives they illustrate and although they do create a feeling of sadness at the injustices committed spirits are raised by the stories of heroic South Africans who fought and died to create a pathway to something better. You can easily spend the whole day here and still not see it all but 2 hours will give you a good overview of what it was like to live here during these bad old days.There is a book and curio shop focusing on relevant items, and a coffee bar serving light meals. Next to it indigenous grasses and plants are grown to give a glimpse of what this area of the "veld" would have looked like before Joburg existed.
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Hector Pieterson Memorial
Hector Pieterson Square, Soweto
The murder of a 12-year-old child by police firing on demonstrating school children is commemorated here along with the 70 or more others who died on that fateful but momentous day on the 16th of June 1976. The date is now our National Youth Day and a public holiday.
There is a large African crafts market next to it if you want to buy some souvenirs.
30 minutes
Vilakazi Street
Vilakazi Street, Soweto, 1804
Lunch will be at a popular restaurant on Vilakazi Street where you will sample the local fare. Here also you will find the previous homes of two Nobel Peace Prize winners: Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela.
1 hour
South Western Townships
Johannesburg
South West African Townships or Soweto is the home of as many as 2 million South Africans and people of other African nationalities. Its citizens have the illustrious heritage of being at the center of resistance to oppression under colonialism and Apartheid.
3 hours
Mandela House
8115 Vilakazi Street, Orlando West, Soweto, 1804
Visit the Soweto home of Nelson Mandela, now a museum and tribute to his life and role in our progression to a fully representative democracy.
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Constitution Hill Human Rights Precinct
11 Kotze Street, Johannesburg, 2001
Constitution Hill is a living museum that tells the story of South Africa's journey to democracy. The site is a former prison and military fort fort that bears testament to a turbulent past. visit the country's Constitutional Court, which endorses the rights of all citizens.
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Johannesburg
Johannesburg
All the way to the centre of the city you'll see a vibrant mixture of cultures before reaching the Carlton Centre, located in what was once Johannesburg's most prestigious business district.
Pass by without stopping
Walter Sisulu Square
Klipspruit Valley Road, Corner Union Road, Soweto
Walter Sisulu also called Freedom Square, this development is both a memorial and monument while having many useful and practical functions. There is a market, exhibition centre, outdoor concert venue, modern hotel as well as offices and shops to assist small business development. Walter Sisulu is one of our greatest heroes and was Nelson Mandelas mentor. It is built on the location where the Freedom Charter was adopted by a large group of organisations gathering here in the 1950s when the Apartheid government was at its most powerful. It is our Bill of Rights or wish list for a better South Africa. Its main tenets are featured on a stone circle inside an interesting building at its centre built from materials recovered from the existing dwellings demolished to build the square. Its shape evokes buildings found in the remains of cities built in this part of the world before the arrival of the European colonisers.
1 hour
Houghton Estate
Houghton Estate
Following hotel pickup in Johannesburg or Pretoria, your personalized tour of the historic city starts off with a visit to the home Nelson Mandela lived in just prior to his death in the still high wealth suburb of Houghton. From here you cross the “Rand” or to give it its full name the “Witwatersrand”. “rand” means ridge in Afrikaans. This is Johannesburg’s only prominent physical feature, a high ridge that bisects Johannesburg from east to west and to a great extent its wealth. In the past, the wealthy gold barons built their mansions along the ridge giving them a great view to the north where the majority of Joburg’s well-off residents now live. The mansions are still there and we will stop close to the top of the Rand on Munro Drive for the magnificent view they share. Because of its association with the wealthy our currency, the Rand is named after it and we orientate our location in the city in relation to it, West Rand, East Rand, North Rand, Midrand, and so on.
45 minutes
Details & Important Info
Additional Experience Details & Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult, a senior or a youth.
Minimum drinking age is 18 years
Cancellations & Refunds
Reservation Changes, Cancellations & Refunds
Changes to reservations for tickets can be made until 3 days prior to the date scheduled. Reservations may be re-scheduled by the operator of the activity due to reasons such as weather, minimum participation requirements, mechanical issues or other interruptions beyond their control.
Organized by
Mmilo Tours
Product SKU: ZA-18089-0007
Johannesburg Private Cultural Heritage Tour
people
1 participant
hours
- • Private Tour of Johannesburg's Rich History and Soweto's Culture
- • Experience an Informative Full-Day Tour Lasting 8-9 Hours
- • Explore South Africa's Most Comprehensive Apartheid Museum
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