If you are looking for the best pick of Soweto tours, look no further.
Taking a tour through Soweto is a must if you want to experience the true meaning of South Africa and her people.
Engulfed in history, this famous Johannesburg Township was home to some well-known political figures. The epicentre of the struggle against apartheid Soweto is today a vibrant urban place, a melting pot of different cultures, ethnicities and economic status.
Mansions and shacks, clubs, shebeens (African bars), malls and heritage sites make up the beautiful landscape of Soweto. From the brightly coloured Soweto Towers and street murals along Vilakazi Street to chic restaurants with excellent food and museums, you will see it all. There is no place in the world like Soweto, and if you love to immerse yourself in culture, then grab your camera and be ready to experience a world within a world.
Below, we have compiled a list of some tours you should explore. What are you waiting for? Book your ticket now and take a spin around Africa’s New York City.
Related: Things To Do in Soweto
List of Top Soweto Tours
Day Bus & Soweto Combo
What better way to see all that Johannesburg offers than taking a bus tour? By far the most popular tour in Johannesburg, this package will not disappoint.
The slow pace will allow you to take in the city sites and you can drop off anywhere you want. The tour busses include an audio history lesson about the city and the iconic people that were born and raised in it. With the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg as your backdrop, this is one history lesson that will not bore you to sleep.
The tour includes a full-day trip around Johannesburg and a 2-hour extension live-guided tour of Soweto. The tour is only operational on Saturdays and it begins at the Tour office at Rosebank. There are a few stops along the route, with some highlights including:
- FNB Stadium (the largest stadium in Africa, home of the 2010 FIFA World Cup)
- Vilakazi Street, the home of two Nobel Prize winners Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
- Kliptown Open-Air Museum in Walter Sisulu Square
What It includes:
- Complimentary hotel shuttle (selected hotels)
- 2 hour Soweto tour guided by a local resident
- Green Suburbs loop
- Red City Tour loop
- Free Walking tour
Soweto Bicycle Tour
Who says you cannot get a proper workout whilst visiting one of the most magnificent cities in Africa?
This tour is geared towards the hard-core adventurist. A cycle tour through Soweto is a unique way to experience the local environment. So if the thought of dodging traffic and seeing Soweto up close and personal is your kind of jam, please read on.
The tours range from two hours to a full eight-hour day tour. Professional local guides are at your service and they will lead you through all the hotspots in Soweto.
Lunch next to the Hector Pieterson Museum is available at an extra cost. Trust us, you will need to have a bite to eat after cycling through a minimum of two hours in Soweto. This tour is a great eco-friendly option if you want to avoid a crowded bus.
What it includes:
- Bike rental and equipment
- Shuttle service
- Professional tour guide
Full Day Soweto Tour
This package is a great option for the minimalist traveller. If you are a backpacker that needs a quick tour of Soweto before you move on to your next destination, then this tour is what you need.
The tour highlights include a trip to Soccer city, Kliptown and Vilakazi Street. You will have time to experience the Kota, a traditional sandwich that is a favourite among the locals. So grab your camera and be prepared to snap away as you cruise along the streets of Soweto.
What it includes:
- Professional Guide
- Traditional Kota lunch
Half Day Soweto Tour
Maybe visiting Soweto was not in your itinerary, and you are limited for time. This is one of the most popular Soweto tours and is perfect if you are running on a tight schedule or your attention span is as fleeting as the wind. Hey, no judgement here we get it!
Fortunately, this half-day tour can squeeze in all the great hot spots in half the time so you will not be short-changed. Take a drive along Vilakazi Street and see the home of two Nobel Peace Prize winners. Get to see the biggest hospital in South Africa, Mandela House Museum, FNB Stadium, and immerse yourself in the local culture by visiting an informal settlement. All this before lunch time.
Quick, efficient and informative, this is a great deal if you are pressed for time.
What it includes:
- Shuttle services
- Entrance fees to Hector Pieterson Museum and Regina Mundi Church
- Free on board uncapped Wi-Fi
- Tour Guide
Soweto Night Tour
Okay, so if you are a night owl you are by now probably wondering where you will have your fun. Fear not, this Soweto tour is specifically designed for night lovers like yourself. So get ready to enjoy an evening of thrill and exuberant energy as you sail along Soweto’s nightlife.
The tour begins with stops along Soweto’s famous landmarks, where the local guide will educate you about the history of the various places. Thereafter the real fun begins. A visit at the first hotspot kicks off the night tour and you will be welcomed by one complimentary drink at each bar as part of the package.
The highlight of the tour for us is a visit to the local bars, the shebeens. There you will get to witness South African nightlife in all its glory; the food, the drinks and the music, it will be a night to remember. The evening ends with a visit to the well-known Vilakazi Street where you can dip your feet in the upscale party scene at one of the modern bars.
What it includes:
- Shuttle services from anywhere in Johannesburg
- Air-conditioned tour vehicle
- Free on board uncapped Wi-Fi
- Visit to four shebeens
- Four free drinks
- Traditional meal at a shebeen
- Group tours for 2-12 people
- Private tour option
In Mandela’s Footsteps Full-Day Tour
Trace the steps of greatness on this tour. If you are interested in discovering more about Nelson Mandela and his life, then this tour should be your cup of tea.
Track down Nelson Mandela’s journey as a freedom fighter and anti-Apartheid leader right up to his 27-year imprisonment and to finally becoming the first black South African President.
The tour operates daily and begins at 08.00 am with a second departure time of 09.00 am. The expected return time is 05.00 pm. The tour’s first stop is Constitution Hill, the famous prison that housed political prisoners during apartheid such as Mahatma Gandhi in 1906.
The next stop is Mandela’s house in Soweto, where he lived from 1946 to 1961 when he was forced to flee. After this stop, you will be whisked away to Mandela Yard, which is Nelson Mandela’s first house in Johannesburg.
Thereafter, the tour will take you into a secret hideout scene that most will only experience in the movies. The Lilieslief Farm was the African National Congress (ANC) hideout base where secret political meetings were held. Nelson Mandela lived and worked at the farm under a false name. Very James Bond-ish, don’t you think?
The last stop is at the Chancellor House, a historic building that housed Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo’s law firm from the years 1952-1956. You will get to hear of how they fought against the apartheid laws and helped many people accused by the state.
We can all agree that Nelson Mandela lived like a real-life James Bond, well, minus the action. In our opinion, this is one of the best tours in Johannesburg. Educational and existing. Who doesn’t want to walk in Mandela’s footsteps?
What it includes:
- Shuttle services from hotel
- Registered tour guide with foreign language upon request
- Entrance fee to all locations
- 50% discount for children under 12
- Air-conditioned vehicles
Combo Tours
Soweto & Apartheid Museum Private Tour
If you are keen on privacy and you love a good history lesson even on holiday, then this tour is for you. The tour begins at the Apartheid Museum, where the tour guide will go into detail about the South African fight against the apartheid government.
The tour will move on to the township of Soweto with some highlights on the route being; Mandela House, Nelson Mandela Bridge, the Johannesburg CBD and the Hector Pieterson Museum.
If you appreciate an educational and calm atmosphere, then go ahead and book yourself a seat. It will be worth your while.
What it includes:
- Entrance fees
- Bottled water
- Driver and/ Tour guide
- Snacks
- African lunch in Soweto
Johannesburg, Soweto & Gold Reef City
What better way is there to enjoy Johannesburg than to pair a tour of the city’s most iconic township with a fun trip to a casino and amusement park? This tour has it all, a walk through history, an exciting trip around the inner city and a leisurely trip to an amusement park where you can let out your inner child.
This tour is perfect if you are travelling as a family or as a group with a wide range of ages. It has everything for everyone. The tour begins in the morning at 08.00 am with a visit through Soweto and through the Hector Pieterson Museum.
What we love the most about this tour is the inclusion of the Gold Mine Tour. Jo’burg is the city of gold, not only because of the glitz and glamour but because of the gold mines all over the city. If going down a mine shaft was somehow on your bucket list, this tour is for you. If it wasn’t, then choose to experience the mine anyway, it is an adventure not to be missed.
The tour also includes a stop at the Gold Reef City Theme Park. The largest amusement park in Johannesburg has a lot of fun to offer for kids and adults alike. We would definitely recommend this tour because of its inclusivity.
What it includes:
- Shuttle services from hotel
- Registered tour guide with foreign language upon request
- Entrance fee to all locations
- 50% discount for children under 12
- Air-conditioned vehicles
Soweto Apartheid Museum and Lunch Tour
If you want to take a step back into the past and walk along the streets that African heroes walked, then this is your tour.
The whole 8 hour tour is designed with the explorer in mind. Be prepared to mix with the local population and see how they live their day-to-day lives. Stop by the Motsoaledi informal settlement and if you are an alcohol lover, you can visit the local shebeen and take a swig of their beers.
Enjoy an informative and energetic walk through the busy streets lined with street cafes, craft markets and a community centre. Along the route is a drive past the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital built during WWII, Vilakazi Street, FNB Stadium, Nelson Mandela Museum and many more sites.
You can grab a bite to eat at one of the many street food restaurants at the bottom of the Soweto Towers and bungee jump off the top of the towers. The tour ends after a visit to the Apartheid Museum or the Constitutional Hill and Top of Africa in Johannesburg City Centre.
What it includes:
- Shuttle services from anywhere in Johannesburg
- Air-conditioned tour vehicle
- Free on board uncapped Wi-Fi
- Apartheid Museum entrance fee
- Lunch at a restaurant in Soweto (excluding beverages)
- Group tours for 2-12 people
- Private tour option
Johannesburg, Soweto & Apartheid Museum
This is another great tour if you want to see the city, so clear your schedule and prepare to enjoy all that the city of gold offers you.
The tour starts at 08.30 am heading towards the Apartheid Museum. The highlight of this tour for us is the stop at the Freedom Square. Aptly named after the Freedom Charter that was drawn up in 1955, the square is in the Soweto Township. You will have time to stand on the land where the idea of freedom was birthed and codified in South Africa.
Another highlight of the tour is the Johannesburg City Orientation route. Sit back and enjoy all the sites of the busy Johannesburg city centre. From the vibrant Braamfontein student town with lots of chic and high street fashion and food to the towering Manhattan-like skyscrapers that dress the Jo’burg CBD, there is a lot to see on this leg of the tour.
What it includes:
- Shuttle services from hotel
- Registered tour guide with foreign language upon request
- Entrance fee to all locations
- 50% discount for children under 12
- Air-conditioned vehicles
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