Guided Soweto Full Day Tour

Soweto, like the city of Johannesburg was linked to the discovery of gold back in the 1800’s. This Guided Soweto day tour will not only show you this side of Johannesburg but many other hidden gems. Most of the inhabitants, mostly black, flock there looking for work on the mines. As the small city started to grow and flourish the first signs of the nation’s dark future started to unfold. In the 1960’s, Soweto was a political platform where many of the protests for equality was borne.

Our Guided Soweto Full day tour of this interesting city covers most of the major attractions from Vilakazi Street, the home of former president Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. We will also visit the Hector Pieterson Memorial.  A pretty sad and dark day for South Africa where a little boy’s life was taken for what was to be known as the ‘Struggle’ for freedom from the oppressing government.

But first things first

To set the tone and give insight into the town. The first attraction of the Soweto Full day tour is the Oppenheimer Tower. This fascinating tower was built by the bricks of demolished homes during the forced relocation’s that brought on what became known as the Group Areas Act. There are 49 steps to walk up. These steps represent the 49 different ‘suburbs’ of old Soweto. Our guide will also spend some time showing you the various areas of segregation between the various tribes. The Zulu people were assigned their own zone.

As were the Sotho, Xhosa and other tribal nations. The tour at the tower is led by Lebo, who by the way, has a crazy sense of humor. Not only does he take you through the dark history of Soweto but includes some lighthearted comments to break the heaviness. His favorite question to ask is: ‘Where did Soweto gets its name from?’  His response is always this. ‘When his people were being relocated, they used to say So Where to?’  Soweto.

Get it? So incredible that a nation can forgive the atrocities inflicted on them and still have a sense of humor.  A tribute to the incredible spirit of the South African people. Lebo will also spend time taking you through the cultural village that illustrates tribal life before the modern day Soweto. Items of interest include the role of the ‘witchdoctor’, ‘Tokoloshi’ ( zombie like creature) and the of course the importance of women in the village. A gem of a spot!!!

The second part of the tour covers a visit to Nelson Mandelas house as well as the Hector Pieterson Memorial.On the way, our guide will take you along the route the Students walked before they were gunned down by the police on 16 June 1976.

Interesting fact about Soweto

Vilakazi Street is the only street in the World that was home to two Nobel Peace Prize Winners. And not only that, the houses of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu are a mere 500m apart.

Experience more on this Guided Soweto Full Day Tour

After a traditional Soweto lunch, the next section of our Guided Soweto full day tour  takes us on a tour of the Apartheid museum. This place is truly incredible. You will be taken back in history and will gain intimate knowledge into the apartheid system and how the people were treated. A pretty heavy experience emotionally !!!  But something that will also give you  renewed hope in the power of the human spirit and what sacrifices were made for the greater good of this ‘rainbow’ nation known as South Africa. 

Is that a Soweto beer you see? Well yes sir it is indeed. A compulsory item of consumption on our Soweto full day tour.

Enjoy your Soweto Full Day Tour with an Experienced Guide

Our guides for the Soweto and apartheid day tour are borne and bred in the city. Their intimate and first hand knowledge of the history of this bustling town will leave you speechless. Should you not have a full day to experience this fantastic tour check out our Soweto half day tour by clicking on the link.