Johannesburg, Soweto & Apartheid Museum
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also is known as Jozi, Jo’burg or eGoli, is the largest city in South Africa. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa. The city is one of the 40 largest metropolitan areas in the world and is also the world’s largest city not situated on a river, lake, or coastline.
While Johannesburg is not officially one of South Africa’s three capital cities, it does house the Constitutional Court – South Africa’s highest court. The city is the source of a large-scale gold and diamond trade, due to its location on the mineral-rich Witwatersrand range of hills. Johannesburg is served by O.R. Tambo International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in Africa and a gateway for international air travel to and from the rest of southern Africa. More recently Lanseria International Airport has started international flights and is situated conveniently on the opposite side of the metropolis.
On this tour, we will discover this “city of gold” as well as the surrounding areas. The following is a possible route that we will follow for this well-informed tour:
Sandton Stock Exchange – Rivonia – Sandton City – Rosebank – Hyde Park – Illovo Boulevard – Gautrain Station in Rosebank – Houghton – Mandela’s House (Houghton) – Berea – Hillbrow – Constitution Hill – CBD of Johannesburg – Cirreldene – Bruma – Old Stock exchange – Reserve Bank in West Street – Goldfield Head Office – De Beers in Marshall Street –Gandhi Square – Marshall Square*
Soweto
Soweto is an urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city’s mining belt in the south. Its name, an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships, refers to its origins as a Black township under South Africa’s Apartheid government. The population has historically been overwhelmingly Black and some of the watershed events in the struggle against Apartheid occurred in the township.
Formerly a separate municipality, it is now incorporated in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality.
On this tour, we will discover Soweto and the surroundings. The following is a possible route that we will follow for this well-informed tour:
M1 South towards Gold Reef City – Southgate off-ramp – FNB Stadium – Soweto (Diepkloof ext) – Hostel in Diepkloof – Baragwanath Hospital – Informal settlement – Orlando Power Station – Orlando – Winnie & Nelson Mandela’s Old house (possible stop if requested prior to tour-entrance fees not included) – Desmond Tutu’s House – Hector Peterson Memorial (This is a scheduled stop on the tour- here clients have the opportunity to visit the museum-Entrance fees included in the tour) – (Lunch stop-not included in the tour but available at a surcharge, however, this needs to be requested prior to tour in order to make arrangements)– Shebeen – Regina Mundi – Maponya Shopping Mall – Kliptown – Walter Sisulu Freedom Square – Eldorado Park.
Experience the turbulent history and diversity of the people and cultures in the heart of Soweto, now more than a hundred years old. This affluent hub for development projects and tourism, open their doors to the world in an attempt to showcase its vibrant social life, renowned for its music and arts.
Apartheid Museum The Apartheid Museum is a museum complex in Johannesburg, South Africa dedicated to illustrating apartheid and the 20th-century history of South Africa.
The exhibits were organised and created by a team of curators, filmmakers, historians, and designers to include film footage, photographs, text panels, and artefacts. A series of 22 separate exhibition areas lead the visitor sequentially through the prelude to and history of apartheid, including the situation in South Africa post-apartheid.
Our driver-guide will pay for the entrance at the Museum and you will have time to discover the history on your own. An audio guide is available. If you proceed at a reasonable pace you should be able to view and engage with the permanent exhibition in 1 and a half hours. The museum also has an ongoing programme of temporary exhibitions so add an extra 15 minutes to your visit for this. There are a coffee shop and bookshop.
The duration of this tour is a full-day tour (+- 8 hours) and departs at 09H00. The pick-up point for this tour is any hotel or residential address in Johannesburg. Alternative pick up location can be arranged. Take note that the Apartheid Museum is closed on Mondays.
* The tour might deviate according to traffic and time available.
Tour Includes:
Departure Time: 09H00 Ends: 16H00
All entry fees to all areas as stipulated in the program.
Return transfers to and from hotels/airport in air-conditioned mini-bus or similar.
Professional English speaking drive guide.
Meals only included where indicated.
Tour Excludes:
Services not mentioned in the program or deviations from the tour program.
Entrance fees to areas not included in the tour program or mentioned.
Porterage fees at airport or hotels (can be included when reservation is made).
Items of a personal nature