A GUIDE TO AFRICA
TOP 5 ONE-DAY TOURS IN JOHANNESBURG
1. Soweto Township with Cradle of Humankind Tour
Duration: 8-Hours
Cost: from $193.67
This 8-hour private tour is the perfect opportunity to delve into the incredible history of Johannesburg and Africa itself. The day begins early so as to fit both of these experiences into one day. You will be picked up from your hotel to embark on this exploration of Johannesburg. The tour begins in Soweto where you will visit the Hector Pieterson Museum, Nelson Mandela House (which housed the former president) and drive through Soweto with your guide highlighting points of interest.
The day continues as you journey to the Cradle of Humankind. The Cradle of Humankind is a world heritage site and is made up of a strip dolomitic limestone caves containing fossils of ancient animals, plants and hominids. The dolomite started out as coral reefs growing in a shallow sea approximately 2.3 billion years ago. A visit to the Cradle of Humankind gives incredible insight into our history and what it means to be human.
2. Inner City Walking Tour
Duration: 7-Hours
Cost: from $117.29
This inner-city urban hiking tour uses a combination of walking and public transport to give you insight into Johannesburg’s best kept secrets. You will see heritage sites, experience a complete cultural mix and visit worthwhile parts of the city that many visitors are reluctant to visit.
You’ll begin in Maboneng. Meaning “Place of light”, it is a buzzing centre of creative energy for Johannesburg’s artists, designers and entrepreneurs. You will then move on to one of the oldest markets in Johannesburg where you can find some truly authentic Africa pieces to take back home as souvenirs. Your walking Johannesburg continues to the Carlton Centre. A skyscraper with panoramic views of the City of Gold. Standing at the top, you will learn about the history of the city from the gold rush in 1886 to the Apartheid-era to the current resurgence it is experiencing.
This is followed by a stop at Gandhi Square, named after human rights activist Mahatma Gandhi, who spent 21 years in South Africa.
The walking tour concludes with a walk through the Main Street mining district towards Chancellor’s House. Chancellor House was home to Mandela and Tambo Attorneys in the 1950s – the first black-owned law firm in South Africa. Opposite the law firm there is “The Shadow Boxing Sculpture” – this sculpture by artist Marcos Cianfanelli depicts a young boxing Nelson Mandela.
3. History Bicycle Tour
Duration: 4-Hours
Cost: from $43.16
This bicycle tour through Johannesburg will leave you with a deeper understanding of life in Soweto. The tour begins at the Hector Pieterson museum. A guide will cycle with you through the township. Along the way you will learn about daily life in Soweto, and its intricate history. You will pass Nelson Mandela’s house and learn about the Apartheid struggle that was fought by black South Africans.
4. The Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
Duration: Varies
Cost: From $14.74
Worldwide, the Hop-On Hop-Off bus is one of the most favoured ways to explore a city. You can explore Johannesburg, learning about the history of gold mining, Apartheid and the triumph of the modern, reborn city. The on-board commentary is available in 15 languages. The bus stops at all the top sites, including the Apartheid Museum, Gold Reef City, Carlton Centre, and Constitution Hill Human Rights Precinct, allowing you to explore Johannesburg safely and easily
5. Johannesburg, Soweto and Apartheid Museum Guided Day Tour
Duration: 7-Hours
Cost: from $117.29
Apartheid is easily one of the most significant and the most well-known period in South Africa’s history. This tour allows you to come to grips with Apartheid and the impact it had on the lives of South Africans. The tour begins at Constitutional Hill before heading to the Apartheid Museum. You will spend two hours at this carefully curated museum. You will soon realise that you could easily spend hours immersing yourself in the emotional and thought-provoking exhibits. The tour also takes you through Soweto – you will explore all the landmarks that are fundamental to the history of Apartheid. The tour concludes in Vilakazi Street, where Nelson Mandela House and Archbishop Desmond Tutu House are located.
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