South Africa · TOWNSHIP TOURS IN JOHANNESBURG
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 township tours in Johannesburg worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Use the open-top bus to explore Rosebank, Constitution Hill, downtown Johannesburg, the Apartheid Museum, Gold Reef City, Newtown, the Zoo, and more. Audio commentary comes in eight languages. Add the two-hour Soweto tour for a live guide, Mandela House, Hector Pieterson, Orlando Stadium, and Vilakazi Street.
“how humerus is our Mzantsi guide, especially soweto tour”
Spend 8 to 9 hours touring Johannesburg and Soweto in an air-conditioned minivan with a local guide. Visit Constitution Hill, Mandela House, Hector Pieterson Museum, Vilakazi Street, Orlando Towers, FNB Stadium, and the Apartheid Museum. Guides may include Nathi, Bobo, or Matti, and the small group size keeps the day personal.
“Smooth day! Very informative and entertaining as well. It was only myself and 1 other so the experience was awesome. Bo Bo is very proud and chill and loves his job. I look forward to recommending to my friends.”
Ride Johannesburg’s open-top sightseeing bus from Rosebank, using eight-language audio commentary, free Wi-Fi, and flexible hop-on, hop-off stops. See Constitution Hill, the Apartheid Museum, Gold Reef City, Nelson Mandela Foundation, and more. Add a two-hour guided Soweto extension for a closer look at Orlando West and East.
“The bus narration on the main bus was very informative. The Soweto tour was good, the guide was great but was very cramped on the smaller bus. For folks thinking to spend time at some of the stops it's tough. Both Constitution Hill and the Arpatheid museum need several hours each.”
Spend about five hours exploring Soweto with a local guide such as Tshepo, Prince, Cpho, or Erick. Visit an informal settlement, Hector Pieterson Museum, Vilakazi Street, Mandela’s former home, Freedom Square, and Soweto Towers. Hotel pickup, drop-off, air-conditioned transport, and onboard WiFi are included. Mandela House entry, food, and drinks cost extra.
“It was a wonderful tour that provided a different insight to Soweto. Deneko was an amazing guide, personable and passionate.”
Spend four hours walking through Soweto with guides such as Maweza, Teboho, or Mulalo. Visit the Hector Pieterson Memorial, Mandela’s House, Vilakazi Street, Winnie Mandela’s home, Orlando East, Nomzamo Park, and the Soweto Towers. Lunch, bottled water, and a short minibus taxi ride are included. Mandela’s House entry costs extra.
“Great experience - really interesting and guides were great”
Spend eight hours with an English-speaking guide exploring Soweto, Vilakazi Street, Hector Pieterson Museum, the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, and central Johannesburg. Pickup and entrance fees are included, with WiFi onboard. Guides such as Khutso, Thapelo, Tinyiko, and Sello are known for clear historical commentary and friendly humor.
“Omg! It was awesome, a big thank you to Khutso and Zanele they were so good to us. Khutso is a top tour guide he told us everything we needed to know. God bless you and I will certainly recommend you guys to others.”
Spend 10 hours with a French or English-speaking guide exploring Johannesburg and Soweto. Visit Constitution Hill, the Apartheid Museum, Mandela House, and Hector Pieterson Memorial, with hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, and entry fees included. Guides such as Advice, Bob, John, and Masese are known for clear storytelling and thoughtful care.
“Advice was incredible! Very informative and happy to answer any questions. What a fantastic day! Thank you very much Advice!”
Spend five hours with a driver-guide exploring Johannesburg and Soweto by comfortable vehicle. Visit Mandela’s House, Hector Pieterson Memorial, Vilakazi Street, and the Soweto cooling towers, while passing Baragwanath Hospital, an informal settlement, historic city buildings, and Soccer City. Guides may speak English, French, or Portuguese.
“Our guide Vincent has a lot of knowledge, and we learned a lot on this trip.”
Spend about nine hours with MoAfrika Tours exploring Soweto, from FNB Stadium and Regina Mundi to an informal settlement, Vilakazi Street, and the Apartheid Museum. Guides such as Khutso, Cipo, Marc, Sello, and Tsolo bring local insight. Lunch, hotel transport, and onboard WiFi are included.
“I cannot describe in words the incredible experience I had during this tour. It’s definitely a must do if you are visiting Johannesburg. I felt very touched learning about the history and Soweto overall. I will never forget this experience, worth dRead more”
Spend four to five hours exploring Johannesburg’s Apartheid Museum and Soweto with a guide such as Nathi or Bobo. The small-group tour includes hotel pickup, Mandela House, Hector Pieterson Memorial, Vilakazi Street, and time to hear how Soweto changed South Africa. The museum visit is self-guided.
“The tour was as good as I could have imagined. Our guide was informative and helpful to all four of us on the tour. We learned a lot about Johannesburg and South Africa in a short time.”
Spend about nine hours with a driver-guide, often a local Soweto guide, exploring Johannesburg’s past and present. Visit Constitution Hill, the Apartheid Museum, Hector Pieterson Museum, Vilakazi Street, and an informal settlement. Hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, and onboard WiFi are included. Lunch and Mandela House entry cost extra.
“Amazing tour. Our guide Cipoo with MoAfrican tours was so informative and answered every question we had.”
Spend four hours cycling about 11 km through Soweto with a local English-speaking guide such as Thabo, Teboho, or Themba. Visit Hector Pieterson Museum, Mandela House, Tutu House, Orlando communities, and Vilakazi Street, then stop for a kota lunch. Expect a few uphill stretches, good bicycles, and an honest look at township life.
“It’s the thing to do in JohBurg! A really nice guy with clear explications about the history of Johannesburg. Bikes are in really good state! You will definitely enjoy this time with « Tehobolo » Thanks my Brother for this unforgotable moment! Sincerely Laurent Chamot”
Spend four hours walking through Soweto with a local guide such as Maweza or Mulalo Mphuma. Visit the Hector Pieterson Museum, Vilakazi Street, Mandela’s former home, Tutu’s house, Baragwanath Road, and Orlando Towers. Hear personal accounts of apartheid and enjoy a traditional kota sandwich with bottled water.
“Maweza did a great job! He‘s very knowledgeable and sheds light into the layered and dark history of Apartheid and what part Soweto played. No question remained unanswered and I felt safe throughout the experience. I definitely left with food for thought and will be back!”
Walk through Maboneng and nearby Jewel City with an English-speaking guide such as Refiloe, Mulalo, or Clement. Expect murals, galleries, craft stops, city views from Hallmark House, local stories, and a careful look at how art is reshaping inner-city Johannesburg. The tour costs $37 and lasts two hours.
“I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that this tour is a "must" for visitors to Joburg. The neighborhood and the history is so fascinating. and the tour guide will bring you to places you really would never otherwise find or even understand in context.”
Pair a Johannesburg hop-on hop-off bus ride with a two-hour Soweto tour led by a local guide. Visit Vilakazi Street, Mandela House, Hector Pieterson, Orlando Towers, and Constitution Hill, then use the bus route to reach the Apartheid Museum. Guides such as DT and KG have been praised for clear, lively storytelling.
“The bus tour was excellent in terms of what it showed us. I’ve lived in joburg my whole life and thought it would be cool to try it out and I was pleasantly surprised. Even I learnt a few things and got to see parts of the city that I hadn’t glimpsed in a while.”
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