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.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, and Sun
Start times
9:00 AM and 12:00 PM
Next available
Wed, Oct 14
Adult (ages 13+)
$156
Child (ages 4–12)
Free
Infant (ages 0–3)
$76
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $274.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 11.
Tour Options
Soweto & Apartheid 2020
Soweto & Apartheid 2018: Soweto & Apartheid Museum Day Tour offers an insight into past events as well as the turn around and modern transformation taking place in South Africa today.
Pickup included
Itinerary
Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial
Admission included30 min
The Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, situated in Orlando West, Soweto, commemorates the role of the country’s students in the struggle against apartheid and in particular the role played by the school children who took part in the Soweto protests of 1976, many of whom were shot by the apartheid police while protesting against the sub-standard of education in black schools in South Africa.
Apartheid Museum
Admission included60 min
The Apartheid Museum, the first of its kind, illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid.
An architectural consortium, comprising several leading architectural firms, conceptualised the design of the building on a seven-hectare stand. The museum is a superb example of design, space and landscape offering the international community a unique South African experience.
The exhibits have been assembled and organised by a multi-disciplinary team of curators, film-makers, historians and designers. They include provocative film footage, photographs, text panels and artefacts illustrating the events and human stories that are part of the epic saga, known as apartheid.
A series of 22 individual exhibition areas takes the visitor through a dramatic emotional journey that tells a story of a state-sanctioned system based on racial discrimination and the struggle of the majority to overthrow this tyranny.
For anyone wanting to understand and experience what apartheid South Africa was really like, a visit to the Apartheid Museum is fundamental.
The museum is a beacon of hope showing the world how South Africa is coming to terms with its oppressive past and working towards a future that all South Africans can call their own.
Mandela House
Admission included45 min
The Mandela House strives to be a world-class visitor attraction, and a leading centre for the preservation, presentation, and research of the history, heritage and legacy of the Mandela Family.
Vilakazi Street
10 min
Vilakazi Street is the Soweto street of the greats, named after Dr Benedict Wallet Vilakazi, a distinguished writer and educator who wrote the first poetry book published in Zulu.
The homes of two Nobel Peace Prize laureates – South Africa’s first democratically elected president, the late Nelson Mandela, and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu – are found on Vilakazi Street. This is the only street in the world that can boast having had two Nobel Laureates as residents.
Orlando Towers
Pass by
The Orlando Power Station, when it was active, was considered one of the most advanced in the Southern hemisphere. The colourful Orlando Towers are now not only one of the most distinctive landmarks in Soweto, they’re also the site of the world’s first bungee jump between two cooling towers. Look out over South Africa’s most famous township as you embark on an unparalleled experience that will get your adrenaline pumping and provide you with memories that will last a lifetime
Pass by
Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital is the third largest hospital in the world after the West China Hospital of West China Medical Center of Sichuan University, and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, occupying 70 ha, with 3,400 beds and 6,760 staff members
What's included
Included
Hector Peterson Memorial Entrance fees
All Fees and Taxes
Mandela House Entrance Fees
Air-conditioned vehicle
The Apartheid Museum Entrance fees
Not included
Food and drinks
Pickup Locations & Times
We Pick up from all hotels and residential addresses in and around Johannesburg.
All pick ups from OR Tambo International require the flight to land 2 hours before the pick up.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
21 reviews
5
21
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
0
How it compares in Pretoria
Rated higher than 72% of 71 reviewed tours in Pretoria
No. 33 by number of reviews among 372 tours in Pretoria
Starting price $156 is 32% above the typical $118 for tours of similar length in Pretoria
Excurgo comparison of 372 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Soweto & Apartheid Museum Tour take?
Soweto & Apartheid Museum Tour lasts about 5 hours. The itinerary has 6 stops.
How much does Soweto & Apartheid Museum Tour cost?
Prices start at $156 per person for this Pretoria experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $274. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Soweto & Apartheid Museum Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, starting at 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM.
How much does Soweto & Apartheid Museum Tour cost for children?
Children aged 4–12 pay nothing, adults from $156.
Can I cancel Soweto & Apartheid Museum Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. We Pick up from all hotels and residential addresses in and around Johannesburg.
All pick ups from OR Tambo International require the flight to land 2 hours before the pick up. Pickup points include InterContinental Johannesburg Sandton Towers by IHG, The Parktonian All - Suite Hotel.
What languages is Soweto & Apartheid Museum Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Specialized infant seats are available Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(21)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
S
sr929406wce
July 24, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Fab tour of Johannesburg
Our half day tour with Monty on Thursday 23rd July (sorry not sure if I have the name correct) was fantastic. Our guide was respectful, very knowledgeable and looked after us so well. We learnt so much and got to see parts of Johannesburg we could never have got to ourselves. Highly recommended.
A
Annieabr
March 9, 2020 · via Viator
Half day in Johannesburg
Well conducted interesting tour, spending just the right amount of time along the way. Knowledgeable friendly guide
D
D5267EOjoyd
March 6, 2020 · via Tripadvisor
Soweto and Apartheid Museum
Our driver and guide was Andile for the day, he was very knowledgeable. The Apartheid museum is a must if visiting the city, we had a great day.
1 people found this helpful
M
Morgan_W
March 5, 2020 · via Viator
A must-do tour
This was a great tour. Lots of really interesting information. Mom and I enjoyed ourselves. Definitely a great experience...especially for older folks, for whom walking can be challenging.
Tour guide was knowledgable and answered all of our questions. Highly recommend.
A
Ann_L
March 2, 2020 · via Viator
Great tour and tour guide
Khutso was our guide for the fascinating tour of Soweto and The Apartheid Museum. While parts are very sobering, there are also very inspiring elements. He was friendly and very informative. He was very gracious about answering all of our questions and sharing extra information. We highly recommend the tour.
P
planetchic
February 24, 2020 · via Tripadvisor
An Important Do NOT Miss Important experience in Johannesburg.
We only had one day in Joburg and we were scheduled on the one day Soweto & Apartheid Museum Tour. Spurwings is a very professional touring company, Their drivers and guides are great, so courteous, they give all of the information we needed to fully understand what we were seeing. This is an eye-opening tour. What the African freedom fighters went through to accomplish freedom for their people is emotional to see. We must never forget what it took for them to get there.
1 people found this helpful
P
PMel0
January 26, 2020 · via Tripadvisor
Great tour
Our guide Abi was very knowledgeable and has lived his whole life in Soweto. He shared his own experiences which made the tour even more interesting. Apartheid museum is a must see in Joburg!
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
We are glad that you had a great tour and got to get the first-hand experience of Soweto! thank you for taking the time to review us-we hope to see you again shortly.
R
Robyn W
January 15, 2020 · via Tripadvisor
Highly recommended
An excellent tour of Soweto and the apartheid museum. Our guide, khutso, was fabulous and brought local knowledge. The company very professional to deal with.
We were picked up from our accommodation and returned 6 hours later. Everything was included except food which we had a chance to purchase at a couple of stops.
The history can be powerful and moving, but worth seeing and hearing about.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Thank you for taking the time to review us. We are glad that you enjoyed your tour and we hope to see you again soon!
L
Livingmybestlife125
December 22, 2019 · via Tripadvisor
Awesome tour
Our driver Khutso was awesome. He was very nice and knowledgeable about Johannesburg, Soweto and South Africa’s history. The tour was eye-opening and humbling. I definitely recommend it to all travelers.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Thank you for the review and recommendation.
A
ARG2013
November 27, 2019 · via Tripadvisor
Wonderful Tour!
Kulani picked us up at exactly the time indicated and was a wonderful tour guide. He was warm, friendly knowledgeable and personable. It was a long day with so much to see. Kulani was so informative and made the long day go by quickly. The tour was well worth the time and money.
The Apartheid Museum in and of itself is amazing. You honestly need at least 4 hours to go through it with the care it deserves. Unfortunately, this tour does not allow that much time, so if you want to spend a significant amount of time at the museum, you should go on your own.
Operator response
Thank you for taking the time to review us. The apartheid museum definitely does contain a significant amount of information, so we do offer the apartheid museum as a separate tour. The full-day Johannesburg, Soweto and Apartheid museum tour offers a great highlight tour.
We are glad that you enjoyed the tour and hope to see you soon for the Apartheid museum tour.
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