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Close to
Johannesburg, Soweto - an acronym for
South Western Townships - is the most
populous black urban residential area and
also the most metropolitan. Its genesis lies
in the segregationist planning of South
Africa. Later it was also the hotbed of many
political campaigns and anti-apartheid
movements. The streets of Soweto have also
given South Africa its political
personalities, including Nelson Mandela and
Desmond Tutu. Both these Nobel peace prize
laureates once lived in the famed Vilakazi
Street in Orlando West.
The Soweto City
Council organizes Soweto tours on every
weekday morning from Carlton Center,
Johannesburg. You may attend the
Johannesburg-Soweto tour by making
reservation from Soweto Tourism Information
Office (Phone: 336-4961). There are also
travel agencies organizing the Soweto tours
from Johannesburg. |
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Typical Johannesburg-Soweto Tour Itinaries
On
pick up, you will get a good overview of the
suburbs and some of the city's top schools.
An exciting experience is the new
Constitutional Hill development
incorporating the new Constitutional
Court and the historic and notorious
Johannesburg Fort, which was a prison
from 1913 until the 1980's. This symbol of
apartheid has now been creatively
incorporated into the new development
"blending the worst of the past into the
best of the future".
Journey to the old inner-city of
Johannesburg where the early mining "Randlords"
established their mining houses, many early
Johannesburg buildings survive and have
important historical connections. The inner
city remains the home of most of the major
banks and a number of regeneration projects
are underway. Newtown is an important
initiative to create a vibrant cultural
centre with new housing and commercial
components. Visit the site where the main
gold reef was discovered in 1886 and view an
original shaft and the exposed reef as well
as an early crushing mill.
Then it is onto Soweto - a "City
within a City", home to more than 3.5
million people. Discover the connection with
early Johannesburg and experience the
special "township vibe". The visit
takes in the Baragwanath Hospital and
the huge and vibrant taxi rank, Africa in
the raw. We enjoy a beer with some of the
locals at a traditional house shebeen.
Visit the home of Nelson Mandela, now
a museum and the famous Vilakazi Street. The
Hector Pieterson Museum will give you
a real feel of the drama of June 1976, when
the students of Soweto took to the streets
to protest against apartheid. A truly moving
and educational experience!
The tour will take you to the full range of
housing standards from squatter camps to
up-market millionaire houses as well as the
notorious single gender hostels. You get out
and interact with the local communities,
where a friendly and safe welcome awaits us
everywhere. You also visit the famous
Regina Mundi church a focal point of
much of the struggle in the 70's and 80's.
The Black Madonna and Child painting is
housed here.
A highlight of any tour to Soweto is a
typical "township" meal at one of the
excellent restaurants in Soweto patronized
by locals and tourists alike in their
Johannesburg
trip. You then leave
Soweto to visit more of the historical
sights of Johannesburg as well as the new
areas of
Sandton - one of the most
modern and sophisticated commercial centers
in the world. |
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