Soweto: "South Western Townships"
An international recognisable name, synonymous with apartheid and the racial system that created it.
A product of segregationist planning. Home to two Nobel Prize Winners and a Central part of Black South Africa's fight against Apartheid.
South Africa history - written in Soweto streets - by the people of Soweto
The Soweto Township Tour:
The tour gives glimpse into Soweto and the turbulent past of the area and an insight into the influential people and the ordinary resident, both young and old who fought for change not only for Soweto, but for South Africa. This is both the birth place and the cradle of the struggle against the apartheid system. The history of South Africa was written here, in the Soweto streets, by the people of Soweto. View the wealth and the poverty, side by side in the informal settlements and affluent suburbs with the new emerging township all in one. Infused with the turbulent history during the years of struggle against apartheid. Experience the sprawling metropolis of the largest township in South Africa - Soweto
The Walking Tour:
Experience a walk through Bara Taxi rank with its informal market and traders. Take an emotional walk through an informal settlement /squatter camp and visit a children,s day creche. Drive to the famous Vilakazi Street, with the house of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela's former house, now the Mandela Museum, walking to the Hector Peterson museum and memorial. Take a leisurely walk through Soweto's newest mall - Maponya Mall. *Please see note below.
Soweto Bicycle Tours - Soweto Bicycle Experience!
Tour the streets of Soweto by bicycle - visit historical sites, meet the people of Soweto. Exciting, eco-friendly township tour around the streets of Soweto. Ride to some of the most interesting historical sites around Soweto. Up close and personal experience of the Soweto community and get to know what makes this township unique.
*As these walking and cycle tours are always done as private tours, these items above can be tailor made to your personal requirements. The Soweto walking tour is not always available and depends on the size of the group, time available and various other items. This must be specifically requested and confirmed in your booking.
Notable items on the Soweto tour can include:
Baragwaneth: With its huge and extremely busy taxi rank on one side of the road with the biggest hospital in the southern hemisphere (Chris Hani Baragwaneth) hospital on the other side of the road. Built as a military hospital during the Second World War.
Orlando Power Station and the Twin Towers: Supplied electricity to Johannesburg (not Soweto) for years until its closure due to high operational expenses. With one of the towers creatively painted and visible in most parts of Soweto. The adrenalin junkie can bungee jump either between the towers or into a tower (see our Adventure Sports page)
Motsoaledi informal settlement: Walk through a poverty stricken environment with conditions no better than they were in 1903 when the area was originally settled. Meet the people of Soweto during the walk in the squatter camp with a local guide.
Hector Peterson museum: A museum named after one of the first fatalities but dedicated to the many students who lost their lives during the student uprising of 1976 and the transition to democracy in South Africa. An informative stop and an insight into the root causes of the riots and the loss of life that followed.
Vilakazi Street: The only street in the world that has seen two Nobel Peace Prize winners as residents. Nelson Mandela lived here in a house built in 1945, moving in with his first wife Evelyn and later with his first son. Divorcing in 1957, and was joined in the house the following year by his second wife Winnie for only a short time before he went into hiding and later arrested. Nelson Mandela returned to the house for a brief stay after his release in 1990. A few houses down the road is the house of internationally know and respected anti-apartheid stalwart cleric - Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The clinic used during the student uprising of 1976 is also on this street.
Regina Mundi Church: Built in 1962 and used as a meeting point during the years of apartheid and a focal point during those years. Known in the years of struggle as the Parliament of Soweto. One of Soweto's 18 Catholic Churches and is also the largest in South Africa. Home to the famous Larry Scully painting of the black Madonna. Day Creche with their delightful singing and the heart breaking rehabilitation centre for the youth who have suffered from abuse and neglect in their early childhood.
Vista University - Soweto Campus: Now part of the Johannesburg University Established by the Apartheid Government in 1982. The prime motivation was to ensure tertiary education within the black townships rather than campuses that were reserved for whites. Its first academic year started in January 1983 and now forms part of the University of Johannesburg, a merger between the Johannesburg Technikon, Rand Afrikaans University and other Vista University campuses
Freedom Square Kliptown: The "People's Bill of Rights" document was finalized and agreed upon at a large public meeting held here in 1955. This became known as the Freedom Charter and was an integral part of the strategy by the resistance leadership.
Elephant houses: Built in the 70's after devastating wind storms in the area. Built with concrete walls and a roof that resembles an elephants back. These houses accommodate 2 to 3 families, and is not able to be added to, as most houses in Soweto are.
Winnie Madikizela Mandela's "mansion". With its high walls, security cameras and bullet proof windows.
Orlando Soccer Stadium: Serving Soweto for over 4 decades and the home to Moroka Swallows. Has a capacity of 40 000 and has received a facelift for use during the 2010 World Cup as a training ground. Maponya Mall: Soweto's prestigious new mall.
Look beyond the June 16th 1976 student uprising to the core of Soweto - its people.
Soweto Today:
The lack of housing continues to be a fundamental social problem and is a major challenge to the African National Congress (ANC) government and its dominance in the future if it fails to adequately address the township housing problem. For those with houses the burden on payment has caused many to default.
Included on the tour will be many other items of interest including various community development projects and the massive goldmine dumps. All discussed in depth on the tour.
Daily Soweto tours available - 7 days a week. Different tour options are available - with different prices.
Perfect tour options to include with the Soweto Tour to create a full day tour:
Johannesburg Tour or Constitution Hill or Apartheid Museum or Liliesleaf
For Soweto Tour details or bookings - please Contact Ekala Eco Tours
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For Tour details or bookings - please Contact Ekala Eco Tours.
Ekala Eco Tours - Personalised attention to your needs. We look forward to hearing from you.
Please Contact Ekala Eco Tours - info@ekalatours.com - for - tour details - Personalised attention - Bookings
Ekala Eco Tours use qualified and registered guides - not drivers only.
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Historical Tours - Cultural Tours - WildLife Tours - Apartheid Museum - Constitution Hill
For further information on Soweto Tours please Contact Ekala Eco Tours. We look forward to hearing from you - info@ekalatours.com