SOWETO TOUR

PRODUCT OVERVIEW : The aim of this tour is to interpret how the discovery of diamonds in 1866 and then gold led to the rapid economic development of South Africa and how the migrant labour system sowed the seeds of apartheid. Central to the story is how Johannesburg grew to be central to the recent history of South Africa and why, as the most culturally diverse city on the continent, it will remain at the centre of shaping the socio-political and socio-economic landscape of sub-Saharan Africa. The Mandela story is threaded through the history of South Africa and his legacy guides the story up to the present day. The itinerary loops out to Soweto then finishes close to the commonly used hotels in the Rosebank and Sandton areas. Johannesburg is a very large urban area and this route allows me to cover the key attractions and places of historical interest. TOUR STRUCTURE: We start at Vilakazi Street, where guests take a site-tour through Mandela House which takes about half an hour. Thereafter, we drive past Orlando West High School, Moema Street and Hector Pietersen memorial. I discuss the Soweto Student uprising in 1976. We then drive through ‘Deep Soweto’, past Regina Mundi church to Kliptown where The Freedom Charter was adopted in 1955. After Kliptown, we head back towards Jo’burg past Bara Taxi Rank and Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.