Soweto

Soweto is a cluster of townships bordering Johannesburg’s mining belt in the south. It is a melting pot of cultures and the setting for some of the most significant historical events during the Apartheid years. Named after the first syllables in the words ‘south western township’, Soweto received international attention on 16 June 1976 with the Soweto Uprising, a series of protests against apartheid.

Today Soweto has grown into a vibrant township, the largest in South Africa. Spanning 150 square kilometers, it is home to some of the most interesting and important political and historical tourist attractions.

The best soweto tours cover Vilakazi Street. One of the most famous streets in Soweto, Vilakazi Street is known for the residences of Former President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.

Mandela House

Located in Orlando, the first township of Soweto, this is the house Former President Nelson Mandela stayed in prior to his arrest and imprisonment in 1961 for his anti-Apartheid activities. The house has been converted into a museum called the Mandela House Museum and is open to the public.

Desmond Tutu House

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is a anti-apartheid and social rights activist, and still lives on Vilakazi Street.

Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum

On the corner of Moema and Vilakazi Street is the Hector Pieterson memorial. Hector Pieterson was killed here by police on 16 June 1976 during a peaceful protest in the Soweto Uprising. Today, South Africa remembers that day and celebrates his memory with Youth Day on the 16 June each year. The Hector Pieterson Museum was established to commemorate the role of the school children who took part in the protests.

Davmore is proud to offer both full day and half day trips to Soweto from Johannesburg to allow visitors to explore the full and rich political history of the township, and the impact that has had on the country and its people as a whole.

Soweto is just under an hour’s drive from OR Tambo Airport and just over half an hour’s drive from the Johannesburg city center.