Johannesburg/Soweto

The name Soweto was first used in 1963 to describe the groups of townships to the south west of Johannesburg and is an acronym for South Western Townships. These townships were established after an outbreak of bubonic plague in the inner city slums of Johannesburg in 1904, but under the apartheid government, many black South Africans were forcefully relocated from the city and its suburbs to Soweto and other townships.

Most visitors to Soweto take a tour from their Johannesburg hotel. However, you can do Soweto independently, either by car or suburban rail.
Soweto is an increasingly popular destination for travellers from around the world. Take a tour or just drive in yourself using GPS set to Vilakazi Street... the road infrastructure and signage are excellent. Alternatively, take a MetroRail suburban train from Johannesburg Park station bound for either Naledi (for northern Soweto), Oberholzer or Vereeniging (for southern Soweto). There are many stations in Soweto, so check out first which one serves your destination. Close to the Nancefield station is the Maponya Mall where you can join the Sowetan middle classes as they entertain themselves with retail and movies!
Unless you are with Soweto locals, you probably do not want to stray from the tourist-friendly Orlando West area (served by Phefeni train station) on your own. Soweto is huge, and those without an African complexion will feel very conspicuous.

Most choose to visit Soweto as part of an official tour group by a SATSA-accredited tour guide.
Several tour operators are available:

• Imbizo Tours. Tel:+27 (0)11 838-2667.
• Soweto By Nite. Tel:+27 (0)82 748 1588.
• Soweto.co.za. Tel:+27 (0)11 326 1700.
• Mandela's Soweto. Tel:+27 (0)84 840 2847. Professional tour guides using luxury minivans.
• Soweto Voyage. Tel:"+27" (0)82 818 1010. Soweto-based tour operator offering fully guided day and night tours of this chaotic but otherwise energetic and vibrant place. Tours use private cars and minibuses and include visits to many cultural, heritage and historical places including buffet lunch/ dinner/ supper. Night shebeen tours are also on offer. e-mail: info@sowetovoyage.co.za

• Credo Mutwa Village

  phone: +27 11 930-1813
  address: Corner Ntsane and Majoeng streets, Central Western Jabavu
  Restored Zulu and Sotho villages

• Hector Pietersen Museum

  phone: +27 11 536-0611
  address: 8288 Maseko Street, Orlando West
  Try to allow at least an hour here. Great bookshop inside.

• Mandela Family Museum

  phone: +27 11 936-7754
  address: 8115 Ngakane Street, Orlando West

• Regina Mundi Church

  phone: +27 11 986-2546
  address: 1149 Khumalo Street, Moroka
  The people's parliament.

• Walk through Baragwanath Taxi rank area and eat some "Runnaways" (chicken feet) with the locals or try some "Smily's" (grilled sheeps head)
• Visit a real Shebeen (drinking place), not just the touristy places
• Be seen at the Soweto Wine Festival, the most successful trend-setting annual lifestyle event held in Soweto.

• Maponya Mall

  phone: +27 011 398 4449
  address: Old Potchefstroom Road, Klipspruit
  200 stores, cinemas and restaurants.

• Jabulani Mall

  phone: +27 011 930 3333
  address: 2601 Corner Koma and Bolani Road, Jabulani

• B's Place

  phone: +27 11 935-4015
  address: 5541 Shuenane Street, Orlando East

• Sakhumzi Restaurant

  phone: +27 11 536-1379
  address: 6980 Vilakazi Street, Orlando West

• Wandies

  phone: +27 11 982-2796
  address: 618 Makhalamele Street, Dube
  Offers some of the best indigenous South African menus, including Mogodu (tripe) and pap. Put you business card on the wall with those of many visitors before.

• The Back Room

  phone: +27 11 938-9388
  address: Shop 20, Pimville Square Shopping Center, Modjadji Str

• Botle Guest House

  phone: +27 11 982-1872
  address: 648 Monyane St, Dube

• Dakalo Bed and Breakfast

  phone: +27 11 936-9328
  address: 6963 Inhlwathi St, Orlando West

• Ekhaya Guesthouse

  phone: +27 11 939-2850
  address: 8027 Bacela St, Orlando West

• Lolo's Guesthouse

  phone: +27 11 985-9183
  address: 1320 Diepkloof Ext

• Vhavhenda Hills

  phone: +27 11 936-0411
  address: 11749 Mampuru St, Orlando West

By and large, contrary to popular belief, Soweto is a pretty safe place for tourists to visit. It is not the easiest place to drive around in by yourself, so if you are going to stay there overnight, get the bed and breakfast owner to meet you on one of the main roads and follow the owner in or get a transfer in. If you are going to do a tour, go with one of the registered tour companies (see above or contact SATSA). Try to make sure that the tour company is using a local Soweto/Johannesburg guide as that makes a better insight to the place and its history.