Unique Ways To Discover Johannesburg

Johannesburg – South Africa’s biggest city – is home to numerous historical sites, including the Apartheid Museum and Nelson Mandela’s former residence. Plus, it’s a great city to stay in if you want a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience. Culture Trip curates six things to do in and around the city that put a twist on the classics.

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Offering a history lesson on the black South Africans against apartheid movement, a visit to Nelson Mandela’s former residence in Soweto should be on every visitor’s Johannesburg itinerary. But instead of taking a walking tour, why not opt for a four-hour bike tour that passes a squatter camp, or perhaps an experience that includes lunch with the locals?

Another must-visit is the UNESCO-listed Cradle of Humankind, which is recognised as the world’s richest hominin site. Instead of visiting the site on foot, we suggest taking a hot-air balloon ride for aerial views of both the site itself and the Magaliesberg mountain range.

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This tour will let you experience day-to-day life in the township, from the first people living in Soweto up to today’s flamboyant five-star Soweto Hotel. You will visit a squatter camp and Regina Mundi church, see Nelson Mandela’s house and hear stories about the struggle by black South Africans against apartheid. You also experience ‘the better life for all South Africans’ starting after the first free elections in 1994.

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Visit the world-renowned Cradle of Humankind. You will experience the Sterkfontein Caves and Maropeng exhibition centre on this 8-hour adventure. Spend an hour on a guided tour in the underground Sterkfontein caves. This is the site where Mrs Ples, a 2.3-million-year-old hominid, was discovered. Also the site for Little Foot! Learn about local history as you discover why the UNESCO-listed Maropeng is called the Cradle of Humankind. On this tour you also get to experience a Lion Safari and local wildlife from the back of an open truck.

Tours

Our tours are run by well-experienced and well-trained tourist guides who are registered with the accredited authority (THETA) – tourism, hospitality, sports, education and training authority.Our guides are knowledgeable, love working with people and are welcoming.

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A private tour that is more welcoming, full of interesting facts about the history and culture of South Africa. Get the firsthand experience from the guide who born and groomed in Soweto. The package include a much-needed and highly recommended local lunch in Soweto.

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After collecting you from your hotel or residence in Johannesburg between 06:00 – 06:30, we travel to the Pilanesberg Nature Park.We should arrive at Pilanesberg Park around 9am, where we will then board and start our 1st open-vehicle safari drive ( +- 3 hours) in search of the animals that inhabit the National Park. We will then have a short stop from 12 pm until 1 pm for lunch at Pilanebserg Center inside the middle of the park overlooking a beautiful waterhole. After lunch we will depart on our 2nd Open Safari Drive (+-2 hours). We depart the park around 15h30, arriving back in Johannesburg between 17h30 to 18h00.

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

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Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Unique Ways To Discover Johannesburg