Day Trips in Johannesburg & Pretoria: 9 of Them, Priced and Timed

1.Soweto /Johannesburg and Apartheid Museum Guided Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 932 reviews · from $103Our pick

Spend 8 to 9 hours exploring Johannesburg and Soweto in a small group of up to 15 people. Visit Hector Pieterson Museum, Mandela House, Constitution Hill, the Apartheid Museum, Vilakazi Street, Orlando Towers, and FNB Stadium. Guides such as Nathi and Bobo add local context, while hotel pickup and minivan transport keep the day simple.

“A lot of people told us that going to Johannesburg wasn’t worth it… but this tour / experience gave us a great chance to “live” and learn about the history of the country… and it felt good. To “be kind” it is something you can really internalize by going there.”

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2.Half-Day Tour of Soweto Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 712 reviews · from $63Best value

Spend five hours exploring Soweto with a local guide who grew up in the township. Visit the Hector Pieterson Museum, Vilakazi Street, Walter Sisulu Square, Motsoaledi informal settlement, and the Soweto Towers. Hotel pickup, transport, WiFi, and drop-off are included. Mandela House entry and food cost extra.

“Prince was a fantastic tour guide and I would recommend this tour with him. He has a great attitude and taught us a lot throughout the day.”

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3.Full-Day Tour with Soweto and Apartheid Museum

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 478 reviews · 10 hours · from $104

Spend 10 hours with a French- or English-speaking guide exploring Johannesburg and Soweto. Visit Constitution Hill, Mandela House, Hector Pieterson Memorial, and the Apartheid Museum, with hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, and entry fees included. Guides such as Advice, Bob, John, and Masese are known for clear storytelling and thoughtful care.

“I had an incredible experience with the tour company and my guide, Bob. He was knowledgeable, engaging, and truly passionate about South Africa’s history. The visits to the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, and Mandela House were deeply informative and moving. Bob explained everything in a way that was easy to understand while remaining respectful and insightful. The entire tour was well-organized and ran smoothly from start to finish. I highly recommend Bob and this company to anyone wanting a meaningful and educational tour experience in Johannesburg. (Benny) 😊😊”

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4.Johannesburg and Soweto: Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 439 reviews · 5 hours · from $71

Spend five hours touring Johannesburg and Soweto with an English, French, or Portuguese-speaking guide. Visit Mandela’s House, Hector Pieterson Memorial, Vilakazi Street, the Soweto cooling towers, and key city sights. Guides such as James, Pascal, Vincent, and Samuel are praised for clear history, careful driving, and making short stays count.

“James, our guide was super nice informative and the entire tour was great I recommend”

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5.Lion & Safari Park Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 384 reviews · 5 hours · from $167

Travel from Johannesburg or Pretoria in an air-conditioned vehicle to Lion and Safari Park, then join a one-hour open-vehicle drive among lions, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs, giraffes, and more. English-speaking guides such as Dusty, AJ, and Masana are known for lively animal briefings. The rare white lion may also appear.

“The tour was amazing, it was great to have an up close view of the lions and still feel safe in the vehicles”

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6.Johannesburg and Soweto Apartheid Full Day Tour w/Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 219 reviews · 8 hours · from $93

Spend eight hours exploring Johannesburg and Soweto with guides such as James, Vincent, Pascal, Lauren, or Nomonde. Visit Constitution Hill, the Apartheid Museum, Hector Pieterson Memorial, Vilakazi Street, and Mandela House, with a local lunch in Soweto. Apartheid Museum visits run Wednesday through Sunday.

“Best guide ever! If you want to do the tour asked for Vincent! He’s full of information, really interesting to listen. Il parle également très bien français. Ma mère et moi avons passé un très agréable moment!”

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7.Soweto Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 196 reviews · 5 hours · from $74

Spend five hours exploring Soweto with an English-speaking guide such as Mark, Thapelo, Sello, or Lebo. You’ll see Vilakazi Street, Mandela House, Regina Mundi Church, Hector Pieterson Museum, local markets, cooling towers, and an informal settlement. Hotel pickup, transport, WiFi, and museum entry are included, while Mandela House costs extra.

“A late review - we did this in November 2023! But it’s an experience that has stayed with us and we’re incredibly glad we went. From visiting Mandela House, walking around the Soweto neighbourhood and visiting the museum, we learned so much about the history of Apartheid in South Africa and lasting impact on South Africans today. Brilliant tour - 10/10.”

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8.Soweto & Apartheid Museum Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 99 reviews · 5h 30m · from $84

Spend about five and a half hours with an English or French-speaking guide exploring Soweto and Johannesburg’s apartheid history. See the Soweto Towers, FNB Stadium, Tutu’s house, and Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, then visit Mandela House and the Apartheid Museum. Guides such as Advice, Masese, John, and Kwanda are praised for clear storytelling and personal insight.

“John made the day very special for us. Through him we got to understand the history vividly. Thanks!”

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9.Pretoria Half Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 93 reviews · 5 hours · from $90

Travel from Johannesburg to Pretoria with a live guide in English, French or Portuguese. Visit Paul Kruger House and the Voortrekker Monument, then see Church Square, City Hall, Government Avenue, UNISA, Loftus Stadium and the Union Buildings. Guides such as Gilbert, Vincent and Pascal have been praised for clear historical context.

“It was just enough to have a glimpse in Pretoria. The Union building was closed when we arrived, so we just had to see it from outside the fences.”

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