Have you ever wanted to travel to South Africa but weren’t sure what to expect? Check out our day traveling throughout Soweto and Johannesburg to provide you with some ideas on your next or first South African trip and things to see along the way. If you missed the first full day of our trip to South Africa, check it out here.
Soweto who?
If you are unfamiliar with Soweto, which I was before visiting, let me provide some insight. Soweto is an integral part of South Africa’s rich history because of its connection to Nelson Mandela.
Soweto, which is named from a shortened version of South Western Townships is also the location of the early house of Nelson Mandela and the Regina Mundi Catholic Church. Being able to be immersed in this type of history in person, brought some insight. So if you are ever in Soweto check out the locations that I will describe in this post.
One residence of Nelson Mandela
Our tour guide brought us to one of the houses where Nelson Mandela (Madiba) lived after he was released from prison. We weren’t able to go in as it is not a “museum”, however, you can still see the outside and some of the dedicated areas for Winnie and Nelson.
Sanctuary Mandela
We toured Sanctuary Mandela, which was an early house of Nelson Mandela before being converted. The pillars outside were set to describe what Mr. Mandela stood for and if you look through them at the right angle the words also show as a shadow on the ground.
The Sanctuary has plenty of artifacts such as certificates, and photographs, and is also a place where someone can grab a bite to eat. This was not on our original itinerary, but I’m glad we made this ad-hoc stop for about 20 minutes.
Soweto towers
Driving around areas that are not considered the business district or where tourists hang out, brings a different and educational experience. Yes, just like in the US there are good and not-so-good spots. You will see some rubles and goats eating trash while driving around the area.
An intriguing landmark we saw was two tall power stations that were converted into bungy jumping known as Soweto Towers. These two towers are brightly decorated and visitors can ride the elevator shaft to the top and “jump” down. This was nice to see, but not my vibe. I’m happy to observe from afar. The video below will give you an idea of what it is like.
Regina Mundi Catholic Church
As we continued, the next stop was the Regina Mundi Catholic Church, which is the largest Catholic Cathedral in the Southern Hemisphere. Here you can see one of the few Black Madonnas and it was also the venue for illegal meetings in the “old” South Africa. The church was beautiful, but just not my cup of tea. Our guide even showed where some of the bullets were still in the ceilings and walls from where some were trying to harm those inside as soon as the meetings were over. Upon exiting the church you can purchase a few items as souvenirs at a good price.
1947 restaurant
It was about that time, that we needed some lunch. 1947 is the restaurant we dined at. 1947 is popular amongst the locals and you can see people outside taking photoshoots (some are African celebrities). I enjoyed the view because the restaurant is up on more of a hill. You can also see the Soweto Towers from this location. The restaurant can be pretty busy, but here is an option for you to try on your travels.
The Mandela Museum
Growing up in the US, I always heard about Nelson Mandela, but I never really dove into his story to really understand the essence of what he was fighting for or what he had to endure. Maybe because I was still young at the time and it wasn’t a priority for me. After coming to South Africa, I gained a better understanding of how things were in this country and why South Africans loved this man so much.
The Mandela House was turned into a museum. The house is not very big, so only one or two groups can go in at once. We had another guide explaining the history and showing off rooms and artifacts during the tour. What really captured my attention was how one man and his family could live in such a small space and still accomplish so much.
I didn’t realize that Nelson Mandela was 6 feet tall. It seemed in TV or film that he was much shorter in stature. The replica bed that was in the room was like a small twin-size bed. It was hard enough sleeping in a twin bed as a younger adult; I can only imagine what it was like as a grown man.
Here I also learned more about Winnie Mandela. Honestly, the only thing I knew of Mrs. Mandela was that she was married to Nelson Mandela. I did not understand or have knowledge of everything she did in her lifetime to support the cause. I still don’t know everything, however, it’s more than what I went in with. Traveling will give you an education without you having to go look for it.
apartheid museum
If you don’t do anything else in the Johannesburg area, you should visit the Apartheid Museum. Not because you like reliving the pain of the South Africans from that time, but to gain a better understanding of what it was like for people of color in that country and what Nelson Mandela was fighting for. You won’t find many pictures of the actual inside because they ask that photos and videos not be taken. There is a lot so be prepared to have good walking shoes and don’t go hungry.
There is an area outside of the museum that is more open for pictures. I could tell the similarities between segregation and how it used to be in the US and how it was in South Africa such as using separate entrances for Blankes and NIE-Blankes. Towards the end, there is a 20-minute video that keeps looping for visitors to understand more of the history of South Africa.
go for yourself
I’ve never been a big history buff but I did enjoy the education behind seeing these places in Soweto and the Apartheid Museum. I won’t lie, a lot of it was emotional but that’s just history. We understand it so it doesn’t repeat itself.
If you are not into doing a lot of research online or reading books, then take a trip. Now you won’t learn everything in one visit, but being there and having a good tour guide to tell you about each area will provide a good baseline for you.
key takeaways
- At the Mandela Museum and the Catholic Church, there will be vendors selling items outside. Prices are good, but you are not obligated to buy anything.
- Many of the locals call Nelson Mandela, “Madiba”.
- You can make reservations for lodging and reservations at Sanctuary Mandela.
- You can visit the Soweto Towers and go bungy jumping.
- The Aparthied Mesuem takes 2-3 hours to go through depending on if you have a guide or if you read everything. Photos and Video are not permitted in most of the tour.
- Check out 1947 as a good restaurant choice with a good view.
