Soweto Township Tour- Private Tour (3 persons)

Took a tour with Nathan N. We arrived after two long days of traveling from US so our endurance for a tour was a bit low. Nathan picked us up at our hotel as scheduled in a very comfortable car and we drive about 35 minutes to Soweto. Nathan grew up there and was able to tell us about its origins and geography and we drive to a section of Soweto and visited a family in one of the original homes that had been extended. I was surprised how nice the homes were in one section but scattered about were shanty towns inhabited by the very poor, squatters, and immigrants. We toured Nelson Mandelas House in the neighborhood where Desmond Tuttu lived and also visited the Apartheid Museum which was quite amazing. Unfortunately we were so tired we did not spend enough time seeing the museum thoroughly. We were then driven back to check in to our hotel. A very enjoyable tour and would recommend to anyone but would advise doing it if you had more restful time prior to the tour. Thanks Nathan for an interesting morning with you.

Our private tour with Nathan was one of the most meaningful experiences of our time in Johannesburg. From the Apartheid Museum to Soweto, Mandela House, and beyond, he brought the history and culture of South Africa to life in a way that was thoughtful, personal, and unforgettable. Nathan answered every question we asked, while also adding context and ideas that gave us even more to think about. He understood that we wanted to really dive into the history and culture, and he shaped the day around those interests. We felt entirely comfortable and safe with him throughout the tour, and he was also an excellent, careful driver. One of the most memorable parts of the day was visiting a family home in Soweto, which gave us a much more personal understanding of the community. Nathan also chose a wonderful place for lunch and took the time to explain the traditional foods so we could fully appreciate what we were eating and how they connected to the culture. We are so glad we booked a private tour because it allowed us to set the pace and direction of the day, ask as many questions as we wanted, and spend more time on the places and topics that mattered most to us. This was an amazing experience, and we highly, highly recommend both the tour and Nathan as a guide.

Nathan provided a fantastic tour of Soweto. He communicated with my husband and I before we got to Johannesberg so that we were ready to go on the appointed day. At 8:30 am, he picked us up promptly at our hotel, and his passion for helping his guests to understand the history and culture of South Africa was evident from the beginning and throughout the tour. As we drove toward the Apartheid Museum, he pointed out important details--the leftover tailings (huge mounds of dirt) from the gold mines, huge trees planted to suck up water from the mining, and the modern downtown buildings, articulately situating the historic context of why and how Johannesburg arose. He also gave us a great introduction to the Apartheid Museum and then gave us a generous amount of time to explore it on our own. Next, he took us into Soweto where he carefully illuminated the socio-economic diversity of the various neighborhoods and then took us to visit with a local family in their home and see what their daily life is like. Our visit took place on Youth Day, a national holiday that commemorates the youth uprisings of 1976 each June 16. This year was the 50th anniversary commemoration, and although there were few tourists in Soweto due to road closures and special celebrations taking place which the president of South Africa attended, Nathan had no trouble taking us into the township due to the fact that he was raised in and has lived in Soweto for many years. It was especially moving to be there on that particular day and interact with the local people visiting Nelson Mandela's former home and the Hector Pierson Memorial. We had a delicious lunch at Sakhumzi Restaurant and took an outside look at Desmond Tutu's former home (not open to the public). All of this was possible due to Nathan's careful planning and expert help. He was warm, gracious, and gave us so many important insights. Regina Mundi Church with its lovely Our Lady of Soweto was closed because of the holiday, but Nathan took us to visit the outside where many people were gathered to talk and celebrate, and he gave us the context for another visit later during our time in Jo'berg. We did not finish our tour until well after 5pm as Nathan went above and beyond to make sure we saw as much as we could. Overall, we highly recommend him as someone who loves what he is doing and made sure we learned and experienced all that was possible in a single day we will long remember.

Excellent tour. Guide was able to adjust to our requests and made a very memorable day. His love for the people in the community shone through. I really felt like I was being taken around by an insider!

The tour was very interesting and informative. Nathan was a fantastic guide. His personal touch was impressive. A couple highlights were visiting a family in their home in Soweto and having lunch with Nathan at a local restaurant.

Thank you, Natan! You were a very knowledgeable guide and shared so many interesting insights. It made the experience much more meaningful and enjoyable for us.