South Africa · JOHANNESBURG TOURS

The 15 Best Johannesburg Tours & Day Trips

127 tours  ·  from $12

Johannesburg is spread out and rewards a guide who knows which streets to use. These 15 cover Soweto, the Apartheid Museum, the Cradle of Humankind and the reserves an hour north, priced with pickup points and how long each one takes.

From Johannesburg: Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Game Safari - The 5:45 a.m. pickup and long road north
Johannesburg Tours, National Parks, Pilanesberg Safaris, Pilanesberg Safaris in Johannesburg, Safari, Tour Reviews

From Johannesburg: Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Game Safari

1.Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Game Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,327 reviews · 12 hours · from $186Our pick

Leave Johannesburg early for two open-vehicle game drives in Pilanesberg, with 4.5 to 5 hours in the reserve. Guides such as Petrus, Martin, and Desmond are praised for sharp animal spotting and lively explanations. Expect elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and a chance at the Big Five.

“I think this was an extremely amazing experience. It was extremely good value the guy who were friendly, informative, and helpful. I enjoyed my experience and would highly recommend this.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Johannesburg: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour - Starting at Rosebank and getting oriented
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Johannesburg Tours, Soweto Tours, Soweto Tours in Johannesburg, Tour Reviews, Tours

Johannesburg: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour

2.Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 985 reviews · 1 day · from $23

See Johannesburg from an open-top double-decker bus with audio in eight languages, live tracking, Wi-Fi, and two sightseeing routes. Add a two-hour small-group Soweto tour with a local guide such as Happy, SK, or Keki, plus optional visits to Mandela House and the Apartheid Museum.

“It was a great experience and the weather was good too as we sat at the top of the bus. It was nice to go to the Soweto tour as well and visit Mandela house and see where Hector died. It was a great experience for my grandson who didn’t know the history”

Check availability →Read our full review

Soweto /Johannesburg and Apartheid Museum Guided Full Day Tour - Johannesburg from the minivan and Gandhi Square
Apartheid Museum Tours, Apartheid Museum Tours in Johannesburg, Full-Day, Guided, Johannesburg Tours, Museums, Soweto Tours, Soweto Tours in Johannesburg, Tour Reviews, Tours

Soweto /Johannesburg and Apartheid Museum Guided Full Day Tour

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 932 reviews · from $103Top rated

Spend 8 to 9 hours with a local guide such as Nathi, Bobo, or Matti, touring Johannesburg and Soweto by air-conditioned minivan. Visit Mandela House, Hector Pieterson Museum, Constitution Hill, and the Apartheid Museum, with hotel pickup and a small group of up to 15.

“Some confronting historical facts and images greet you on this tour, so be ready for it! But our Tour Guide Nathi was thoughtful and thorough, and had us well-prepared for each stop. I'd never known about the cross overs between the two greats of Freedom & Democracy - Gandhi & Mandela. This vital tour brought that, and so much more into the light.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Johannesburg Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour with Soweto Option - Melrose Arch and the northern city view
City Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Johannesburg Tours, Soweto Tours, Soweto Tours in Johannesburg, Tour Reviews, Tours

Johannesburg Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour with Soweto Option

4.Johannesburg Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour with Soweto Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 768 reviews · from $16Best value

Start in Rosebank and circle Johannesburg by open-top bus with eight-language audio, Wi-Fi, and flexible stops at Constitution Hill, the Apartheid Museum, Mandela Foundation, and more. Add a two-hour small-group Soweto tour for Orlando West, local history, and a guide such as Muhumutsi.

“The bus narration on the main bus was very informative. The Soweto tour was good, the guide was great but was very cramped on the smaller bus. For folks thinking to spend time at some of the stops it's tough. Both Constitution Hill and the Arpatheid museum need several hours each.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Full Day Ultimate Pilanesberg National Park Safari from Johannesburg or Pretoria - Your first game drive in the open 4x4
Full-Day, Johannesburg Tours, National Parks, Pilanesberg Safaris, Pilanesberg Safaris in Johannesburg, Safari, Tour Reviews

Full Day Ultimate Pilanesberg National Park Safari from Johannesburg or Pretoria

5.Full Day Ultimate Pilanesberg National Park Safari from Johannesburg or Pretoria

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 718 reviews · from $159

Leave Johannesburg or Pretoria early for Pilanesberg National Park, then join a professional ranger for morning and afternoon open-vehicle safaris. You’ll have time for lunch at the Pilanesberg Center beside a waterhole, with a small group capped at 10 people and return transport included.

“My very first Safari experience. The initial drive takes a while but once at the Safari it’s a magical place. Would 100 percent recommend this tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Half-Day Tour of Soweto Tour - Crossing Johannesburg toward FNB Stadium
Half-Day, Johannesburg Tours, Soweto Tours, Soweto Tours in Johannesburg, Tour Reviews, Tours

Half-Day Tour of Soweto Tour

6.Half-Day Tour of Soweto Tour

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

Spend five hours touring Soweto with a local guide such as Tshepo, Prince, or Erick. See FNB Stadium, walk through Motsoaledi informal settlement, visit Hector Pieterson Museum, pass Mandela and Tutu’s former homes, and finish at Soweto Towers. Hotel pickup, transport, WiFi, and museum entry are included.

“It was a very nice and personalized tour. Highly recommend this! 치안이 안좋기로 유명하기도하고 여자 혼자라서 걱정 많이했는데 안전하게 잘 다녀왔슴요”

Check availability →Read our full review

Soweto: Walking Tour with a Local Guide and Lunch - Starting at the Hector Pieterson Memorial
Guided, Johannesburg Tours, Lunch Experiences, Soweto Tours, Soweto Tours in Johannesburg, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Soweto: Walking Tour with a Local Guide and Lunch

7.Walking Tour with a Local Guide and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 648 reviews · 4 hours · from $43

Spend four hours walking Soweto with a local guide such as Maweza, Teboho, Thabo, or Mulalo. Visit the Hector Pieterson Memorial, Mandela’s House, Vilakazi Street, Orlando East, Nomzamo Park, and the Soweto Towers. Lunch, bottled water, and an English guide are included, but Mandela’s House admission is extra.

“Amazing. Maweza is an incredible guide, very knowledgeable and highly informative on South African history and soweto. He even recommended me some books and films”

Check availability →Read our full review

Jo'berg in 1 Day: Soweto, Apartheid Museum & City Tour - The drive to Soweto and the first look at township life
1-Day Tours, Apartheid Museum Tours, Apartheid Museum Tours in Johannesburg, City Tours, Johannesburg Tours, Museums, Soweto Tours, Soweto Tours in Johannesburg, Tour Reviews, Tours

Jo’berg in 1 Day: Soweto, Apartheid Museum & City Tour

8.Jo’berg in 1 Day: Soweto, Apartheid Museum & City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 524 reviews · 8 hours · from $142

Spend eight hours with an English-speaking guide such as Khutso, Thapelo, or Tinyiko, moving from Soweto’s Vilakazi Street and Hector Pieterson Museum to the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill. Pickup, transport, entry fees, and onboard WiFi are included, while lunch is your responsibility.

“A great day of sightseeing in Johannesburg- our guide was great with lots of information and we saw so much- great value too as all entry tickets included.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Johannesburg: Full-Day Tour with Soweto and Apartheid Museum - Seeing Johannesburg through the old CBD
Apartheid Museum Tours, Apartheid Museum Tours in Johannesburg, Full-Day, Johannesburg Tours, Museums, Soweto Tours, Soweto Tours in Johannesburg, Tour Reviews, Tours

Johannesburg: Full-Day Tour with Soweto and Apartheid Museum

9.Full-Day Tour with Soweto and Apartheid Museum

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

Spend 10 hours tracing Johannesburg’s apartheid-era past with hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a live English or French guide. Visit Constitution Hill, the Apartheid Museum, Mandela House, and Hector Pieterson Memorial, then stop for lunch in Soweto at your own cost.

“Advice was incredible! Very informative and happy to answer any questions. What a fantastic day! Thank you very much Advice!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Johannesburg and Soweto: Half-Day Tour - The Soweto Cooling Towers and Baragwanath Area
Half-Day, Johannesburg Tours, Soweto Tours, Soweto Tours in Johannesburg, Tour Reviews, Tours

Johannesburg and Soweto: Half-Day Tour

10.Johannesburg and Soweto: Half-Day Tour

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

This five-hour Johannesburg and Soweto tour links the city center, Soweto cooling towers, Hector Pieterson Memorial, Vilakazi Street, and Mandela’s House. Hotel pickup, transport, bottled water, and entrance fees are included. Guides such as James, Pascal, Samuel, and Vincent lead tours in English, French, or Portuguese.

“Our driver was one of the best we ever had! Really patient with us. And also the guide for the museum was so good!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Early Morning Balloon Safari with Breakfast from Magaliesburg - Arriving at Bill Harrop’s Original Balloon Safaris
Balloons, Johannesburg Tours, Morning, Safari, Tour Reviews

Early Morning Balloon Safari with Breakfast from Magaliesburg

11.Early Morning Balloon Safari with Breakfast from Magaliesburg

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 418 reviews · from $240

Meet before sunrise at Bill Harrop’s Original Balloon Safaris for a safety briefing and a one-hour flight over the Magaliesbergs and Cradle of Humankind. Your pilot provides commentary, then you return for post-flight drinks, a sparkling-wine buffet breakfast, and a flight certificate.

“It is a well oiled machine all over! The facilities, the staff, the breakfast, the flight everything ia a above average experience! Well done to all! The weather permitted us to experience all the fun and this special experience!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle - Lunch at a Pilanesberg Rest Camp
Full-Day, Johannesburg Tours, Pilanesberg Safaris, Pilanesberg Safaris in Johannesburg, Tour Reviews

Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle

12.Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 414 reviews · from $137

Leave Johannesburg around 6:00 a.m. for Pilanesberg, where a park guide such as Petrus or Thaboo leads a three-hour open-vehicle safari. After lunch, continue in a closed vehicle for about two hours. Hotel transfers and uncapped WiFi are included.

“Petrus was an excellent tour guide. Extremely knowledgeable on all animals and he was fun and light-hearted. He made the experience wonderful.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Full-Day Soweto, Apartheid Museum and Lunch Tour - Starting at FNB Stadium
Apartheid Museum Tours, Apartheid Museum Tours in Johannesburg, Full-Day, Johannesburg Tours, Lunch Experiences, Museums, Soweto Tours, Soweto Tours in Johannesburg, Tour Reviews, Tours

Full-Day Soweto, Apartheid Museum and Lunch Tour

13.Full-Day Soweto, Apartheid Museum and Lunch Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 410 reviews · from $108

Spend about nine hours with a MoAfrika guide exploring Soweto, from FNB Stadium and an informal settlement to Vilakazi Street, Hector Pieterson Museum, Orlando Towers, and the Apartheid Museum. Hotel pickup, lunch, Wi-Fi, and return transport are included.

“Our host was very kind and had an answer to every question. The tour was a lot of information. The only thing I didn't find interesting was the F&B football stadium. Otherwise all the stops were super interesting.”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Johannesburg: Lion & Safari Park Half-Day Tour - Entering Lion and Safari Park
Half-Day, Johannesburg Tours, Safari, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Johannesburg: Lion & Safari Park Half-Day Tour

14.Lion & Safari Park Half-Day Tour

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

Travel from Johannesburg or Pretoria with an English-speaking guide such as Thapelo, Dusty, or Sipho, then join a one-hour open-vehicle drive through Lion and Safari Park. Expect close views of lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, and possibly a rare white lion. Feeding sessions may be visible on some afternoon departures.

“i was hoping to pet a baby lion but instead I got to watch them feed the lions. super amazing experience. Can not miss!!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Half Guided Day Tour of Soweto And Apartheid Museum - Vilakazi Street and two Nobel Peace Prize homes
Apartheid Museum Tours, Apartheid Museum Tours in Johannesburg, Guided, Johannesburg Tours, Museums, Soweto Tours, Soweto Tours in Johannesburg, Tour Reviews, Tours

Half Guided Day Tour of Soweto And Apartheid Museum

15.Half Guided Day Tour of Soweto And Apartheid Museum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 356 reviews · from $69

This 4 to 5-hour small-group tour combines the Apartheid Museum with Soweto sights, including Vilakazi Street, Mandela House, and the Hector Pieterson Memorial. Hotel pickup, transport, taxes, and several admissions are included. Guides such as Nathi and Bobo add local context, while the museum visit is self-guided.

“Great Guide and a nice tour :) A lot of information about the history of South Afrika. Very interesting”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Johannesburg Tours

★ 4.5Lion parkFrom $1835 reviews
★ 4.6Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural foodFrom $1439 reviews
★ 5.0Lesedi cultural village:From $846 reviews
★ 4.9Lesedi Cultural VillageFrom $1214 reviews
★ 4.7Lesedi Cultural Village Half-Day TourFrom $1839 reviews
★ 4.7Kruger National Park – 5 Day Safari TourFrom $1,1714 reviews
★ 4.0Kruger National Park: 4-Day Ultimate Safari TourFrom $1,1613 reviews
★ 4.8Kruger National Park – 4 Day Safari TourFrom $94619 reviews
★ 4.8Kruger National Park 4-Day Luxury Safari9 reviews
★ 4.32-Day Safari into Kruger National ParkFrom $61629 reviews
★ 4.3Wine TastingFrom $1239 reviews
★ 4.9City of Gold Walking TourFrom $547 reviews
★ 4.3The Evolution of Maboneng (Place of Light)From $428 reviews
★ 4.7Soweto Night TourFrom $1203 reviews
★ 4.8Soweto Tour with LunchFrom $9443 reviews

Keep browsing

Safari196Table Mountain Tours65Cape Town Tours561Wine Tours93Cruises & Boat Tours100Museums30
Scroll to Top

Explore South Africa

Pick a reserve, a coastline or a cellar.

In the parks

Big Five Game DrivesKruger SafarisPilanesbergAddo ElephantsHluhluwe-iMfolozi

On the water

Whale BoatsShark CagesSunset CruisesBoat TripsDiving

Around Cape Town

Table MountainCape PointBoulders PenguinsRobben IslandLion’s Head

Food and wine

Winelands DaysWine TastingsFood ToursCooking ClassesThe Bo-Kaap