Carlton Centre

Enjoy the most fantastic views, safely and with flexibility to experience the atmosphere of Johannesburg aboard an open-top double-decker sightseeing bus. Choose between a bus ticket or choose to include a small group tour to Soweto, to buy a ticket to the former home of Nelson Mandela in Vilakazi street and lots more by choosing the Bus/Soweto Combo option. This open top bus tour stops at all the iconic Johannesburg attractions like Melrose Arch, the Mandela's Foundation, Mandela's Homes, Constitution Hill, downtown Johannesburg, the Apartheid Museum, Gold Reef City Theme Park, The Zoo, and Military Museum. The Main bus stop and Branded Tour office with Departure point is in Rosebank. Look for the City Sightseeing Tour office in the main pedestrian part of the "The Zone Mall", Oxford Road, Rosebank. It’s easy to find, between the “Holiday Inn Rosebank” and “Hamleys”. The Tour office is easily and safely accessible by free branded City Sightseeing shuttle bus, rented car, Gautrain or Uber (Detailed instructions for each of these options are on your tour voucher). You can also check Google maps for the “City Sightseeing Johannesburg Visitor Center”. The Hop-On Hop-Off Tour stops at Melrose Arch, the Mandela Foundation, passes Mandela's Homes in Houghton, we make a scenic Photo Stop at Munroe Drive, Constitution Hill, the Mining District in central Johannesburg, the Apartheid Museum and Gold Reef City Casino Hotel. We have a tour office here to ensure that you can join the optional Soweto extension tour. (See details of this extension tour below) From there, the hop on hop off tour also stops at Newtown to visit the Sci Bono or Museum Africa, Braamfontein to visit the Neighborhoods Market (open on Saturdays only), before we stop at the Johannesburg Zoo and the Military Museum from where the tour returns to Rosebank. The 2 hour, small group tour of Soweto is accessed whilst on the hop on, hop off tour at the “Gold Reef City” Bus stop. There are staff on duty to make sure this is safe and easy for you. Described as the “New York of Africa", this small group tour is live guided by a Soweto resident guide. Reconnect with Nelson Mandela's past, and get an understanding of where he started his fight against apartheid at his family home in Soweto. Now a museum, Mandela House follows the story of the legendary leader in the single-story matchbox house is located at number 8115 Vilakazi street. A short distance up the road is Tutu House, the home of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. This tour includes visits and Stops at the Fnb Stadium, a photo stop at the famous "Welcome to Soweto" sign, Chris Hani Baragwanath, the Orlando Stadium and Hector Pieterson before we arrive at Mandela's Vilikazi street House. Return to Gold Reef City and re-join the open top bus tour back to Rosebank.

This tour begins in Gandhi Square, then uncover the city's gold mining history through Main Street, showcasing Johannesburg's stunning architecture. As we continue, we’ll discuss the city’s current condition and politics. Our tour continues to Ferreirasdorp, sometimes referred to as the "cradle of Johannesburg", where the first gold diggings started, and where the first diggers initially settled. Then Chancellor House, where Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo established their first black-owned law firm. We continue our walk to Newtown, one of the city’s creative neighbourhoods, visiting the Workers Museum, to gain insight into the city's Migrant labour history. Then Market theatre and it’s rich history of cultural, street art, galleries, and cultural spaces. this walk will lead us to the iconic Nelson Mandela Bridge for stunning views and a perfect photo opportunity, connecting us to the diverse neighbourhoods of Johannesburg. We'll conclude our tour in the area of Braamfontein, a new artistic hub known for its youthful energy that impact the rich culture of Johannesburg! All ages welcome – just bring comfy shoes and a sense of adventure

Johannesburg has played a significant role in the history, culture, and demographics of modern South Africa. It has been one of the reasons for many conflicts in South African history, but it is also one of the reason for a diverse country we have today. Explore the City of Gold with a local guide and learn about the history and the current condition of Joburg. The tour will star at the Wing Republic, where you will get an overview of the tour and the history of the city. Walk from Braamfontein to Newtown and get a chance to see the famous Nelson Mandela bridge. Visit the Market theatre and Mary Fitzgerald square in Newtown and learn about the history of South African music and art. Walk to the Workers Compound and learn about the Labourers Immigration Laws of South Africa. And see our Science Discovery centre. Walk to Ferreira Market and visit the Chancellor’s House and learn about the life of Nelson Mandela and OR Tambo as attorneys. Get a chance to see the magistrate court. Walk on Main Street to Gandhi Square named after the famous Mahatma Gandhi, and learn about South Africa’s biggest industry. Visit the fifth tallest building in Africa, the Carlton Centre and visit the ABSA gallery, where they exhibit different art works done by artists from all over Africa. Walk to the last location, Maboneng, Johannesburg’s art world and see the local artists and their work. Have a local lunch End our tour at Home of the bean, a coffee shop where it is easy to get an Uber back.

Get closer to Apartheid History with our Soweto and Apartheid Museum Tour from Johannesburg The Apartheid Museum Museum will be our first stop as you dig deeper into the dark apartheid history of South Africa. This will be a 2-hour tour of the museum before heading into Soweto township. On arrival, you visit Mandela House Museum and get a 30-minute guided tour into his former house before he was sent to prison. The Hector Pieterson Museum will give you some inspiration on the language resistance uprising of 1976. Finally, drive by Orlando Towers and the World Cup Stadium to finish the tour.

We will build an image of the history of the city from an architectural standpoint. We will walk and explore the city from that perspective. Our tour starts at Mary Fitzgerald Square in the Newtown district where art and creativity thrive, making our way into Albertina Sisulu Street (formerly known as Market Street) which is the birth of the entire city. There, we will pause at the Library gardens where it all started as I tell you and show you the historical spaces and changes over the years. Our path will take us to the beautiful mining offices of the Marshalltown district which holds a vital role in the narrative of the city, and our tour ends at “The top of Africa” in Carlton Center, which was the highest point in the whole of Africa until recently. (Currently, the Top of Africa is closed, we'll end at the bottom of the Carlton Center).

Meet your local guide at the Curiocity office in the Maboneng Precinct, sip a cup of fresh-brewed cappuccino before you begin your journey. Discover the Maboneng Precinct, also known as 'Place of Light,' a district that has fast become a center of the creative energy for Johannesburg's urban artists, designers, and entrepreneurs. Make your way to Kwa Mai-Mai Traditional Market, one of the oldest markets in Johannesburg. Walk past colorful stalls selling traditional medicines, ethnic attires, beaded jewelry, walking sticks, and handicrafts. Now is the best time to buy souvenirs to take back home. Continue to the Collectors Treasury, the largest second-hand bookstore in the Southern hemisphere, before you hop on a shuttle to the Carlton Centre building — a 50-story skyscraper offering panoramic views of the city. Visit the Gandhi Square, named after Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian leader and freedom fighter who spent 21 years in South Africa, and learn about his time in Johannesburg. End your tour with a stroll down the downtown Main Street, where you will walk past the Chancellor's House and the Shadow Boxing statue — a monumental sculpture portraying the late South African president, Nelson Mandela, as a young boxer.

Immerse yourself in the dynamic essence of Johannesburg on this enthralling walking tour. As you navigate the city's bustling streets, you'll uncover a tapestry of history interwoven with contemporary vibrancy. Each stop on the tour provides a unique window into Johannesburg's soul, from its historic landmarks to its cultural hotspots. Your knowledgeable guide will illuminate the journey with captivating stories and insights, seamlessly blending the city's rich past with its energetic present. Traverse areas steeped in history, feel the pulse of modern urban life, and experience firsthand the diverse cultural landscape that defines Johannesburg. Whether it's the architectural marvels, the poignant historical sites, or the thriving cultural scenes, this tour offers an in-depth look at what makes Johannesburg a city like no other. Your guide's narratives will enrich your understanding and appreciation, ensuring a memorable and enlightening exploration of this vibrant metropolis.