Johannesburg City Tour
Historical Johannesburg city tour
Johannesburg city tours cover the economic growth of the powerhouse of South Africa.
Johannesburg Cultural and Historical Private Tours.
Apartheid City tour – Covering Johannesburg’s history from its start as a segregated city, then Johannesburg’s connection to the origins of Apartheid, then the city during Apartheid – to today, the most multiracial city of South Africa.
Johannesburg city cultural and historical tours – Social development tours – Industrial heritage day tours.
Accordingly best way to experience the city of Johannesburg is with Ekala’s passion for Johannesburg and all South Africa.
Either culturally and historically – Let Ekala share South Africa’s best experiences with you.
Items covered by Ekala Eco Tours on our Johannesburg day tours – cultural or historical:
Our day tours are fully guided and private (not mixed groups). Thus each Johannesburg tour can be uniquely designed for an individual experience.
Additionally if you have only one day available for a Johannesburg tour, we structure the city tour around the key sites and your time available/time allocated to the tour.
Our Experience:
We recommend for you to use our experience of Johannesburg to create a suitable day tour, culturally and historically, then including the most significant items in the city and the best use of time.
However if you have specific requirements or places in Johannesburg you wish to visit, Ekala will create a Johannesburg tour around these then. While this should be supplied to us at the time of quoting.
Johannesburg tour structure
Ekala would always endeavor to include in our Johannesburg tours, the most important areas, including the Johannesburg city centre and then the city historical and culturally.
Additionally mining areas and then Johannesburg’s gold history. Soccer City – FNB Stadium, poor areas, wealthy areas and Nelson Mandela/Oliver Tambo’s legal practice – Chancellor house in downtown Johannesburg.
Stark Contrast
Even more, experience the vibe of the Rainbow Nation in the city of Johannesburg. Then a view across the Johannesburg central business district and Hillbrow with their stark contrast in living conditions.
While traveling through up-market areas as Houghton (Nelson Mandela’s last residence) and the Johannesburg forest like areas of Rosebank and Forest town.
Johannesburg townships:
Townships within Johannesburg (Soweto and Alexandra):
To give the full historical and cultural understanding of Johannesburg, both townships then need to be included with the Johannesburg tour.
However as a day tour only, generally not possible. We will then include Soweto and the possibility of a drive through Alexandra – simply to give a perspective on the tour of the full Johannesburg.
Items possible to include in Johannesburg tour:
Items to be covered depends on time available and other items that may have been specifically included in the day tour, as Soweto, Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill.
Additionally gold mine areas of greater Johannesburg (covers over 1 600 square kilometers).
Johannesburg – City built on gold and the backbone of South Africa.
Private fully guided day or multi day Johannesburg tours covering the history of gold mining and Apartheid – downtown Johannesburg and then including wealthy and poor areas.
Apartheid Museum – Soweto – Constitution Hill
Johannesburg as a day tour, the only Museum to be included would be the Apartheid Museum (if required) – unless other museums specifically required.
Thus we do not supply simply a museum to museum tour.
Apartheid Museum, Soweto and Constitution Hill:
We accordingly include these in most of our Johannesburg tours. Unless you are to be doing these on another day. Then accordingly we exclude these.
Ekala offers half day historical tours covering some of Johannesburg’s significant sites, then to a comprehensive Johannesburg tour lasting 4 days.
Most common however is a full day Johannesburg city tour covering the most important items as can be achieved in the time available.
Although your hotel location has an impact on the route used on the day and the amount of traveling time.
We accordingly create our day tour routes to cover the most that may be possible in the time available and not using the same road or then going through the same area more than once on any day tour.
Johannesburg – City built on Gold
Johannesburg inner city and historical buildings including City Hall, Old Post office, Supreme Court, old Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and then many others.
Mining areas and Johannesburg’s gold history. Including the mine dumps – mountains of mine waste.
Johannesburg’s poor areas and then wealthy areas.
Nelson Mandela/Oliver Tambo’s legal practice – Chancellor house in downtown Johannesburg.
A view across the Johannesburg central business district and Hillbrow. Additionally Hillbrow tower (Telcom Tower) with the stark contrast in living conditions.
Up-market Johannesburg suburbs of Houghton and the forest like area of Rosebank.
Newtown and its inner city revival with a drive across the Nelson Mandela cable-stayed bridge while having a view of the early 1900 Johannesburg train station.
Soccer City – FNB Stadium – outside visit for photos – unless booked as an inside tour.
Historical Johannesburg areas of Sophiatown/Triomf and Mayfair, Brixton with the Brixton (Sentech) tower.
Old Johannesburg station – Dutch structure and indeed a excellent example of a late nineteenth century structure.
Rand Club: Club for the owners of the mines on the recently discovered Johannesburg gold fields.
De Beers corporate head office.
Ferreirasdorp: an area rich in Johannesburg mining history. Additionally the old gold mine stope, with original pick marks on the tunnel walls of the Ferreira gold mine.
A mine headgear and the original Langlaagte 10 stamp battery, actually used in the early years of Johannesburg for the crushing of the gold bearing rock.
Johannesburg’s Art Deco architectural splendour and Sir Herbert Baker buildings around the city.
Chancellor House: Law firm set up by Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo. Directly across from the busiest court in South Africa – the Johannesburg Magistrate court.
Newtown
First industrial area of Johannesburg:
Today generally referred to as the city of Johannesburg’s cultural and arts precinct.
Museum Africa, Market Theatre (originally both part the old fruitmarket) , Mary Fitzgerald square, Railway Sidings and potato sheds.
Electrical Precinct – Workers Museum – Electric Workshop – old power station and turbine hall.
Transport Precinct – covering Johannesburg’s early transport history.
Workers museum. Excellent example of Apartheid “compounds”.
Parktown and Forest town:
Forested area started by the Johannesburg gold mines for timber. Then later to become the wealthy part of Johannesburg. Largest urban man made forest in the world. Clean air and away from the then mines.
Only on extended multi day tours:
Not in the standard Johannesburg tour unless multi day or specifically requested.
Sandton – now the financial district of Johannesburg and the richest area in Africa and then Johannesburg’s second – “city centre”
The 360 panorama view of the city from the “top of Africa” – the 50th floor of the downtown Carlton Centre.
SAB World of Beer. South African Breweries – brewing since 1895. Thus the first industrial listing on the Johannesburg stock exchange.
Emmarentia Gardens.
Faraday herbal market.
Hillbrow: Most densely populated area of Johannesburg.
Early Johannesburg cemeteries of Braamfontein and Brixton – Johannesburg’s forefathers. Pauper graves and graves from the 1922 Rand Revolt.
Indeed amazing what a walk through the cemeteries can tell a visitor of Johannesburg’s history.
Our Johannesburg city tours are accordingly designed to offer choice and flexibility. Then combining tours and tour items to suit your personal preferences and available time.
The Johannesburg city Walking Tour
Some of the above are include in the walking tour of Johannesburg. (Not always available and must be booked as a walking tour).
However, on these city walking tours, only a very small area of Johannesburg can be covered. Unless more tour time can accordingly be allocated.
Freedom Struggle Tour – Nelson Mandela Road to Freedom Tour.
Ekala specialises in a freedom struggle tour – Journey to Freedom – Walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela through greater Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Mahatma Gandhi’s Johannesburg heritage tour
Story of the life (in Johannesburg) of a religious man, a philosopher, an activist and then world-renowned pacifist leader for free society, Mahatma Gandhi.
Tour covering the places of importance to Mahatma Gandhi in and around Johannesburg during his stay.
Gandhi’s political Baptism was thus in Johannesburg – Birthplace of Satyagraha.
Johannesburg Gold History Tour.
Specialised Johannesburg Gold History Tour. Johannesburg’s growth from farmland into a tented town becoming the gold capital of the world.
Main gold reef find, Anglo Boer war, miners strikes including Rand revolt when war came to Johannesburg’s streets and changed the course of South Africa’s history.
Three historical gold mines, Johannesburg’s earliest mine stope and Johannesburg’s landscape of gold mines, shafts, headgear and gold mine waste dumps.
Extravagant taste of early Johannesburg’s wealthy and current environmental mining issues.
These are specialised tours not covered in a standard Johannesburg tour, although parts may be included, dependent on day tour time/option.
Best ability to contact Ekala for a private Johannesburg city tour:
info@ekalatours.com
Then will respond within 24 hours. Actually in most cases less. However depend on time differences.
Additionally Cell phones do create some problems. Due to time difference or because we may all be on tour and thus unable to answer your call at that time. Thus email works perfectly.
Furthermore difficult to deal with your tour specifics on a cell phone.
Witwatersrand – early name for the area around and including Johannesburg – meaning “ridge of white waters” with a massive gold reef below the surface.
As single day tour options to additionally include with the Johannesburg tour to create a full day tour.
The city day tour can be structured with or without any of the following 3 tours
Soweto:
Early 1900’s establishment of Soweto historical tour
Alexandra
Possibly as drive through Alexandra within city day tour
Apartheid – segregation:
Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg
Perfect tour options to include with Johannesburg tour for multi-day package.
Cradle of Humankind private day tour
Wildlife tour/safari
Busy Johannesburg streets
Fruit sellers and street vendors (know to South Africans as Hawkers).
An exciting blend of ethnic and western cultures.
Johannesburg History
Nomadic Bushmen inhabited the area around 100 000 years ago. Around 1060 AD people migrated into the area. Europeans later arrived and started farming the area known as the Witwatersrand.
1886 saw the first major settlement of Johannesburg, with fortune seekers from all over the world descending to find their share of the gold.
In three years of rapid growth, from a tent town to iron shacks, the settlement became the biggest in South Africa. Partnerships, coalitions and later the mining corporations took control of mining operations.
These corporations were predominantly English speaking; this in itself caused friction with the Boer (Afrikaans) government in Pretoria.
With British colonial aspirations and mining restraints in Johannesburg, led to the Anglo Boer War of 1899. By its end, 1901, the British were in control of the Transvaal (this included Johannesburg) and the Orange Free State.
In the early 1900, blacks were forcibly removed from the Johannesburg city centre by the British colonial government.
Johannesburg 1922 Rand Revolt – with implications for South Africa for the next 70 years.
White Johannesburg miners had returned to Britain for the first world war. On returning to South Africa found that the Johannesburg mines had replaced them with “Black workers”.
Compounded by the fall in the gold price at that time, and the Johannesburg mines then able to pay the black workers significantly less than the white mine workers. Government not prepared to get involved and led to the strike in 1920.
With further agitation from the white miners, a general strike resulted in 1922 – the Rand Revolt.
Marshal law later declared and eventual bombing and shelling of miners in Fordsburg and Brixton (parts of Johannesburg). Members of the communist party were hung at the fort (now Constitution hill).
Over 200 people losing their lives around this Johannesburg revolt.
During the Second World War, with many white workers in the military, a greater influx of blacks resulted. The black population in the area doubled, leading to overcrowding in the black shanty town.
This was one of the catalysts in formation of many Black Nationalist movements with roots being put down in these “squatter” camps. Government instituted a policy of forced removals from all cities leaving the cities “white”.
This was also applied to Johannesburg where most of the black population was moved to the South Western Township – Soweto – with their movements controlled by strict enforcement of the pass laws, allowing the holder into the Johannesburg city for work only.
Indeed an opportunity to experience Johannesburg’s sights and sounds, as well as the city’s history, architecture and culture.
Johannesburg township protests 1976 to 1984.
Failure to produce the required “pass” or being in an area where you were then not allowed, meant instant arrest and in most cases a stay at the “Fort”.
Johannesburg went through turbulent times up to the scrapping of apartheid in 1990 when international sanctions combined with black militancy led to the collapse of apartheid and then the democratic elections of 1994.
Milestones on this road were the months long Soweto student protests of 1976 and the ongoing violence in Johannesburg’s black townships and additionally the massive protests of 1984.
Johannesburg Today
Built on profits of gold – on the richest gold reef in the world, celebrated its centenary in 1986. Johannesburg is the most densely populated and urbanized city of South Africa and one of the 40 largest metropolitans in the world.
With over 8 million citizens, Johannesburg is a lively metropolis offering a wide spectrum of culture. Including European, African and Asian.
Almost half of the 8 million live in Soweto, Alexandra and Diepsloot collectively (today the 3 biggest townships of Johannesburg).
Johannesburg is the financial hub of South Africa. An Economic powerhouse producing 20% of South Africa’s gross domestic product. This is over 40% of Gauteng’s (the province Johannesburg falls into) gross domestic product.
The large Johannesburg metropolitan area is one of the largest in the world, built on neither an ocean nor major river.
Banking, mining and investment institutions and most South African companies have their head office in Johannesburg, or at least would have a branch in the city or surrounding areas.
The city boasts over three million households. Johannesburg is now completely multiracial. However Soweto, Alexandra and Diepsloot residents are over 99% black.
Johannesburg’s economical drive has moved away from gold. However the mining industry has etched its mark on the landscape.
Johannesburg mine history clearly visible in the mine/slag dumps.
The numerous yellow man made hills scattered around Johannesburg, will however have an impact on the appearance of the urban landscape for decades to come.
Mine dumps/slag dumps are accordingly part of the Johannesburg city skyline and an integral part of the city heritage.
The mine dumps (over 200) are a reminder of Johannesburg’s heritage and are viewed as a monument to gold mining past. The dumps actually are being removed, as small amounts of gold, about a third of a gram to every ton of sand can be recovered.
Once removed the site is made available as prime real estate.
Africa’s powerhouse with a cosmopolitan mix of people.
Heritage sites and historical buildings thus hold the memories and unique stories of days gone by.
Museums can show the information – but only actual historical sites can truly tell the story.
With the help of a good knowledgeable guide.
Safety in Johannesburg
Safety is a concern in Johannesburg; however the city’s reputation as being the crime capital South Africa is incorrect.
At end of the apartheid era, crime did rise dramatically, with the worst hit areas being in and around the Johannesburg central business district.
With the installation of over 200 video cameras in downtown Johannesburg, thus covering most central streets and with a good police response time, the inner city crime rate has dropped considerably and is continuing to improve.
As most major cities, it is advisable to take sensible precautions with some additional care in Johannesburg.
Ekala will discuss this at the start of all city day tours.
Visiting actual Johannesburg historical sites steeped in significant heritage.
Museums:
Please note than in a limited time city day tour.
We do not spend time in Johannesburg museums.
Museum Africa a cultural history museum located in Newtown, Johannesburg. It houses an impressive collection of items covering Johannesburg’s economic and social history, which tell the story of South Africa. There is also a display covering the 1956 Treason trial of Nelson Mandela.
SAB World of Beer tells the story of South African beer industry and the history of the largest brewer SAB.
AECI Dynamite Factory Museum: the history of explosives, with particular emphasis on their design and use in South Africa and the Johannesburg mining industry. Housed in an original mining official house, built in 1895.
Adler Museum of Medicine: illustrates the history of medicine with a focus on South Africa’s medical past and our achievements.
James Hall Transport Museum: From ox-carts to the model T Ford, bicycles, motorbikes, tractors, fire engines and even buses and trams. Not only is this the largest collection of land transport in South Africa, it is also the most comprehensive.
National Museum of Military History: The collection of over 44 000 items covers over a 140 years of South Africa’s military history including the Anglo-Zulu war, Anglo-Boer war and the resistance movements in South Africa.
An extensive archive of photographs, journals and books. Uniforms, medals and if it relates to the military, the chances are you will see it here.
Private, professional and reliable tailor made Johannesburg city tours.
Take a sightseeing helicopter flight over Soweto and Johannesburg.
Helicopter flight over Johannesburg and/or Soweto. Great opportunity for photos and a greater view of the city of Johannesburg.
Generally only available over weekends.
Must be asked for in the enquiry, thus enabling us to structure the city tour and price correctly.
Ekala’s guides are well spoken providing interesting detail and information while on the city tour.
Active engagement between guide and guest is encouraged.
Alexandra township drive through:
Where time is short in the day tour - with the main focus on Johannesburg city - we may be able to include a drive through Alexandra (Johannesburg's second township) to give a greater perspective of the full Johannesburg.
Contact Ekala Tours
Solo South Africa safari and travel:
South African safari and eco tour holiday then catering for the single / solo traveller.
Indeed, for all diverse interests and ages.
Then accompanied by Ekala’s professional guides.
As a solo South Africa traveller the private safari or tour is accordingly customised to your needs.
Hence providing quality time on your interests and requirements.
While striving to make long lasting memories for you.
Ekala’s Johannesburg day tours can then be adapted to the client’s individual needs.
Accordingly we accommodate specific tour and personal requirements.
Ekala Family & Guides
Ekala family & Johannesburg tour guides
We pride ourselves on our extensive knowledge of South Africa’s history and culture.
Thus we focus were our experience and expertise lies – in South Africa only.
Highly Experienced Guides
Accordingly with our vast experience and expertise, we will bring the Johannesburg historical and cultural day tours to life.
Additionally sharing our love and knowledge of South Africa,its history and diverse cultures.
Ensuring as a result, you leave full of the best memories.
Private day tours
Thus Ekala will endeavor to personalise your private Johannesburg tour package according to individual requirements/interests as well as available time .
Personal touch
Furthermore Ekala personally conducts and organises all our Johannesburg city tours.
As highly experience and professional guides.
Consequently you get an enhanced understanding of South Africa’s history and diverse cultures.
Thus the best South African Experience
Enjoying and understanding South Africa.
Thus a private Historical/Cultural Johannesburg city tour to remember for the right reason.
Follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela
Robben Island – then you can visit the Nelson Mandela prison cell.
However, while in Johannesburg/Pretoria you can cover Nelson Mandela’s significant years.
Truly following Nelson Mandela’s long walk to freedom.
Nelson Mandela came to Johannesburg as a young man.
Additionally became an activist in Johannesburg
Thus focus of his defiance campaign – Johannesburg.
Then became a lawyer in Johannesburg.
Consequently ran his law firm (and that of Oliver Tambo) in Johannesburg.
Then time spent in prison before and addition up to point of sentencing for Rivonia trial – in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Then after Release
Returned to Johannesburg.
Then inaugurated as President in Pretoria.
Consequently, while President – office in Pretoria.
While President – accordingly main residence in Pretoria.
Furthermore, after retiring (as president) still had an office in Johannesburg.
Actually still today – his office – now the Nelson Mandela center of memory, in Johannesburg.
Accordingly Nelson Mandela spent the last 23 years of his life in Johannesburg (apart from a limited amount of time in Qunu).
Then in hospital while ill, Pretoria.
Even more, passing away in Johannesburg.
Consequently, if you wish to WALK in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela, and to truly experience his life, it needs to be in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Apartheid/Mandela tour – Accordingly a truly remarkable insight into the life of Nelson Mandela and the struggle against Apartheid.
Johannesburg tour prices:
No Johannesburg tour prices on our website as a result of the unique, individual and specialised requirements for each private Johannesburg city tour we supply.
Cultural or historical.
Thus Ekala structures our tours/safari’s around our client’s individual requirements.
So if time is limited:
We thus structure the Johannesburg tour from arrival to departure – including airport collection and drop off.
Accordingly using all time available as a fully guided professional tour.
Consequently not simply a point to point mixed group drive around.
As a result, Johannesburg city tour quote based on your specific requirements.
Planning stage of South Africa safari/tour/trip
So if you are in the planning stage of a South Africa trip, we can help.
Please supply the duration that you are looking at being in South Africa, group size, then your estimated dates and duration.
Then additionally what you wish to include in this time, and we can advise using our extensive South Africa experience.
Guests are enthralled by Ekala’s passion and understanding of the city of Johannesburg culturally and its historical past.
For multi-day safari tour package – Ekala Guest House
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