Soweto is an incredible township and I have to say - head there and see it!! Not only is it one of the most famous townships in South Africa but it has a lot of history and more importantly things to see and do. Top 5s are difficult but I'm going to try! I've had to narrow it down but here goes...
1. Spend a night with a local family:
Staying with a local family was an undoubted highlight of my Soweto experience, I stayed with a local lady called Rachel with her daughter and son in her home in Orlando East in Soweto. It was a real chance to see the raw lifestyle in Soweto. It's a basic existence. At night making dinner and watching TV are the only things to really do indoors for Rachel.
2. Go Inside Nelson Mandela's House:
It is completely essential that you make a trip to Nelson Mandela's former house while staying in Soweto - you'd be an absolute fool to miss it. His former house at 8115 Vilakazi Street is now a fantastic museum. You can walk all around it and read quotes and stories from the man himself. You can get your photo taken in every room in his former house. Best of all is it's a small house - very basic - yet this man was a genius and changed the world. There's an entry charge but it's definitely worth paying!!
3. Drink with the locals in a Shebeen:
You cannot visit Soweto without heading into a Shebeen! These local bars where people mingle to drink and chat are an essential part of the culture. You will get to meet and chat to the locals, enjoy a few beers with them and get to understand a bit more about life in Soweto. The beer you will get is pinky in colour and not strong at all - you will share it communally. Get in there and chat to the locals. I loved it and you will too!
4. Do A Bicycle Tour:
Another amazing thing to do in Soweto is a local bicycle tour - this means you get to parts of Soweto not easily reached on foot or by car. You will visit different parts of the mammoth township on the same day and have a chance to meet locals and chat away and see their daily lives. The Soweto Backpackers do a good bicycle tour which has featured in a lot of travel books and websites. You will also get a local tour guide who can explain everything to you at points during your cycle through this cultured township.
5. Visit the Hector Pieterson Museum:
The Hector Pieterson Museum is useful and insightful to understand the history of Soweto and particularly the Soweto Uprising in 1976. This museum sits on well maintained streets with tributes in the place where Hector Pieterson was once shot dead. It's a good place to get to grips with the local story. This is definitely in my top 5 things to do while staying in Soweto!
In truth Soweto is just an amazing place to visit and these are only a very quick top 5 things to see and do.
1. Spend a night with a local family:
Staying with a local family was an undoubted highlight of my Soweto experience, I stayed with a local lady called Rachel with her daughter and son in her home in Orlando East in Soweto. It was a real chance to see the raw lifestyle in Soweto. It's a basic existence. At night making dinner and watching TV are the only things to really do indoors for Rachel.
2. Go Inside Nelson Mandela's House:
It is completely essential that you make a trip to Nelson Mandela's former house while staying in Soweto - you'd be an absolute fool to miss it. His former house at 8115 Vilakazi Street is now a fantastic museum. You can walk all around it and read quotes and stories from the man himself. You can get your photo taken in every room in his former house. Best of all is it's a small house - very basic - yet this man was a genius and changed the world. There's an entry charge but it's definitely worth paying!!
3. Drink with the locals in a Shebeen:
You cannot visit Soweto without heading into a Shebeen! These local bars where people mingle to drink and chat are an essential part of the culture. You will get to meet and chat to the locals, enjoy a few beers with them and get to understand a bit more about life in Soweto. The beer you will get is pinky in colour and not strong at all - you will share it communally. Get in there and chat to the locals. I loved it and you will too!
4. Do A Bicycle Tour:
Another amazing thing to do in Soweto is a local bicycle tour - this means you get to parts of Soweto not easily reached on foot or by car. You will visit different parts of the mammoth township on the same day and have a chance to meet locals and chat away and see their daily lives. The Soweto Backpackers do a good bicycle tour which has featured in a lot of travel books and websites. You will also get a local tour guide who can explain everything to you at points during your cycle through this cultured township.
5. Visit the Hector Pieterson Museum:
The Hector Pieterson Museum is useful and insightful to understand the history of Soweto and particularly the Soweto Uprising in 1976. This museum sits on well maintained streets with tributes in the place where Hector Pieterson was once shot dead. It's a good place to get to grips with the local story. This is definitely in my top 5 things to do while staying in Soweto!
In truth Soweto is just an amazing place to visit and these are only a very quick top 5 things to see and do.
About the Author:
To read more features such as Top 5 Things To Do In Soweto then visit Jonny Blair's popular travel, work and lifestyle site called Dont Stop Living for endless travel stories and advice.
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