Skip to main content

Strolling Through Soweto Township

Soweto Boy South Africa
Young Rapper Shows Off His Skills
Johannesburg, South Africa

Once home to Nelson Mandela, Soweto Township is a fascinating urban settlement on the outskirts of Johannesburg with much history and culture.

Last month I spent an afternoon visiting Orlando township in the Soweto district of Jozi. To help celebrate Nelson Mandela Day, here are some photos of the people and art you can find in his old neighborhood.

Orlando was once a hotspot for anti-apartheid demonstrations in the 1970’s and 80’s. The Soweto Uprising and subsequent police shootouts against protesters spread the movement across the country, helping to pave the way for a new unified South Africa.

Nelson Mandela lived in Soweto for many years before his 27 year imprisonment on Robben Island, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu also lived in the neighborhood. That’s two Nobel Prize laureates who called this area home!

Mandela’s old house on Vilakazi Street is now a popular museum.

Soweto itself is huge, with a population of over 1.3 million. It initially sprang up during the Witwatersrand Gold Rush to house black mine workers who were forbidden from living in the city center due to South Africa’s strict segregation policies at the time.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” ~ NELSON MANDELA

Mandela Mural Soweto
Nelson Mandela Mural
Streets of Soweto Township
Busy Intersection in Soweto
“Pretty” Waits for Her Bus
Orlando Towers Soweto
Colorful Orlando Cooling Towers
Barber Shop Soweto
Street-side Barber Shop
Small Shop in Soweto
Convenience Store in Soweto
Kids Play in Soweto
Kids Playing Outside
Street Art Soweto
Elephant Street Art
Street Vendor Soweto
“Simba The Lion” and His Awesome Hair

Have you ever been surprised with local hospitality when traveling? Do you have questions? Drop me a message in the comments below!

Travel Planning Resources For South Africa

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Find cheap flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to find deals on airlines. Also make sure to read how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read more about how I book cheap hotels online.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.

Enjoy This Post? Pin It!

Strolling Through Soweto Township! More at ExpertVagabond.com
Strolling Through Soweto Township! More at ExpertVagabond.com

READ MORE SOUTH AFRICA TRAVEL TIPS

I hope you enjoyed my guide to Soweto Township! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:

  • Scuba Diving At Protea Banks
  • Cage Diving With Great White Sharks
  • Rafting South Africa’s Orange River

Disclaimer: My trip was made possible in partnership with iAmbassador and South Africa Tourism.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Perfect 12-Day Northern USA Road Trip Itinerary for Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas

I've said it before but I'll say it again: there's no better way to see the United States than by taking to the road. Road tripping is the ultimate way to explore America, and there's no shortage of options whether you want to travel for 10 days or 10 months. Certain US road trip routes are more popular than others, though; we've all heard of Route 66 and California's Highway 1. You've maybe looked into driving through the American Southwest, or perhaps through New England in the fall. But what about the states that tend to be overlooked? While Utah and California and even Florida have great road trip potential, the truth is that there's something to see in EVERY state in this union. Grand Tetons Which is why my sister and I decided to tackle a slightly less-popular road trip route last summer: we decided we wanted to focus on the northern states that never seem to get enough love. States like Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and So...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sylvenstein Dam – a Great Route in the Alpine Landscape, Germany

Sylvenstein Dam, Upper Bavaria, Germany. The man-made lake embedded in the alpine landscape is one of the most exciting sites in the Isar valley. Situated at an altitude of 750 meters in the Karwendel Alps, the lake is fed by the Isar river. Water reservoir is surrounded with hiking trails, that are loved by visitors. Sylvenstein Bridge is a picturesque feature, providing visitors a scenic ride. Tourists come here to admire the views, hike, climb or bathe in the lake. A popular cycle track Bavaria Tyrolensis on the southern bank links Bavaria and Tyrol Alps. The destination is also loved by photographers, who are fascinated by this idyllic place. Why to go there? Various activities, picturesque sites and route. When to go there? Anytime: the place offers all year round activities and great sites. How to get there? Best way to get there is by car. Use the German Alpine, Mittenwald Germany or Wallgau roads. Lead photo by Gavin Hellier Photo by Gavin Hellier Photo by HL_Photog...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hiking Kerlingarfjöll Geothermal Area (Icelandic Highlands)

Hiking Guide to Kerlingarfjöll in Iceland Kerlingarfjöll, Iceland Deep within Iceland’s central highlands, Kerlingarfjöll is a group of small geothermically active and rust-colored mountains capped with snow. Here’s how to organize your own self-drive adventure. Kerlingarfjöll is a lesser-known day-hiking experience not too far away from Iceland’s famous Golden Circle route. It was one of my favorite stops in Iceland! If you want to get off the beaten path a bit and extend your Golden Circle trip with something more adventurous, this strange geothermal area is the perfect place to stop for a half-day hiking trip (and maybe spend the night). Surrounded by rocky green peaks and Iceland’s Tuya volcano system, Kerlingarfjoll itself stands out with red & orange hues. Hiking these colorful rhyolite hills will expose you to hot springs, geysers, steam vents, and boiling mud pots. In this travel guide you’ll learn tips for visiting this unique and p...
Post a Comment
Read more