Explore Your Own Backyard

Out and about in Soweto

The Orlando cooling towers

Soweto is an amazing place with an incredible vibe and history. Famous worldwide for its role in South Africa’s freedom struggle, Soweto never sleeps. Not even its own residents could hope to do justice to all its attractions, because they are always growing in number. We highlight some of the top attractions, but encourage you to explore on your own!

Home of the brave

All roads lead to Vilakazi Street, probably the most famous street in Soweto.

It’s a street where two Nobel Prize winners lived, namely Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu! Mandela’s house is now open to the public as the Mandela House Museum.

A humble, four-room, red-brick ‘matchbox’ house built in 1945, Mandela House showcases the Mandela family’s memorabilia, paintings and photographs. Outside, you can still see the bullet holes and scorch marks from petrol bombs on the walls.

Not far from the Mandela House Museum is the Hector Peterson Museum. This is on the corner of Moema and Vilakazi Streets, and commemorates the youth killed by police on 16 June 1976, the day when the students rose up against the forces of oppression. The street itself is named after Dr. BW Vilakazi, who was a poet, novelist and intellectual, as well as the first black man to teach at the University of the Witwatersrand. He went on to develop the literature of isiZulu and siSwati, and assisted in compiling the isiZulu dictionary. Adding to the popularity of Vilakazi Street are the celebrated restaurants Nambitha and Sakhumzi, where tourists can dine on local cuisine.

Tower of power

Craving adventure? Why not take a power swing across Soweto? Head for the brightly coloured cooling towers of the decommissioned Orlando Power Station.

After admiring South Africa’s largest mural on the cooling tower walls, you’ll be strapped into a harness and an openair elevator will take you 97metres up into the air. Climb the floating staircase and you will reach the viewing deck, where you can enjoy a breath-taking 360º panorama view. To get back down, you can take the elevator – or you can step onto the jump platform. Under the guidance of experienced jump masters, you can choose to either drop down into the cooling tower or swing between the towers. Feel your heart race as the view breaks up into a kaleidoscope of colours. There is no adrenalin rush quite like it.

The Power Swing experience is located at Dynamo Street, corner Old Potch Road, Orlando, Soweto, Johannesburg. For more information, call +27 (0)71 674-4343 or Office +27(0)12 345-5114.

The African beer tradition

When MadMead Brewery launched Soweto Gold lager, they decided to bring the beer back to its roots and opened the uBuntu Kraal Brewery in 2014.

Brewing beer is a venerable African craft. According to tradition, it is entrusted to the women of the family. In order to bring this tradition back to life, it is MadMeads’ policy to train only women master brewers.

Visit the Soweto Gold Beer garden and find out more about how beer is made, while sampling the award-winning Soweto Gold and other delicious craft beers.

Find the uBuntu Kraal Brewery in Cultural Village, 111846 Senokoanyana Street, Orlando West Ext., Soweto, Gauteng. For more information, Call +27 (0)79 890-8321 for more information.

Extreme relaxation

Sometimes you just need a place to sit down and relax.

Home to the famous Soweto Wine Festival and birthplace of kwaito, Diepkloof also boasts the green space of Diepkloof Park. Now known as Diepkloof XtremePark, this green belt is a haven for children and is well supplied with picnic and braai areas. Further attractions include a splash pool, a mini-soccer field and a natural amphitheatre area. At the centre of the park is the Vuyani Mabaxa Memorial, placed in honour of the ANC activist who was killed by apartheid police in 1991. The park earned the name Xtreme because it only took 24 hours to build – a feat rewarded in 2008 by a gold award at the United Nations’ Liveable Communities Awards in Dongguan City, China.

The Mandela Museum, Soweto

Vibrant Vilakazi Street