On the outskirts of South Africa’s largest city is what appears to be a middle-class neighborhood, with hillocks of abandoned mining slag heaps — a gritty reminder of the past — in the distance. I make my way past a neat network of streets void of trees but lined instead with brick-faced cinderblock tin-roofed homes. Their doors are ajar and kids are everywhere.
Welcome to Soweto (short for South-Western Townships), South Africa’s most famous township. It wasn’t long ago that Soweto, during apartheid, was off-limits to outsiders who were afraid to tread, many fearing the “what-if” scenarios. Now busloads of tourists arrive to take in the historic sites and new developments.
Start in a nook dubbed Orlando West — during apartheid hailed as “the Wild West” — and veer onto Vilakazi Street, famous for two former residents: Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Nowhere else in the world is there a road on which two Nobel Peace Prize Laureates once lived.
Head inside Mandela’s earlier home, now a museum, to see the simple three-room abode with its array of Papa Africa’s personal items, from photos to his bedroom and even his well-worn boots.
For your journey into the history that shaped South Africa’s here and now, a must-visit lies east of the township at the Apartheid Museum. Take tissues. The emotionally charged collection starts with a bang with photos of the executed; graphic footage and actual torture devices are on display, but rest assured the museum meshes restful places to reflect and displays artwork of post-apartheid life from some survivors who are now artists.
By the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, the infamous photo of a helpless teenager holding the lifeless body of the young student stands as a stark reminder. The picture gripped hearts around the globe, and Pieterson’s name is synonymous with apartheid itself.
Music is the lifeline of South Africa, and the a cappella Soweto Gospel Choir is another township success story. Chances of catching a performance by the traveling ensemble are slim, but other local singers regularly perform around the neighborhood.
For an upscale eatery that’s not fussy and caters to both tycoons and Nobel Peace Prize winners (Richard Branson and Archbishop Desmond Tutu), Nambitha Restaurant features home cooking inspired by the owner’s mother, Mama Jacobeth Vilakazi. Find fish, various meat curries and traditional dishes like mogodu (wild spinach) and pap (maize porridge).
Visitors can overnight at quaint places like Vhavenda Hills Bed and Breakfast, only footsteps away from Vilakazi Street in the heart of Soweto, or at the Soweto Hotel on Freedom Square, the district’s first 4-star hotel.
A South African businessman recently completed Maponya Mall, purportedly the largest mall in Soweto. For retail therapy, quick bites and fun diversions for movie buffs and health nuts, the large multicomplex venue satisfies every whim. Don’t be surprised by the Richard Branson gym, either — the king of the Virgin empire opened a Virgin Active health club here.
Read This Next
Lotte Hotel Seoul
2014 / February 2014
Jun 1, 2016All Reads on This Topic
Read Them All
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Apr 19, 2024Rosewood São Paulo Now Home to Asaya Spa by Guerlain
Nestled within the sustainable Rosewood São Paulo, Asaya Spa by Guerlain offers a first-of-its-kind urban retreat. Designed by legendary Philippe Starck, the wellness destination delivers a creative opportunity for guests to achieve personal transformation while enjoying a luxurious getaway.
Sponsored Content
Hotel Indigo: The World’s Neighborhood Hotel
Part of the IHG Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, Hotel Indigo is the world’s neighborhood hotel that celebrates how guests can discover, or rediscover, some of the most inspiring and culturally rich neighborhoods around the world. When staying at a Hotel Indigo hotel, it's not just about visiting a place — it's about being fully immersed in the neighborhood and wanting to take a little bit of it home. When traveling for business, Hotel Indigo offers a unique experience tailored to each location, making it the perfect choice to stay while traveling for work. With IHG Business Edge, travel managers have exclusive access to enticing perks, comprehensive travel metrics and carefully curated educational resources. It also includes a guaranteed discount on both business and personal travel for managers and employees, alongside an automatic upgrade to IHG One Rewards Silver Elite status after the initial IHG Business Edge stay.
Daily
Apr 19, 2024The Iconic Bayeux Tapestry in France to Get New Home
Under the direction of the Town of Bayeux, France, in close collaboration with the French government, the Normandy Region and the Department of Calvados, the project to move the famous 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry to a new space has been approved.
Daily
Apr 19, 2024Turtle Bay Resort Partners with Salesforce
Turtle Bay Resort and Salesforce recently announced a partnership. Salesforce will help the O’ahu-based resort augment service agents with AI and personalize the entire guest experience. Salesforce’s Einstein 1 Platform will help the resort with its efforts to reinvent itself, heighten awareness of its offerings and establish new customer relationships.
Daily
Apr 18, 2024Fort George Hotel & Spa Transforms Belize City from Gateway to Destination
Belize City is better known as a business center and a stop en route to Belize’s lush rural destinations, but Fort George Hotel & Spa promises to change things up and reframe the nation’s capital as a destination in its own right. Located in the city’s Fort George neighborhood, the hotel debuted as the first luxury hotel in Belize City, boasting sophisticated design, elevated culinary offerings, expansive guestrooms and an inspiring wellness program. The hotel also features a branded fitness center, plunge pool and K’IN Spa.
Amansara Review
eFlyer Reviews
Apr 17, 2024Regent Santa Monica Beach to Debut This Summer
Daily
Apr 17, 2024eFlyer News
Apr 17, 2024Icelandair, Expedia Launch New Rewards Program
Icelandair and Expedia officially partnered to launch a new rewards program. Travelers can now earn more rewards from bookings.
Sponsored Content
Fill Your Heart with Ireland
Whether it's the people, the craic (fun) or the coasts, travelers always find something to love about the island of Ireland. What fills your heart?
eFlyer News
Apr 17, 2024Swiss International Air Lines Begins New Service from Washington, D.C., to Zürich
Swiss International Air Lines recently launched daily flights from Washington, D.C. (IAD), to Zürich (ZRH). The daily flight is one of three new international routes SWISS launches this summer season, with Toronto (YYZ) and Seoul (ICN) slated in the coming months.
ShareThis