Top Johannesburg Day Trips

Get to know South Africa’s biggest city on a full-day tour that covers all the highlights of Johannesburg and Soweto. Take in the views from the Top of Africa, learn about the city’s history as you visit Constitutional Hill and the Apartheid Museum, then follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela in Soweto, with a tour of the Nelson Mandela House, Hector Pieterson Museum, and Freedom Square.

The Pilanesberg National Park is home to Africa’s Big Five—lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo. On this full-day tour, increase your chance of wildlife sightings with two guided game drives in an open safari vehicle, tuck into a delicious lunch looking out over a popular waterhole, and perhaps spot giraffe, hippos, zebras, and antelope in their natural environment.

Get more from your visit to Johannesburg by booking this Soweto and Johannesburg Full Day Tour that gives you an intimate look at the largest township in South Africa and the City of Johannesburg along with convenient hotel pickup and drop-off from either Johannesburg or Pretoria, this experience also dives into the history and culture of the area with a guide who knows Johannesburg best.

Visit the Lion Park outside of Johannesburg without the hassle of renting a car. This tour includes round-trip transportation from your Johannesburg hotel and admission to the Lion Park, where you can explore at your leisure to see more than 85 lions, including the rare white lion, and other animals such as wild dogs, hyenas, and cheetahs. Take a 2-hour safari drive to see the animals.

Discover the renowned South African township of Soweto on this small-group guided tour from Johannesburg. You'll first visit the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg to get a better understanding of that dark period in South African history, then head for Soweto for a walking tour, which takes in both Nelson Mandela's and Desmond Tutu's houses.

Spend a day exploring Johannesburg with a professional guide with this private, full-day tour of the city, which includes pickup from your hotel or alternative accommodations. You'll visit local highlights such as the Apartheid Museum, the Mandela House, Freedom Square, and the township of Soweto as you learn about South African history and culture.

Explore the highlights of Johannesburg safely, reliably, and in comfort from the top deck of an open-top bus. Learn about the history of gold mining, hear stories of apartheid history, and understand the triumph of modern Johannesburg while listening to the on-board audio commentary, available in eight languages. Upgrade to add a live Soweto tour.

Go back to the earliest history of humanity at the Cradle of Humankind UNESCO World Heritage Site—and fit two attractions into just half a day out—on this private tour. With round-trip transit from your Pretoria or Johannesburg hotel, getting around is made simple. Head first to the Sterkfontein Caves, known for their fossils and early human history, for a guided tour; then take in the interactive exhibits at the Maropeng Visitor Center.

Our tours are unique a great experience offered by local guide who lives in Soweto. This tour gives an opportunity to our guest to interact with local people to absorb the culture lifestyle and history of Soweto. Our tours cater for all ages easy also design to meet the needs of different guest.

Take a journey through history during this guided tour to explore Soweto and the Apartheid Museum. Your guides, registered with the accredited THETA (Tourism, Hospitality, Sports, Education, and Training Authority), are experienced and passionate about sharing their knowledge with you. Dive deep into the rich history and vibrant culture of Soweto and explore the profound exhibits of the Apartheid Museum with guides.

In a big, modern city like Johannesburg it can be difficult to get a sense of traditional life. This guided tour to the Lesedi Cultural Village offers just that by offering the opportunity to experience the cultural traditions of several different peoples of southern Africa.

Johannesburg is known for being a gateway to fantastic wildlife encounters, and this option is perfect for time-tight travelers interested in seeing a variety of animal species in just half a day. Enjoy included hotel pickup and travel to the Safari Lion Park. Animals that reside at the park include rare white lions, brown lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, zebra, and antelopes.

Skip the stress of self-driving Johannesburg in the early hours, and enjoy wide-angle views from an open safari vehicle on this full-day tour to Pilanesberg National Park. This compact reserve is home to all of the Big Five—lions, leopards, rhinos, buffaloes, and elephants—and your dedicated safari guides will help you spot them. Your day includes lunch, hotel pickup, entrance fees, and a bottle of water: breakfast is at your own expense.

About 90 minutes from Johannesburg, the Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeesport Dam and Bush Babies Monkey Sanctuary let these intelligent and sensitive creatures live their best lives. Skip the stress of self-driving in South Africa when you join this door-to-door adventure, with a guide to explain elephants’ habits, family structures, dynamics, and even anatomy and to show you monkeys running wild and free.

Get more from your visit to Pretoria by going with a guide who can show you the ins and outs of the city by prebooking this Pretoria private tour from Johannesburg. See city highlights such as Paul Kruger Country House Museum, Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum, and Voortrekker Monument, while listening to stories from your guide about the history and culture of the city.

Spend a day observing South African wildlife on this safari adventure to Pilanesberg National Park. The early morning and evening are the best chances to see wildlife, and this adventure includes two private game drives during those peak times. Ride in an open-air vehicle for unobstructed views of your surroundings and try to catch sight of the Big 5.

Pirate taxis and fake rideshare drivers can be an issue at Johannesburg airport. Enjoy complete peace of mind and transparent prices—paid in advance, in the currency of your choice—when you prebook this private transfer between central Johannesburg and the airport. Drivers will track your flight, ensuring a timely arrival, and greet you with a name sign so there’s no risk of missing your ride.

Apartheid Museum: Take a Long Walk to Freedom Experience: This isn't just a visit; it's an immersive, chronological journey through apartheid. Your entry card assigns a racial classification, setting the tone. Key Focus: Follow the literal and metaphorical Long Walk to Freedom exhibit path. Understand the brutality of the system, resistance movements, pivotal figures (Mandela, Sisulu, Biko), and the arduous transition to democracy. Impact: Prepare for powerful multimedia, personal testimonies, artifacts (like Mandela's prison cell replica), and confronting displays on segregation laws, violence, and resilience. It's essential context for modern South Africa. Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site: Sterkfontein Caves: Connect with the Fossils Descend: Walk deep into the cool, ancient limestone caves where iconic fossils like Mrs. Ples & Little Foot" were found.

step back millions of years into the story of human evolution with this full day guided tour of the Cradle of Humankind.

If you’ve only got a day to fit in a safari drive, this visit to Pilanesberg Nature Reserve ensures you make the most of it. Begin with an early morning pickup, then head straight to Pilanesberg for a 4x4 safari drive. During the tour, look out for the “Big Five”, take a break for lunch, then take part in an afternoon drive for even more wildlife spotting. Note that park admission is not included.

Take in aerial views of the Magaliesbergs and the Cradle of Humankind on this hot air balloon safari. Get the best possible perspective on this striking landscape without paying for the high price of an airplane or helicopter tour. Spend the hour-long flight enjoying the high-altitude breeze, snapping photos, and listening to commentary from your guide before landing for an included breakfast.

Exploring the Sterkfontein Caves and understanding the rich prehistoric and historical context they offer is an incredible experience that intertwines natural history with the socio-political journey of South Africa, particularly focusing on Soweto during and after Apartheid.

Self-driving in Johannesburg can be dangerous. Skip the risk, while enjoying the privacy of your own vehicle, on this private tour of the Hartbeespoort Dam and Magaliesburg Mountains area. See giraffes, zebras, antelopes, Cape vultures, chimpanzees, and more; cruise the dam area; and capture hilarious photos in the Upside Down House. Your package includes tickets for the Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway: other entrance fees and cruise fare are at your expense.