Johannesburg/Soweto


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Soweto [1] is located in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Contents

[edit] Understand

Trivia

Soweto is the only place in the world to have raised two Nobel Prize winners. Both Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both have residences on Vilakazi Street in Orlando West.

The Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital [2] is the largest hospital in the world with over 3000 beds.

The name Soweto was first used in 1963 to describe the groups of townships to the south west of Johannesburg, and it is an acronym for South Western Townships. These townships were originally established after an outbreak of bubonic plague in the inner city slums of Johannesburg in 1904, but under the apartheid government many black South Africans were forcefully relocated from the city and it's suburbs to Soweto and other townships.

[edit] Get in

It is best to visit Soweto as part of an official tour group by a SATSA accredited tour guide.

A number of tour operators are available

[edit] See

  • <see name="Credo Mutwa Village" address="Corner Ntsane and Majoeng streets, Central Western Jabavu" phone="+27 (0)11 930-1813" phoneextra="+27 (0)83 693-2003" hours="Open daily from 6AM to 6PM">Restored Zulu and Sotho villages</see>
  • <see name="Hector Pietersen Museum" address="8288 Maseko Street, Orlando West" phone="+27 (0)11 536-0611" hours="Open 10AM to 5PM Mon to Sat and 10AM to 4PM on Sun">Try to allow at least an hour here. Great bookshop inside.</see>
  • <see name="Mandela Family Museum" address="8115 Ngakane Street, Orlando West" phone="+27 (0)11 936-7754" hours="Open 9:30AM to 5PM daily"></see>
  • <see name="Regina Mundi Church" address="1149 Khumalo Street, Moroka" phone="+27 (0)11 986-2546">The people's parliament.</see>

[edit] Do

  • Walk through Baragwanath Taxi rank area and eat some "Runnaways" ( chicken feet )with the locals or try some "Smily's" ( Sheeps head )
  • Visit a real Shebeen (drinking place), not just the touristy places


[edit] Buy

  • <buy name="Maponya Mall" address="Old Potchefstroom Road, Klipspruit">New mall (opened 20 September 2007) with 200 stored, cinemas and restaurants.</buy>

[edit] Eat

  • <eat name="B's Place" address="5541 Shuenane Street, Orlando East" phone="+27 (0)11 935-4015"></eat>
  • <eat name="Sakhumzi Restaurant" url="http://www.sakhumzi.co.za/" email="dine@sakhumzi.co.za" address="6980 Vilakazi Street, Orlando West" phone="+27 (0)11 536-1379" phoneextra="+27 (0)83 337-6925" fax="+27 (0)11 939-4427"></eat>
  • <eat name="Wandies" url="http://www.wandies.co.za/" email="info@wandies.co.za" address="618 Makhalamele Street, Dube" phone="+27 (0)11 982-2796">Offers some of the best indigenous South African menus, including Mogodu (tripe) and pap. Put you business card on the wall with those of many visitors before.</eat>

[edit] Drink

  • The Rock, [3]. Night club and restaurant.

[edit] Sleep

  • <sleep name="Botle Guest House" email="" address="648 Monyane St, Dube" phone="+27 (0)11 982-1872 " phoneextra="" fax="+27 (0)11 286-9010" price=""></sleep>
  • <sleep name="Dakalo Bed and Breakfast" email="maavbb@myconnection.co.za" address="6963 Inhlwathi St, Orlando West" phone="+27 (0)11 936-9328" phoneextra="+27 (0)82 723-0585" fax="+27 (0)11 935-4380" price=""></sleep>
  • <sleep name="Ekhaya Guesthouse " email="kibiti@spoornet.co.za" address="8027 Bacela St, Orlando West" phone="+27 (0)11 939-2850" phoneextra="+27 (0)83 472-9390" fax="" price=""></sleep>
  • <sleep name="Lolo's Guesthouse " email="lolosbb@mweb.co.za" address="1320 Diepkloof Ext" phone="+27 (0)11 985-9183" phoneextra="+27 (0)82 332-2460" fax="+27 (0)11 528-0498" price=""></sleep>
  • <sleep name="Vhavhenda Hills" email="maavbb@myconnection.co.za" address="11749 Mampuru St, Orlando West" phone="+ 27 (0)11 936-0411" phoneextra="+27 (0)82 213-1630" fax="+27 (0)11 936-0411" price=""></sleep>

[edit] Stay safe

By and large Soweto is a pretty safe place for tourists to visit. It is not the easiest place to drive around in by yourself so if you are going to stay there overnight get the B & B owner to meet you on one of the main roads and follow them in or get a transfer in. If you are going to do a tour, go with one of the registered tour company's ( See above or contact SATSA ). Try and make sure that the tour company is using a local Soweto/Johannesburg guide. It makes for better insight to the place and its history.

[edit] Contact

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