Graffiti Tour

Explore the art around you

It is said that Graffiti artists are returning to our ancestral roots; the KhoiSan/Bushmen painted their ‘Graffiti’ on cave walls and rocks and today artists use the underpasses and uninspiring concrete walls as their canvases.

Graffiti arrived relatively late to the streets of Johannesburg, first appearing in the mid to late 1990’s. It came at a time when the city was in a period of major degeneration; the perfect environment for Graffiti to explode. And explode it did. Just as street art became popular amidst the deterioration of 1970’s New York, so too did the downturn of Johannesburg provide a grimy playground for early Graffiti writers to hone their craft.

Johannesburg has a thriving Graffiti art culture with bold new murals and artworks by local and national artists on the city’s walls, bringing colour to Jo’burg’s busy streets. 

Apartheid Museum

Struggle & Democracy

The basic principle behind Apartheid was simple – segregate everything and cut a clean line through a nation to divide other ethnicities from white and keep them divided.

The path through the Museum brings life to the horrors of Apartheid/segregation. Retrace the history of many cultures during the Pre-Apartheid era; this is the story of South Africa’s struggle for democracy, told with powerful displays and interactive elements through everyday heroes, as well as historical leaders, detentions and oppressions of the Nationalist regime.

This extraordinarily powerful museum will make you feel that you were in the townships in the '70s and '80s, dodging police bullets or teargas canisters, or marching and toyi-toyiing with thousands of school children, or carrying the body of a comrade into a nearby house.

Nelson Mandela Exhibition

At this museum is an exhibition celebrating the life and times of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. How Mandela built a new nation from the fragments of conflict, making full use of the “weapons” at his disposal: love, persuasion, forgiveness, and an acute political shrewdness – with a fair amount of self deprecating humour sprinkled in for good measure.

The story is told through visual wall displays, supported by films, hundreds of photographs and displays of original artefacts.

Mandela’s Journey to Freedom

Highlights Tour

While many visitors to South Africa associate Cape Town's Robben Island with the life of Nelson Mandela, Johannesburg is a city that is also forever associated with his life. Here he first found his feet as an anti-Apartheid activist and began the brave struggle against discrimination that lead him to the Rivonia trial and eventually prison. Following his release from prison, Mandela again made Johannesburg his home.

In addition to following in the footsteps of Tata Madiba, the tour will also shed light into the lives of key political luminaries such as Gandhi, Oliver Tambo and countless other activists and freedom fighters who took strides in the long and arduous journey towards a democratic South Africa.

Nelson Mandela Foundation

Dialogue & Legacy

The Nelson Mandela Foundation was established in 1999 when its founder, Mr. Nelson Mandela, stepped down as the President of South Africa. This is where he received the heads of state such as Paul Kagame (former Rwanda President), Bill Clinton and Nicholas Sarkozy (former French President), and celebrities such as Naomi Campbell, Charlize Theron and Will Smith.

In particular the centre focuses on the life and times of Mandela and his lifelong dedication to social justice with a permanent exhibition outlining his life and the context of his struggle for freedom, complimented by many personal artefacts such as his letters from prison, personal photographs, and his Nobel Peace prize.

Come view and walk around his office that has been perfectly preserved, where he worked from 2002 to 2010.

Mohandas Gandhi

Activist & Spiritual Leader

Gandhi arrived in South Africa in 1893 as a young attorney, to handle legal matters for an Indian merchant in Durban and stayed for 21 years. He campaigned for the right of Indians in South Africa to be treated as citizens. He was jailed four times and went back to his homeland in 1914, playing a central role in India's independence. He is quoted to have said:

"Truly speaking, it was after I went to South Africa that I became what I am now, my love for South Africa and my concern for her problems are no less than for India."

Gandhi's principle of Satyagraha greatly influenced the early struggle against apartheid and was adopted by the African National Congress in 1912. It later shaped the anti-Apartheid Defiance Campaign and influenced numerous other peaceful liberation movements around the world.

Soweto – An Unforgettable Journey

Contrast and Culture

Soweto - an acronym meaning: South Western Townships. Soweto is steeped in history, with a diverse array of vibrant cultures, trend setting fashion and art coupled with a friendly warm atmosphere.

The tour takes you into the community and around Soweto’s famous landmarks like Hector Pieterson Memorial, Vilakazi Street and Nelson Mandela’s House.

Soweto was, and is home to many heroes in the fight against Apartheid. Its history goes back to 1904 when black mine workers, who had flocked to the gold fields since 1886, were housed in a township called Klipspruit, the oldest of a cluster of townships that constitute present day Soweto.

Experience and mingle with the people who call Soweto home, a community of extremes: On the one hand, there is abject poverty and on the other, extraordinary wealth in the upper-class suburbs, with some houses selling for over two million rand.

Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre

Memory & Dialogue

This museum and centre of memory is the first institution of its kind that brings together the stories of genocide across two continents, creating parallels between the historical narratives of the genocide committed by Nazi Germany in World War II and the more recent genocide that occurred on African soil in Rwanda in 1994. An analogy of the Holocaust, genocide and Apartheid amplifies the differences and similarities between these historical atrocities. White-on-white violence is just as terrible as black-on-white and black-on-black violence.

The exhibition is deeply moving and highly engaging and is set in a space filled with symbolic references. The building's architecture is an award-winning space almost forcing the visitor to engage in a dark symbiosis of power, poetry, information, taboo, and horror.

Everard Read Gallery & Circa on Jellicoe

Art & Sculpture

The Everard Read Gallery was first established on a dusty street of Johannesburg when the place was a young mining town. Everard focuses on older, modern South African art.

Across the road is a sister gallery, the landmark CIRCA Gallery is much more contemporary and features international artists as well as local and international.

The CIRCA building is now recognised as one of Johannesburg's outstanding architectural landmarks. While its business is the art gallery within, its conspicuous form and design are intended to generate interest among passers-by, encouraging them to discover the myriad forms of art inside. 

Being mainly a sculpture gallery, CIRCA presents itself as an intervention that challenges traditional concepts of exhibiting art and experiencing sculpture art. The architecture is therefore a sculptural artwork, moulding itself around the art it contains.

Liliesleaf Farm – Place of Liberation

Gardener to President

Lilliesleaf Farm was once the anti-Apartheid movements underground headquarters. In the early 1960s, the leafy, affluent northern suburbs of Johannesburg consisted mostly of farmland.

Nelson Mandela assumed the alias David Motsamayi, a supposed gardener, cook, and chauffeur for the Goldreich family at Liliesleaf, and to avoid suspicion lived in the farms tiny servants’ quarters during this time.

A raid on Lilliesleaf Farm in July 1963 led to the arrest of virtually the entire leadership of Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), armed wing of the ANC who on conviction faced the death penalty.

HAPO MUSEUM

History & Freedom

The environmentally-sensitive museum forms the entrance to the huge Freedom Park, perched on a quartzite ridge overlooking Pretoria.

The Hapo Museum is unusual, its exterior is a copper overlay, while its buildings are distinctly reminiscent of granite rocks or ancient boulders. The copper on the exterior hails back to the material most traded and worked throughout Southern Africa, while the shapes of the building refer directly to the ancient shelters of KhoiSan healers in the rocky surrounding landscape.

Inside the cave-like interior of the museum are a series of installations that cover the evolution of Africa and the tribes that have lived on the continent since Gondwana Land, as well as the history of Apartheid in South Africa.

The interactive nature of the installations narrate the country’s history that focuses on the freedom that South Africa enjoys today.

freedom Park

Sacrifice & Liberty

The Park is a national and international site that celebrates the ideals of liberty, diversity, and human rights.

Freedom Park is a cultural institution housing a museum and a memorial dedicated to chronicling and honouring the many who contributed to South Africa's liberation. The museum aims to preserve and narrate the story of the African continent, and specifically South Africa, from the dawn of humanity, through pre-colonial, colonial, Apartheid history and heritage, to the post-Apartheid nation of today. It is a long walk, spanning some 3.6 billion years.

It is a memorial to honour those who sacrificed their lives to win freedom. Freedom Park also celebrates and explores the country's diverse peoples, and our common humanity.

Javett Art Centre

Creativity & Diversity

The museum's art collection includes a very impressive and expansive selection of 20th century South African art and dozens of large-scale iconic South African artworks on loan from private, public, and corporate collections.

The Art Centre also celebrates Africa's ancient art history in the high-tech Gold of Africa wing, which has provided a spectacular new home for the iconic gold rhino, leopard and other priceless treasures from the precious Mapungubwe collection. The new Gold of Africa gallery offers visitors a unique, interactive view of the thriving Mapungubwe civilization that served as a sophisticated trading centre from around 1200 to 1300 AD in what is now Northern Limpopo and is complemented by a glittering exhibition one floor below of intricate gold decorations and accessories from West Africa. 

Cradle of Humankind Tour

Sterkfontein Caves & Maropeng - Roots and Culture

Our ancestors have lived in this area for more than 4 million years, by coming here, you are coming to the birthplace of humanity – Welcome home!

The Cradle of Humankind focuses on the development of humans and our ancestors over the past few million years.

Sterkfontein Caves – The tour starts above the ground exploring the Museum of life-like models of hominids; sabre tooth cat; a construction of a mined cave; early life forms; and more. From here, your well-trained guide will take you to descend 60 meters (196 feet) below the ground, beneath the dust of millions of years where your adventure starts.

You will be shown where two of the most famous fossils “Mrs Ples”, a 2.1-million-year-old Australopithecus skull and “Little Foot”, an almost complete Australopithecus skeleton that is more than 3 million years old were found. View a perfectly calm underground lake at a depth of 40 metres (131 feet) and hear stories about divers who tried to swim in this lake.

Maropeng – which translates to ‘returning to the place of origin’ is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The centre is set in a unique architectural structure –  the Tumulus. Within this grass-covered, tiered mound, visitors begin their experience to understand man’s origins with an underground boat ride through the element forces - water, air, fire, and earth, dipping through waterfalls and icebergs into the eye of a storm, past erupting volcanoes and through the depths of earth to the beginning of the world, before emerging into the exhibition halls with an extensive display, which encourages visitors in touching, hearing, feeling, seeing, and experiencing the unique history of humankind.

Cullinan Diamond Mine

Star of Africa

Cullinan earned its place in history with the discovery of the Cullinan diamond in 1905, the largest rough gem diamond ever found, at 3 106 carats, which was cut to form the two most important diamonds in the British Crown Jewels.

“Star of Africa I” or “Cullinan I” is the largest stone to come of the original Cullinan diamond. Estimated at 530 carats, the diamond is the largest cut colorless diamond in the world.

Additionally, it was the largest polished diamond of any color until the Golden Jubilee Diamond was discovered in 1985 in the Premier Mine, the same location in which the Cullinan diamond was found. Today, the diamond is located in the Tower of London in the British Sovereign’s Royal Scepter. The diamond is not alone there, as the Cullinan II, along with some of the other smaller cuts of the original Cullinan diamond, is also located in the Tower of London as part of the Crown Jewels.

Recently, a number of record braking blue diamonds have been found, including a 122.52 carat diamond, which was valued at US$27.6 million in 2014.

On the guided tour you will get insight into diamond mining, from present day to the past of the third biggest operational diamond mine on planet Earth.

A

Ag shame - used to express sympathy or pity, e.g. "Ag shame, sorry to hear that".

Afrikaans -  a language spoken by mostly white South Africans of Dutch origin, coloured people of the Cape and some black people. It is not an African language.

Amarula - a cream liqueur made from the fruit of the maroela tree.

amasi - a popular drink of thick sour milk. From the isiZulu language.

apartheid - was the policy of separate development implemented by, the then ruling party, the National Party from 1948 - 1990.

Aweh - Great, awesome.

B

babbelas - a hangover.

bakkie - a small pick-up truck.

biltong - dried, spiced and salted meat, similar to beef jerky.

bobotie - a dish of Malay origin, made with minced meat, an infusion of spices, dried fruit, topped with beaten egg and baked.

boerewors - a savoury sausage developed by Boers (Farmers) - today's Afrikaners - some 200 years ago. Traditional fair at its best.

boet/bru - brother, not necessary family.

boma - an outside area where one can sit around a fire - sometimes with a thatched roof.

braai - outside barbecue, a must when visiting.

bra - friend / mate.

bunny chow - an Indian curry served in a hollowed-out half-loaf of bread.

bushveld - the bushveld is a terrain of thick scrubby trees and shrub, with grassy ground-cover between.  This is where you will find our game.

C

china - a buddy, good friend, not the country.

ching - money.

chommie - from the English chum.

D

deurmekaar - an Afrikaans term meaning confused, disorganized or stupid.

dinges - a thing, whatzit, whachamacallit or whatsizname.

dop - a alcoholic drink of any kind. "Can I pour you a dop with dam?", a drink with water.

dorp - a small town.

droewors - a thin sausage, wind-dried, eaten as a snack, like biltong.

Durbs - city of Durban, capital of KwaZulu-Natal.    

E

eina - ouch! or sore

eish - used to express frustration, wonder or 'I don't really know'.

Eita - Hello.

F

frikkadel - a traditional meatball.

fundi - expert, knowledgeable.

fynbos - a vegetation unique to the Cape Floral Region - some 6 000 species, including many types of protea.

G

gatvol - fed up - I've had enough.

gogga - insect, bug.

gogo - from isiZulu, grandmother or elderly women.

H

hokaai - hold it! or slow down.

howzit - hello or "How are you?"

I

indaba - a meeting, from the isiZulu.

inyanga - a herbalist or traditional healer.

izit - is it, often used in conversation "really", "is that so?"

J

ja - yes.

jawelnofine - "yes well no fine", 'How about That?"

jislaaik - expression of surprise.

jol - having fun or "We are partying". 

Jozi - the city of Johannesburg, also known as Jo'burg, Joeys or Egoli.

just now - sometime later, not now but in the future.

K

khaya - home, from the Nguni languages.

kif - cool, neat or great.

koesister -

koeksister - a traditional platted dough dipped in a sticky syrup. From the Dutch "koekje". 

kraal - a village of huts or enclosure for livestock.

kwaito - music of the urban black youth.

L

laduma! - used when celebrating a goal scored in soccer, from the isiZulu for "it thunders".

lekgotla - a brain storming session.

lekker - nice, great, tasty or cool.

M

Madala -  An old man; an 'old one'. Used as a term of respect.

mahala - free, cheap, costs nothing or almost nothing.

mampara - an idiot, a silly person, from the Sotho language.

mampoer - a potent drink made from distilled fruit, similar to moonshine.

mealie - corn. Mealie meal is maize meal or pap.

melktert - "milk tart". A sweet pastry crust containing a creamy filling made from milk, flour, sugar and egg.

moegoe - a buffoon or unsavory  person.

muti - traditional African medicine.

Mzansi - a popular word for South Africa.

N

nê - really? Is that so?

now-now - shortly, in a bit.

O

oke - guy, bloke.

ou - guy, bloke, from Afrikaans.

oubaas - old man. Sometimes used for sir.

P

pap - local staple food, a thick porridge made from maize meal. 

pavement - sidewalk.

platteland - farmland, countryside from Afrikaans meaning flat land.

"Plastic?" - when asked this question, the person wants to know if you want to buy a plastic bag for your shopping. 

potjie - a three-legged cast-iron pot used on an open fire.

potjiekos - a traditional stew cooked on a fire. 

R

robots - traffic lights in South Africa.

rooibos - a tea made from the Cyclopia genistoides bush (red bush), popular for its health benefits.

rusks - a biscuit served to be dunked in morning coffee, the traditional way to start a day. Balls of dough are packed into loaf tins and baked in the oven. Once cooked, the risen balls are then separated and dried out completely in a warm oven for a couple of hours.

S

samoosa - a small, spicy, triangular-shaped pie deep-fried in oil. From the Indian and Malay communities.

sangoma - traditional healer or diviner.

sharp - used as a greeting, a farewell, for agreement, often doubled up as sharp-sharp.

shebeen - a tavern, usually in a private house in a township. 

shongololo - large brown millipede, from the isiZulu "to roll up".

sjambok - a stout animal hide whip.

slap chips - french fries, soft and oily, drenched in vinegar with lots of salt.

sosatie - a kebab. Meat, peppers, onions and sometimes dried fruit on a stick grilled over an open fire.

spaza - informal shop anywhere.

T

taxi - a minibus, the most common way to transport people, 16 passengers at a time on a set route. The conventional metered taxis are also available.

tom - money.

toppie - old man.

township - low cost housing suburbs outside cities and towns.

toyi-toyi - a form of dancing used during protests.

tsotsi - hoodlum or gangster.

U

ubuntu - South African philosophy that holds as its central tenet that a person is person through other persons.

V

veld - grassland. Afrikaans for "field".

vetkoek - "fat cake", a dough that is deep-fried and served with jam and cheese or a savory mince.  

voetsek - buzz off, go away, normaly used for dogs.

vrot - rotten, not nice.

vuvuzela - a colorful plastic trumpet with the sound of a foghorn, made famous during the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa.

W

windgat - show-off. Taken from the Afrikaans, literally "wind hole".

witblitz - "white lightning" from the Afrikaans, home-made distilled alcohol.