Johannesburg: Also known as Jo’burg, Jozi or even Joni as some locals like to call it. South Africa’s largest city, it is also the city the young Mandela arrived at as a young man and resided in his later years. There are a number of important sights in the surrounding areas.
Johannesburg – Nelson Mandela Square: A public square and shopping center with fine dining, luxury boutiques and designer labels, located in the hub of one of South Africa’s most affluent neighborhoods. A statue, roughly 20 feet high, of the Mandela takes center stage. It is located in the Sandton area of Johannesburg.
Johannesburg – Apartheid Museum: Along with a popular exhibit on Mandela, the Apartheid Museum celebrates the resistance efforts of the entire anti-apartheid movement and shines a light on the oppressive discriminations of the past and how South Africa is working towards a future for all its citizens. Film, photography, text, audio and artifacts will leave a profound impression for all. Moving exhibits start as visitors gain entrance to the building, with two entrances labeled “White” and “Non-white.” Depending on which tickets you’re randomly issued, you’ll be ushered through one of the two.
Soweto – The Mandela House: Now a public heritage site and a national monument, this was the home of Nelson Mandela and his family from the 1946-1990’s (although Mandela himself spent many of these years on the run and as a political prisoner). This was the home he returned to after his release from incarceration. Audio-visuals, photographic galleries and live guides give an intriguing and rare glimpse into the Mandela’s family life during his years fighting apartheid. Soweto, bordering Johannesburg’s mining belt, is also the location of the 1976 Soweto Uprisings against apartheid and Desmond Tutu’s former residence.
Visit these iconic sites before or after AmaWaterways' itineraries such as Discover Africa, Rivers & Rails of Africa, Wildlife and the Falls, Stars of South Africa and Golden Trails of Africa.