• FNB Stadium - The distinctive architecture of FNB Stadium is celebrated worldwide and is affectionately known as the “Calabash” or “African Pot” following its R3.3 billion renovation for the inaugural African World Cup in 2010.

Originally called Soccer City, this stadium has been the backdrop for significant historical events, beginning with former President Nelson Mandela’s first speech in 1990, shortly after his release from 27 years of imprisonment.

This venue has hosted the most significant sports and music events in the nation, including the opening and closing ceremonies and the final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final was also held here.

With a seating capacity of 87,436, it is the largest venue in South Africa and a source of national pride.

International rugby test matches and performances by global music icons such as U2, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber have drawn record crowds here.

FNB Stadium continues to be a preferred location for major events in the country, including the 1993 funeral of political activist Chris Hani and the 2013 memorial service for Mandela.

• Diepkloof Park - Known as “Rich Man’s Acre” by locals, this area features larger stands and is designed as a more exclusive neighborhood.

Also referred to as DK, Diepkloof Extensions were developed for middle to upper-class Black professionals, both in government and private sectors, who were offered full loans for the land and construction under a government housing scheme.

• Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital - As the third-largest hospital globally, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital spans approximately 173 acres (0.70 km2), with around 3,200 beds and about 6,760 staff members.

The hospital comprises 429 buildings with a total area of 233,795 m2.

About 70% of admissions are emergencies, including roughly 160 gunshot wound victims monthly.

The accident, emergency, and ambulance services are the busiest, handling over 350 patients daily. Annually, the hospital registers about 150,000 inpatient and 500,000 outpatient cases.

The Department of Ophthalmology, St John Eye Hospital, has 111 beds and serves approximately 50,000 patients annually.

The Maternity Hospital treats around 60,000 patients each year.

Located in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, the hospital is one of 40 Gauteng provincial hospitals, managed by the Gauteng Provincial Health Authorities.

It serves as a teaching hospital for the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, alongside Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Helen Joseph Hospital, and Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital.

The hospital aims to:

Achieve the highest level of patient care based on scientific principles, delivered with empathy and insight.

Train staff to be well-equipped and motivated to serve the sick and injured.

Uphold truth, integrity, and justice for all, benefiting patients, staff, and the community.

CEO: Dr. Sandile Mfenyana

History

The hospital’s origins trace back to the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand. John Albert Baragwanath, a young Cornishman, arrived to seek his fortune. His surname “Baragwanath” comes from the Welsh words “Bara” (bread) and “gwanath” (wheat).

After various ventures, John Albert established a refreshment post, “The Wayside Inn,” at a strategic location for transport drivers and stagecoach passengers, known as “Baragwanath’s Place.”

During World War II, the UK and Commonwealth faced service backlogs, including healthcare for military personnel. In 1940, the British War Office requested South Africa to provide healthcare facilities for Imperial troops. Consequently, a hospital was designated for Johannesburg, and construction began in 1941.

The British Government funded the hospital, which was named “The Imperial Military Hospital, Baragwanath.” The first patients were admitted in May 1942.

• Orlando Towers - These two cooling towers are a notable landmark in Soweto. Built in 1951 to enhance the spray pond cooling system, they were the first in South Africa to use sewage effluent from the Klipspruit Sewage Works as a coolant.

One tower serves as an advertising billboard, while the other features South Africa’s largest mural painting. The towers are also popular for bungee and BASE jumping from a platform between them, as well as a bungee swing into one of the towers.

The towers were featured in the seventh season of The Amazing Race, where teams crossed a suspension bridge between them. In the movie Chappie, the power station serves as the protagonists’ headquarters, adorned with Die Antwoord artwork.

History

Planning for Orlando began in 1935 due to Johannesburg’s rising electricity demand. The site was chosen for its proximity to water and railway lines for coal delivery. Construction started in 1939 but was delayed by World War II, completing in 1955. The station was decommissioned in 1998 after 56 years of service. In 2006, the site was transformed into an entertainment and business center.

On June 25, 2014, the decommissioned power plant collapsed, resulting in one fatality and five people trapped in the rubble.

• Vilakazi Street - Home to two Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Vilakazi Street is the only street worldwide to have housed two Nobel Laureates.

Named after Dr. Benedict Wallet Vilakazi, a renowned writer and educator, the street is a symbol of greatness.

• Mandela House - Located in Orlando West, Soweto, at the corner of Vilakazi and Ngakane streets, this modest house was home to Nelson Mandela and his family from 1946 to the 1990s.

Mandela lived here with his first wife, Evelyn Ntoko Mase, and later with his second wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Due to his anti-apartheid activities, Mandela spent little time at the house before his 1962 arrest. Madikizela-Mandela lived there with their daughters until her 1977 banishment.

After his 1990 release, Mandela returned briefly before moving to a more secure residence in Houghton.

The four-roomed Soweto home is now a museum, showcasing memorabilia, artworks, awards, and family photographs from the 1950s. It is a major tourist attraction due to its historical significance.

• Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial - On June 16, 1976, Soweto high school students peacefully protested against the compulsory use of Afrikaans in black secondary schools. They planned to gather at Orlando Stadium and march to the Department of Bantu Education’s regional offices to voice their concerns.

Carrying placards with messages like “Away with Afrikaans,” “Amandla awethu” (“Power to the people”), and “Free Azania” (“Free South Africa”), they sang Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika (God Bless Africa), now part of South Africa’s national anthem.

• Constitution Hill Human Rights Precinct - Constitution Hill is a living museum that narrates South Africa’s journey to democracy. Once a prison and military fort, it now houses the Constitutional Court, which upholds citizens’ rights.

• Braamfontein - Situated in Johannesburg, Braamfontein is a lively neighborhood brimming with creativity. Its streets are adorned with impressive public art installations and vibrant graffiti murals.

• Nelson Mandela Bridge - Just as Paris has the Eiffel Tower, New York the Statue of Liberty, and Sydney the Harbour Bridge, Johannesburg boasts the largest cable-stayed bridge in southern Africa, named after Nelson Mandela, who led South Africa through the apartheid era.

The 284-meter-long bridge spans 42 operational railway lines, connecting Braamfontein and northern Johannesburg to Newtown in the city’s central business district.

• Sci-Bono Discovery Centre - Sci-Bono is a premier science center that supports education in math, science, and technology, offering innovative learning experiences to enhance South Africa’s capacity in science, engineering, and technology.

• Johannesburg - Constructed between 1927 and 1934, Turbine Hall was originally the largest of Johannesburg’s three steam-driven power stations. It is an iconic building in Newtown’s art and culture precinct.

• Greater Johannesburg - The brass plate on the door of the attorneys’ modest offices in downtown Johannesburg read “Mandela and Tambo.” In late 1952, four years after the National Party’s victory, the two young partners of South Africa’s first black-owned law firm were busy.

• Standard Bank Ferreira Mine Stope - Located in the basement of the Standard Bank headquarters in downtown Johannesburg, Ferreira’s mine stope is one of the city’s earliest gold prospecting sites. Discovered during the 1980s construction of the Standard Bank building, it has been preserved as a small museum. The stope is named after Ignatius Phillip Ferreira, a farmer, soldier, and later a gold prospector, who also has a city district named after him.

• Private transportation
• Bottled water
• In-vehicle air conditioning

• Lunch
• All Fees and Taxes

Johannesburg, often referred to as the “City of Gold,” was originally shaped by a gold rush and has since evolved into a key economic center in Africa. It boasts a rich tapestry of cultures, a lively nightlife, and exceptional wildlife experiences.

Rich History and Cultural Significance

Located in the heart of Johannesburg, South Africa, Soweto is a symbol of the resilient spirit of its residents and their steadfast resistance to apartheid. Once a township defined by hardship, it has now become an intriguing destination that attracts visitors from across the globe. Soweto’s charm lies not only in its deep historical importance but also in its vibrant culture, genuine experiences, and strong community involvement.

Vilakazi Street: Nelson Mandela’s Legacy

Vilakazi Street is a symbol of Soweto’s importance in global history, being the only street to have been home to two Nobel Prize winners. The modest home of Nelson Mandela

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