History Tours in South Africa: 7 Compared on Price and Time

1.Art, Culture & History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 392 reviews · 2 hours · from $37Our pick

Walk from Bo-Kaap through Cape Town’s city centre with a local English-speaking guide. You’ll see Auwal Masjid, Long Street, Greenmarket Square, the Company’s Garden, the Slave Lodge, Parliament, and District Six while learning about Cape Malay culture, forced removals, art, and South African identity. Guides may include Mandi, Olwethu, or Diego.

“Olewethu was very professional and knowledgeable. Once complete we were hungry and asked about options the suggestion was bree Street so we started down the street after taking our picture with statue of Nelson Mandela. unfortunately we did not get passed the first block when one of the ladies in our party almost had her neck pulled from a robber. maybe better suggestion or guidance when walking streets without guide. we left the city right after she was very nervous to continue looking at the city so were us”

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2.Guided Historical Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 283 reviews · 1h 30m · from $18Best value

Spend 90 minutes walking central Stellenbosch with guides such as Johan, Marlene, or Juliana. See the oak avenues, Mill Stream furrows, Cape Dutch buildings, The Braak, Dorp Street, and the Moederkerk graveyard while hearing stories about fires, founders, university figures, and local life. English tours cost $18 and are wheelchair accessible.

“Marlene was an excellent guide. Good humoured and knowledgeable. I thought she imparted the right level of information to give us an enjoyable and engaging morning”

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3.Historical Bike Tour & Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 248 reviews · 4h 30m · from $92

Ride through Stellenbosch, its university, and the Jonkershoek Valley with an English-speaking guide such as Marshall, Sevi, or Tayne. Visit two wine estates for tastings, a private cellar tour, and wine paired with chocolate. Choose a standard bike or book an e-bike for R250 extra.

“Our guide Michel was very informative. It was a very hot day and he made sure we had regular stops in the shade on our way round Stellenbosch.”

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4.Cape Town Guided City Cycling Heritage Tour – Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · 3 hours · from $67Top rated

This three-hour private bike tour links Cape Town’s best-known sights by bike and on foot. Start at the Radisson Collection Hotel, ride the Sea Point Promenade and Green Point, visit Greenmarket Square, Company Gardens, Bo-Kaap, and the V&A Waterfront, and stop for coffee, cake, and a traditional snack. Guides speak English and Afrikaans.

“Brilliant tour, thoroughly recommend for both the novice and experienced cyclist if you want to see the best of Cape Town with Skizo as your guide! The tour started along the beach front which was the perfect way for me to get used to my bike. We then took a trip to Mouille Point and to Green Point Lighthouse before taking a tree tunnel route through Green Point Park, a really lovely park, then onto The Waterkant taking in all of the lovely coloured houses and then through the CBD where we stopped to do some shopping at Greenmarket Square - of course I bought some African skirts! Throughout all…”

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5.Apartheid History of South Africa (Full day Experience with lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 24 reviews · from $106

This full-day experience links Johannesburg’s gold-mining past with Soweto’s apartheid story. With a guide, air-conditioned transport, lunch, and museum admissions included, you visit Maboneng, Constitution Hill, Mandela House, the Hector Pieterson Museum, and the Apartheid Museum. Expect 4 to 8 hours, with pickup offered and groups of up to 50.

“We had a great private walking tour in Johannesburg and Soweto with those guys. They did a great job and arranged the tour very spontaneously according to our needs and wishes. We had a local experience for a very fair price. Afterwards thRead more”

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6.Johannesburg: Soweto History Tour with Hotel Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 14 reviews · from $95

Spend a half or full day exploring Soweto from Johannesburg with hotel pickup and a guide such as Albert, Yves, or Mark. See FNB Stadium, Orlando Towers, Kliptown, Sisulu Square, Mandela’s House, and Hector Pieterson Square. The full-day option includes lunch at Samkuzi or Chap Pozi.

“Our guide Yves told us a lot about the country's history and present day, giving us a comprehensive overview of Johannesburg and Soweto. A great day!”

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7.bicycle or E-scooter History Tour with Coffee

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 3 reviews · from $58

Meet at Old Biscuit Mill for a half-day bicycle or e-scooter tour with an English-speaking guide such as Khuma. Ride through Bo-Kaap, Company’s Garden, St George’s Mall, Greenpoint, and past the Castle of Good Hope. Coffee, water, a bike, and local stories are included. Museum entry, lunch, and pickup are not.

“Khuma was fantastic guide. Full of knowledge and happy to share. Had a great day. Definitely recommend”

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