Top 15 Guided Tours in South Africa

Cape Town-Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison Tour - Starting in Cape Town CBD and reaching the waterfront

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 1,792 reviews · 4 hours · from $79Our pick

Visit Robben Island by ferry, tour Nelson Mandela’s prison cell, and hear firsthand stories from a former political prisoner.

“The trip to Robben Island was everything we expected and more besides. The guides were well informed and interesting and really brought home the history of the island. It was humbling to see the cell in which Nelson Mandela spent so many years and reflect on the bravery and resilience of those political prisoners who also spent time there. The visit helped put into perspective the struggle against apartheid and how far South Africa has travelled since democracy.”

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Apartheid Museum Tours, Full-Day, Guided, Johannesburg Tours, Museums, Museums in Johannesburg, Soweto Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Soweto /Johannesburg and Apartheid Museum Guided Full Day Tour

2.Soweto /Johannesburg and Apartheid Museum Guided Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 932 reviews · from $103Top rated

Explore Johannesburg and Soweto on a guided day tour with Constitution Hill, Mandela House, the Apartheid Museum, and local lunch options.

“Some confronting historical facts and images greet you on this tour, so be ready for it! But our Tour Guide Nathi was thoughtful and thorough, and had us well-prepared for each stop. I'd never known about the cross overs between the two greats of Freedom & Democracy - Gandhi & Mandela. This vital tour brought that, and so much more into the light.”

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Cape Town Tours, Guided, Hiking & Trekking, Table Mountain Tours, Tour Reviews

Cape Town: Table Mountain Hike with an Expert Guide

3.Table Mountain Hike with an Expert Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 666 reviews · 3 hours · from $60

Hike Table Mountain with a local guide, learn about fynbos, tackle scenic routes, and ride the cable car down for $60, weather permitting.

“I had an amazing and challenging hike up Table Mountain. The views were absolutely stunning, and the natural scenery was breathtaking. A big thank you to Robert for such a fantastic hike! I was truly impressed by his extensive knowledge of the area and the local plant life. It made the experience even more special and memorable.”

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Guided, Johannesburg Tours, Lunch Experiences, Soweto Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Johannesburg

Soweto: Walking Tour with a Local Guide and Lunch

4.Walking Tour with a Local Guide and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 648 reviews · 4 hours · from $43

Walk through Soweto with a local guide, trace the 1976 uprising, visit Mandela landmarks, sample street food, and meet residents for $43.

“our guide Maweza was fantastic! he was really insightful and answered so many of our questions. we loved being able to walk through the neighbourhood and see how the community is. highly recommend this tour!”

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Cape Town Tours, Evening Experiences, Guided, Hiking & Trekking, Lions Head Hikes, Morning, Tour Reviews

Cape Town: Lion’s Head Sunrise or Sunset Guided Hike

5.Lion’s Head Sunrise or Sunset Guided Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 642 reviews · 3 hours - 210 minutes · from $38

Hike Lion’s Head at sunrise or sunset for 360-degree Cape Town views, expert guidance, head torches, nature insights, and photos.

“It was really helpful getting up ahead of the crowds, our tour guide helped us with all the challenging parts of the hike.”

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Garden Route Tours, Guided, Safari Tours, Safaris in the Garden Route, Tour Reviews

Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

6.Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 589 reviews · from $40

Review Botlierskop’s 3-hour game drive near Mossel Bay, with rhinos, lions, elephants, birds, mountain scenery, tips, and honest value advice.

“Although we were a bit unlucky with the weather (rain + fog) we were offered to be booked for a later tour - which we declined - we still got to see a lot. Our guide shared lots of information and answered all our questions with us. In general all the staff is very friendly and the entire reserve and estate is great. Highly recommend ! We had a great time :)”

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Cape Town Tours, Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours, Township Tours, Township Tours in Cape Town

Cape Town: Guided Township Tour with Hotel Pickup

7.Guided Township Tour with Hotel Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 536 reviews · 8 hours · from $54

Explore Cape Town’s townships with local guides, then visit District Six and Robben Island prison on this full-day history tour.

“Nelson and Oyama were amazing. The township was nice as well, good learning opportunity for kids and adults.”

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1-Day Tours, Cape Town Tours, Guided, Safari Tours, Safaris in Cape Town, Tour Reviews

Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip

8.Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 526 reviews · from $155

A practical review of Cape Town’s Aquila Big Five safari, scenic Breede Valley drive, wine tasting, lunch, costs, guides, and tips.

“The perfect way to experience a safari when you have a limited visit in Cape Town! A must-do! We would highly recommend opting for the private driver ( James) to Aquila, and then a private driver (Mario) and vehicle for the safari; so rRead more”

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Apartheid Museum Tours, Guided, Johannesburg Tours, Museums, Museums in Johannesburg, Soweto Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Half Guided Day Tour of Soweto And Apartheid Museum

9.Half Guided Day Tour of Soweto And Apartheid Museum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 356 reviews · from $69

Explore Johannesburg’s Apartheid Museum and Soweto on a 4 to 5-hour small-group tour with hotel pickup, Mandela House, and Hector Pieterson Memorial.

“Bobo was our tour guide and we had 5 other people on the tour so the us. Immediately the group was very friendly and Bobo made us all laugh and gave us a great experience. Would highly recommend!”

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Cape Point Tours, Cape Town Tours, Full-Day, Guided, Penguin Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Cape Town: Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Full-Day Guided Tour

10.Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Full-Day Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 348 reviews · 9 hours · from $45

See Cape Point, Boulders penguins, Chapman’s Peak, Muizenberg, and Bo-Kaap on a scenic 9-hour Cape Town minibus tour.

“Elie was an amazing driver/tour guide!! We had a smaller group for this tour, and Elie catered the time at each stop to our interests since we had the added flexibility. Elie also adjusted the order of the stops to account for which stops would be more crowded later in the day, having us do those earlier on to beat the crowds! All the stops were great. Being picked up from and dropped off to my accommodation was an added benefit. Pick up was a little late, but there’s not much that can be done about traffic! One piece of constructive feedback - I do wish that the stop at…”

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Cape Town Tours, Evening Experiences, Guided, Hiking & Trekking, Lions Head Hikes, Morning, Tour Reviews

Cape Town: Guided Lion’s Head Hike at Sunrise or Sunset

11.Guided Lion’s Head Hike at Sunrise or Sunset

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 312 reviews · 3h 30m · from $56

Review of Cape Town’s guided Lion’s Head sunrise or sunset hike, with route details, safety tips, guide quality, costs, and honest advice.

“David was a great guide and great company. Would definitely recommend.”

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Guided, Johannesburg Tours, Lunch Experiences, Soweto Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Soweto: Guided Bicycle Tour with Lunch

12.Guided Bicycle Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 292 reviews · 4 hours · from $52

Cycle through Soweto’s Orlando West, visit Mandela and Hector Pieterson sites, meet locals, and enjoy a kota lunch with a local guide.

“This bike tour was one of the highlights of my trip. The guide thabo shared interesting stories and hidden gems I never would’ve found on my own. The pace was comfortable for all levels, and the stops were well-chosen. A great blend of sightseeing, adventure, and local flavor.”

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Guided, Historical Tours, Stellenbosch Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Stellenbosch: Guided Historical Walking Tour

13.Guided Historical Walking Tour

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

Walk Stellenbosch’s oak-lined streets, Cape Dutch buildings, village green, and oldest residential road with a local guide in 90 minutes.

“Wonderful historic insights into architecture, people and activities at the origins of Stellenbosch!”

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Guided, Pretoria Tours, Safari Tours, Safaris in Pretoria, Tour Reviews

Hartbeespoort: Predator Safari with a Guide

14.Hartbeespoort: Predator Safari with a Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 267 reviews · 1 hour · from $31

Spend one hour near lions, wild dogs, and cheetahs on a guided Hartbeespoort safari truck tour with optional weekend lion feeding.

“I’ve experienced the lion feeding and how they live at their space, the drivers were nice they were explaining everyt details on how the predator operates, it was very nice my family and I did enjoy the tour”

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Cape Town Tours, Guided, Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours, Township Tours, Township Tours in Cape Town

Cape Town: Half-Day Guided Township Tour

15.Half-Day Guided Township Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 237 reviews · 4 hours · from $75

Explore District Six and Langa on a thoughtful Cape Town township tour with local guides, history, community stories, and optional beer tasting.

“When you visit Africa, you should learn about apartheid. The short stop in the district six museum was very educational! Visiting the townships gives you insight in the lives of these people.”

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