LocalPlaces Understanding Johannesburg Walking Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

4 hours

Mobile ticket

LocalPlaces is renowned for its exceptional storytelling experiences which are not merely tours. In Johannesburg, Charlie Moyo personally guides you, while narrating the city's astonishing history along the way. We recommend this tour as a first introduction to the city, since it provides the best insight into the history and contemporary culture of the city.

Starting off with a storytelling on the opening history of the city, we explore the ‘Wiser West’, the oldest district of Joburg inner-city. Marvel at the architecture and stories of the gold rush, the plush Edwardian era (early 1900s) and all the way to the diverse and energetic current-day Joburg. Admire the Shadow Boxer sculpture where Mandela & Tambo once had offices. Be astonished by the square where Gandhi once worked as a lawyer in the court. This tour tells the full story of Joburg – from pre-gold rush days to its ‘glory days’, spectacular urban decline and current-day city regeneration. You will leave astonished!

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

The 'older' part of the Johannesburg CBD and the origins of the city's mining and financial companies can be traced to this architecturally-rich part of the inner-city, known as Marshalltown. Our Understanding Joburg walking tour is also known as the Astonishing Marshalltown tour and is the best introduction to the Johannesburg inner-city. The focus is on the mesmerising history of the city. The tour tells the story of Joburg’s gold-rush inception, boom days, eventual decline and current regeneration. Starting from Gandhi Square, the tour takes in the pedestrianised Main Street in the corporate mining district, including historic landmarks such as the Mapungubwe Rhino replica, Hollard Street, the Impala Stampede Sculpture and the Shadow Boxer Sculpture in front of Chancellor House, where Mandela & Tambo once had their law offices. It is a thorough historical tour, interspersed with public art and cool sidewalk cafes.

3 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Gandhi Square

We visit the central square of Johannesburg and view the sculpture of Gandhi as a young lawyer. Yes. Gandhi worked here as a business lawyer when he was a young man!

15 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

In-person guide

Options

LocalPlaces Understanding Johannesburg Walking Tour

Reviews

5.00

15 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Amazing tour
renatanS8827LS,,Dec 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Walking Tour with Charlie Moyo was a deep insight at Johannesburg, South Africa‘s history. It was an enriching experience about the struggles of people of south africa and its culture. Understanding Johannesburg is also understanding today‘s world emblematic Problems: Imperialism, racism, and the people‘s power to make a better world. Amazing tour!! Thank you, Charlie!!
Incredible tour with Charlie!
kbhandarkar,,Dec 27, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Charlie Moyo is a gift. We were so lucky to start our first two days in Johannesburg (and South Africa) with him as our guide. We learned about 2 years of a college level history class in a few hours (I took so many notes!). He is gifted to be able to distill complex layers of history from multiple perspectives in a way that is accessible for adults and youth alike. Our kids kept ruminating on things he said for days afterward. He was kind and accommodating and answered our many questions. We also did the Understanding Soweto Tour with him, which was so special. Highly recommend both tours!
Insightful and informative tour of Joburg!
TravelerTravelingTH,,Oct 20, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
You won't regret booking this tour! Charlie is extremely knowledgable about Johannesburg, and his tour offers a comprehensive history of this complex city. We felt safe the entire time, and saw some really interesting sites, including Mandela and Tambo's old law office across from the Magistrate's Court. Charlie is super friendly, and the tour felt more like an outing with a friend. Worth every penny!
Excellent Tour in JHB!
nikkiFSA,,Sep 5, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We were recommended to contact LocalPlaces by a friend in JHB, and we are so pleased she did! I was tour producer for a group of 40 people from the USA (22 teenage students / members of a youth orchestra and 18 adults), most visiting SA for the first time. At the beginning of the group's trip, our tour in Joburg was an excellent introduction to the history of the city, and South Africa in general, contextualising the story of both in a fascinating and easy to understand way for the group. Charlie Moyo had lots of interesting anecdotes and is an animated tour guide who the group loved! We had lunch at Just Badela in Soweto on his recommendation - delicious food and such a welcoming atmosphere. In Cape Town, as we came to the end of the trip, we had a beautiful day out appreciating the stunning Cape scenery and Gerald Garner too was an incredible source of information and stories, with a fabulous sense of humour. He also organised our lunch at Cape Point Vineyards with great selections from the menu. I can highly recommend doing a tour with these lovely gentlemen!
Outstanding Tour of the Former Central Business District
Ed H,,Aug 5, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
We thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the original CBD. Charlie is a lively raconteur. Going inside the abandoned stock exchange, with its stained glass windows, was like going back in time. If you like history, architecture and urban culture, you will enjoy this tour.
Amazing tour
joshiajay,,Aug 5, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Wonderful tour of the city. Charlie was an amazing tour guide and resource. Took us around and also helped with lunch and dinner reservations where we were treated like family by the restaurants.
Informative and interesting walking tour
allissone,,Jul 25, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a great walk through JNB with Charlie. We learnt so much about the city with a very comprehensive explanation of the town and its history. We really enjoyed the tour and would highly recommend a tour with Charlie. He was friendly, knowledgeable and responsive to my emails
Outstanding walking tours in Johannesburg and Cape Town! Don’t miss this…
Doris T,,Jun 5, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I recently spent a few weeks in Johannesburg and had the great privilege and pleasure of participating in two walking tours that were hosted by Charlie. I absolutely loved the experience and truly enjoyed being part of a very small group walking through different neighborhoods in Johannesburg that I would otherwise not have visited by myself. I especially enjoyed all the knowledge and historical background that Charlie shared with us and the opportunity to ask questions along the way about not only the city, but also overall South African culture, history and customs. I will most certainly book more tours with LocalPlaces on my next visit and I can’t wait to start exploring Cape Town with Gerald. I felt safe and in good company at all times. Don’t miss out on this very special customized experience at a great price when in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Wonderful experience
dorotheed226,,Jun 5, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Charlie welcomed me in downtown Joburg (very easy location to get with a UBER) on time and we've got a very pleasant 3 hours walk. Charlie knows Joburg by heart and was very king all tour round answering questions and give a very good understanding of the city. I also booked "East Town is Alive" tour and "Bristling Braamfontein" tour on the day after and I would definitely recommend them as well. Thanks Charlie and Gerald!
Astonishing Marshall Town Walking Tour/Bus Tour of Soweto (5 stars/A +)
jtunney1,,Dec 24, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I had read about JoburgPlaces (Charlie Moyo) in a NYT article (36 hours in Johannesburg). After doing some additional research, I booked 2 walking tours while in Johannesburg, Atonishing Marshalltown Tour and Soweto by bus. It was a great call. I learned so much from Charlie as we walked around Joburg. My favorite was walking inside the prior Johannesburg Stock Market and then seeing where Mandela/Tambo law offices were located (across street from the shadow boxing statue of Mandela). We then met our driver for the tour to Soweto. Originally, I was going to just do the walking tour, but Charlie convinced me a visit to Joburg without visiting Soweto would miss out on the story of Apartheid South Africa; Charlie was 100% correct. The bottom line, if you are looking for a full day of meaningful, informative and entertaining insights about South Africa and Johannesburg in particular, you owe it to yourself to reach out to Charlie and confirm a booking. I am so glad I did, a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you Charlie.