• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Want to see the best of Johannesburg? We got you covered. But as you can expect from a Withlocals experience, the real excitement is its hidden gems. Join your favorite local and get a feeling of the city's real vibe on a tour that has it all, so you can say: I experienced the real Johannesburg!

Destination

Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English

Included

• Private Guide
• Local Snack or Drink
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to Attractions

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 3 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at The main entrance of the Market Theatre - Johannesburg to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. City Highlights

   See from The Market Theatre, the Chancellor House, Ghandi Square, and other landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots in town so you can get the perfect overview of what makes Johannesburg so unique

4. Hidden Gems

   Along the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the city through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists experience

5. Magical Storytelling

   Behind every landmark and every stop, there’s a story, and your local host is ready to tell it all. Get ready to listen to incredible stories, one-of-a-kind insights, and fun facts only a knowledgeable local would know!

6. Special Treat

   Follow your host to one of their favorite eateries for a snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions

7. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Gerdie

(About local Lufuno )

2 January 2025

Our stay in Joburg turned out to be the greatest surprise of our trip to South Africa. And Lulu played a big rol in that experience. With her storytelling, authentic enthousiasm and pride she showed us parts of the city we would not have seen or experienced without her. With the meet-up with the locals in the hidden gem at the end of the tour, she made our last day of 2024 into a golden memory for our whole family 🥰Tour full of local colours and information

Karolina🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lunga)

23 December 2024

Experienced, kind, knowledgeable and will make sure you are safe around JB. Strongly recommend. We were in JB for only one day ahead of our trip to Kruger and couldn’t be happier with the experience Lunga provided us with!100% recommend!

Nina🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lufuno )

9 December 2024

Lulu was the BEST guide! If you want a personal guide who can show you a wonderful private tour of Johannesburg and Soweto, Lulu is your girl! She picked us up and dropped us off at the Southern Sun OR Tambo for our tour. She told us so many stories, and gave us history about Soweto. We went to Constitution Hill, the prison, drove around the different areas of the city, the towers, the Hector plaza, Nelson Mandela house, the Cultural Village, and even had lunch at a place where only locals eat in Johannesburg - very interesting! It was just a phenomenal day! Nina VExcellent experience with Lulu !!!!

Fabrice🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Lufuno )

13 November 2024

Lufuno did an amazing job. Our 3 hour Tour was awesome we got to see everithing we could imagine and tried some food we would have never tried on ou own. Her personality and energy are awesome. We would reccomend her to everyone, sche's so amazing. Thanks for your time and all the memories we made, Lulu.Day with Lulu

Markus🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Lufuno )

8 November 2024

We had a great time with Lufuno sharing so much knowledge about Jo’burg. She is a very kind and energetic person. We can highly recommend a tour with her Great Joszi experience with Lufuno

Cynthia🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lufuno )

27 October 2024

Lufuno is an excellent guide. You'll see parts of Joburg you wouldn't see without her. Thank you for taking us to the braai resto and for the drive to Vilakazi Street. Recommended!

Robert🇿🇦 South Africa

(About local Lufuno )

26 October 2024

My wife and I had a great day with Lufuno. Many unforgettable moments. She showed us places which we would never find. Thanks again.Johannesburg visit differently

Milad

(About local Lufuno )

25 September 2024

We had an amazing time with Lufono. It was great to walk the streets of downtown Joberg getting to experience so many aspects of the city we would have never found on our own. Lufono was a wonderful guide super knowledgeable about everything Joberg and S. Africa. We will definitely be back and highly recommend her tours.Wonderful tour. Priceless.

Anna

(About local Lufuno )

24 September 2024

Lulu took me to a tailor made tour around Johannesburg. I'm thankful to her for coming to the hotel and picking me up with her car and driving me around the spots we previously talked about. She told me all about the history and the culture of Johannesburg. Lulu has been great! I'm grateful for all the care and the fun times during the tour. Lulu is great!

Donatella

(About local Lufuno )

5 September 2024

I had contacted Lufuno months before and asked her if we could see the most important things in Johannesburg in one day. We did it. She picked us up at our hotel very punctual. With her super golf carLulù drove us to the Apartheid Museum which examines the era of racial segregation in South Africa and is an absolutely unmissable stop. Then we visited Costitution Hill which in the past was an infamous prison, it develops around the new Constitutional Court, an austere symbol of South Africa in change, even more significant for the fact that it stands on the ashes of one of the most monuments to the apartheid system. We also visited Soweto and with her it was absolutely not dangerous. We also had lunch in a delicious self-service restaurant. Then she took us to a panoramic point of Soweto where we could admire the entire landscape of this township. Finally she took us to redo a braid of my boy's hair that had come undone but in the end Lulù did it better. Thank you Lulù for this day so intense and full of laughter with you. a big hug to all your family:)Lulù tour is the best

Paula🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Lufuno )

2 September 2024

Where do I start? This was hands down the best tour we have ever experienced. Lulu (Lufuno) has given has something that we will never forget and is etched in our memories forever. If you want to see the real Johannesburg or (Jozie as Lulu calls it) this is the tour you should do. Lulu explained not just the history of Johannesburg but shares an insiders view of this fascinating city including the good, the bad and the ugly but always making sure we felt safe. The absolute highlight for us was spending time with the local kids in Soweto where Lulu and her partner organise street games to entertain their youth, their ultimate goal is to build a dedicated play area for the kids as this is something they don’t currently have. Lulu is a beautiful human being with an uplifting energy. We highly recommend her.The real Jozie!

Saskia🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Lufuno )

27 August 2024

Lufuno has a really kind and charming personality. She showed us the hidden spots of Joburg that we definetely wouldnt have seen without her. We always felt safe during the tour :). Really cool tour, we would do it again! Great afternoon at Joburg

Sué

(About local Lufuno )

31 July 2024

I had an amazing afternoon with Lulu. She is so knowledgeable and warm, and I felt like I was just spending time with an old friend. She really went above and beyond to make sure I enjoyed the tour. 100% recommendedUnforgettable experience

Amanda 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Lufuno )

15 June 2024

Lufuno was an amazing guide on a recent short layover in Johannesburg. She was very accommodating to the schedule I needed to keep and was able to bring me to some cool hot spots in Johannesburg to give me a sense of the everyday vibe. Really enjoyed seeing and meeting local shop owners and artists as well as chatting with Lufuno around life in Johannesburg. I couldn't have asked for better and look forward to another visit!Quick Layover

soufiane🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Lufuno )

7 June 2024

What an afternoon and evening we spent me and my wife with Lufuno, we asked for the authentic experience and we got it from sites hiking food locals and much more. We went to the roots of Soweto and the gold mine. I encourage anyone who wants to go out of the beaten track and get the real life experience. Lufuno was ponctual, clear, fun and kept us safe all the time. Thank you very much and I look forward to the next time.Authetic soweto experience

Becky🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lufuno )

7 June 2024

My husband and I did the Hidden Gems walking tour with Lufuno and we loved it. She communicated very well ahead of the tour and when we showed up she was there waiting for us. She took us to some really cool areas of the city. She showed us parts of Joburg we would never have seen without her. We really enjoyed chatting with her and she taught us a lot about life in Joburg. I highly recommend booking a tour with Lufuno, she is a fabulous tour guide. Fabulous tour with Lufuno

Felix🇬🇭 Ghana

(About local Jansen)

1 January 2024

We related and a family and this guy really knows Joburg he actually took us to the locals for us to experience Joburg differently from what the media will show you and we really enjoyed that. Thumbs up bro . Keep it up .🙏🏼👍Experience with the locals in Joburg .

Paul

(About local Lufuno )

3 March 2025

We spend very intersting tour Visiting the right places and meeting so many nice peoples Best regards And congratulations for Lufuno Paul Wonderfull afternoon with Lufuno

Marc

(About local Lufuno )

2 March 2025

We had such a private and great time with Lufuno! She was well prepared and was trying to fullfill all our wishes we had for such one day experience in JoBo! 110 % recommendation and lots of hugs to her! Excellent service and so much knowledge! Incredible good! Fantastic- what a marvelous day!

Gregory🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lufuno )

28 February 2025

Lufuno was a great guide and we had a good day out with her. She even added an additional stop to a local brewery in the area. Nice Day Out

nicole.schickentanz🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Lufuno )

18 February 2025

Lufuno picked us up at the airport and we had a great day in Soweto. On the next day she picked me up at my hotel and we went to Pilanesburg national park. I highly recommend this guide, it’s a lot of fun and she knows a lot about her country. Great adventure with a friendly guide

CATHERINE🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lunga)

13 February 2025

My tour of Maboneng and downtown Jo’burg with Lunga was fabulous. I’ve traveled extensively and occasionally hire guides. This tour made my experience much richer, informative and special and I felt very safe. Lunga tailored it to my interests and he was extremely knowledgeable. He was also fun and funny. He added on some extra sites I was interested in. I highly recommend Lunga and his tour. Amazing Jo’burg Tour

Dietrich🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Lufuno )

2 February 2025

It was easy to find Lufuno at the meeting place. She drove us with her car to several exciting food places and gave in depth explanations. All together it was a great insight into "local" Joburg. Lufuno shared valuable fotos via WhatsApp with us. Finally Lufuno took care for our way back to the hotel in Rosebank. Thanks a lot Lufuno.A wonderful experience with Lufuno

Sandra Louise🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Lufuno )

27 January 2025

My tour with Lufuno (Lulu) was one of the best (if not the best) I have ever had visiting any country. I was honestly a bit nervous about visiting Jo’berg as a solo female traveller, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Lulu’s tour made me feel like I was really one of the locals. She was fun, sweet, always made sure I was okay and tailored everything to my interests. It was like a day out with a friend I had known for years. We visited so many places, some included the cultural village in Soweto, we went to a local SA BBQ where I tried so many different foods and they were all delicious, the atmosphere was brilliant! I dressed up as a South African Bride, bought some art (Lulu is a haggling pro) and had the best time at a Car Wash socialising with her friends. The tour didn’t feel like one at all and that was exactly what I was after. Thank you so much Lulu, I had an amazing time and made a fantastic new friend too! See you soon :-)The best tour ever!

Camilla und Benedikt🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Lufuno )

27 January 2025

Walking around in maboneng with Lufuno was a very nice experience. She showed us the nice bars, cafes, art places and took her time to explain us everything. After having a nice lunch we went to a shop and were dressed in a very special way which was a very nice surprise. We are really would like to do the tour one day in Soweto with Lulu Great experience

Eve🇫🇷 France

(About local Lufuno )

26 January 2025

Lulu was really wonderful. I really recommend choosing her to show you around. We saw the city through the eyes of the local. She was always eager to answer our questions with a smile. Thank you Lulu for this great tour!! Eve & MakisAmazing hospitality offered by Lulu

Bart🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local Lufuno )

18 January 2025

Lufuno showed my the real Johannesburg… it was an exceptional real eveningFantastic & real

Luba🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lunga)

29 December 2024

Lunga was great guide a very genuine nice person. He was knowledgeable about history, architecture and life of Johannesburg. He is given us a great many insights about life of different cultures and people living in South Africa and specifically in Joburg. He showed us around the Maboneng, taking us to a very authentic Zulu market with food and specialty shops. We asked to take us to Soweto and showed us around walking the main streets sharing history of the place and about its historic importance.Exploration with local insights

Heike

(About local Lufuno )

19 December 2024

Lufung is a great guide and she arranged for us a 2 days private tour. The first day we visited constitution hill, and Lufuno impressed us with her knoledge, her informations and her kindness. Then she showed us Johannesburg and the hidden gems. She walked with us thought bussy streets where the life is busteling, we hopped on a Minibus and walken then thought Downtown markets. Places i would have never seen without her. Then we had a local brai to see how locals enjoy to have lunch. We felt safe an super informed an taken care of the hole day. But there was more to come. The next day Lufunu explored Soweto with us. I will never forget that experiance. We had Hope showing us her neighborhood and the slums. She explained her communetyprojects and pointed the problemes out she is facing. Them Lufunu took over again an shared her neighborhood and her passion for Kids and her projekts for them with us. We walked with her arround her community,meet people, tasted lokal food and of corse have seen all the places of interested. She filled them with all the informations and her knoledge is exaptional. I can only recommend to book Lufunu, let her know what you are interested in and she will plan your tour you will never forget. We love it a lot.Once in a lifetime experiance

Goya

(About local Lufuno )

14 December 2024

I met Lulu at the Pata Pata restaurant that is beautiful decorated as all places we went . She is brilhant and vibrating with what she likes to do more : working and presenting live culture from Johannesburg. I recommend her a lot . Thanks Lulu for everything !Walking tour with a specialist

Ana🇧🇷 Brazil

(About local Lufuno )

9 December 2024

Lufuno was our guide in Johannesburg! We had a short time to explore the city, so we visited the Apartheid Museum and went to Soweto for a traditional local meal. Lufuno is extremely pleasant and vibrant; we had great moments to cherish as memories. We loved every second of this experience! We were a group of 4 (2 adulta and 2 children) and the kids really enjoyed it. I highly recommend her and her partner as guides in Johannesburg. We hope to return again soon. ♥️Creating family memories

Christian🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Lufuno )

5 December 2024

The day with Lulu was really amazing! We visited South Africa for 10 days.. but actually we really learned the real local view at our last day .. while exploring Jo'burg together with Lulu :) So energetic and friendly. It was really safe exploring the city with her. Many thanks!!Amazing Experience

Rolf🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Lufuno )

14 November 2024

We have really seen and learned a lot within a few hours. Great experience covering pick up at hotel , sight seeing in Soweto and Joburg, learning about historic and political background as well as lunch selection. Very interesting. Glad we selected Lufuno. Highly recommended.Super Guide for Joburg and Soweto

Nicola🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Lufuno )

12 November 2024

Our party was a couple from the UK for various reasons we had an air of trepidation before meeting Lufuno however at ‘hello’ she made us feel very welcome & safe that was further endorsed when at the first stop we were served with the greatest cup of coffee we’d had the pleasure to experience! Lulu’s passion, experience & engagement is very infectious, there’s a wealth of knowledge in her replies which we agreed were very honest, nothing is left on the table which is very refreshing. The tasting sessions were excellent, we tried food that previously was not on our radar & the venues just added to the experience. Lulu even immersed us into the rituals of getting married in South Africa & we loved entering into the spirit of things! A fantastic day, we met as strangers & left as friends, her knowledge, passion & empathy is amazing and she crated one of the highlights of our holiday Thank you Lulu keep being amazing Amazing Guide and Tour

Joe🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lunga)

1 November 2024

Lungs was timely, professional, and went above and beyond to make sure our trip was enjoyable. He guided us to all the spots we wanted to see and navigated around Johannesburg smoothly, ensuring we felt safe and comfortable the entire time. Communication was clear, and he was responsive to our requests, showing flexibility in adapting the itinerary to our preferences. One small note is that we weren’t expecting both a driver and a guide, which sometimes made it challenging to hear both of them at once. A single guide would have been ideal, but Lunga’s dedication and the level of service made up for it. It was wonderful getting to know him, and we’re grateful for the care he took in showing us the highlights of Johannesburg. Highly recommended!Good time for 1 day around Jo-Burg

Hala🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Lufuno )

30 October 2024

Lufuno (or Lulu as you will come to call her) was an exceptional guide. She is extremely knowledgeable, very friendly, and will tailor your experience based on your interests. She will also ensure that you are safe and comfortable. We were taken to Soweto, Apartheid Museum, and Mai Mai to name a few. It was a highly authentic experience. Hire her for your tour, you will not regret it! I learned so much, laughed so much, and danced so much. She is the best of Johannesburg

Pete🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lufuno )

22 October 2024

We had a wonderful time tasting the food and learning the history of Johannesburg during our time with Lufuno. Her energy and happiness were welcome and her knowledge about the foods and their cultural significance was enlightening. She is a fantastic resource for all things around Johannesburg as she offered other recommendations on how to spend our time in the city.Perfect mix of food and history

Pete🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lunga)

21 October 2024

Our time with Lunga was very rewarding. The start of our tour was interrupted by a spring time rain shower but Lunga was very flexible, finding a quiet spot, out of the rain, to provide us with a verbal history of Johannesburg. He provided a rich overview of the past history and the current struggles of his home. Once the rain passed, Lunga got us out among the locals who were making the most of their Sunday night. He took us to many places that we would not have found on our own and provided context and explanations along the way. Lunga's hopes and dreams for his country are evident as is his pride in his home. Having a wonderful guide like Lunga is a gift. We cherished our time with him and came away with a deep understanding and faith in the city of Johannesburg.A realistic and optimistic history of Jozy

Eline🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Lufuno )

16 October 2024

We had an amazing day. The Johannesburg we read about as being dangerous, a place to leave as soon as possible changed into one of the most welcoming cities we’ve been to. With beautiful sites, wonderful people and amazing food. Lufuno picked us up at the apartheid museum. We went to experience a braai, get to play dress up, see the nice art in Mamboneng. After this we cycled through Soweto and experienced the wonderful tradition of washing your car (even if you don’t have one). Lufuno was very delightful, fun and full of the right energy. Best introduction to SA we could wish for!

Jeri

(About local Lunga)

11 October 2024

Lunga took me places no white person should ever go alone. i got to try on a Zulu bridal hat, eat meat not available at home, understand lots about Zulu culture, see Gandhi and Mandela's brginnings, see the downtown as well as much more. Lunga spent extra time and answered all my questions. By the end we were friends. It was time that exceeded my expectations.what an afternoon

pamela🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lufuno )

8 October 2024

Lufuno was an absolute joy to spend the day with! I learned so much about Johannesburg, Soweto and the history and culture of South Africa. It was a jammed-packed day; yet. also relaxing and chill. She also personalized the tour and accommodated spontaneous changes I had while we were out and about. Lufuno’s knowledge is beyond what one could ever read about - it was extraordinary! I highly recommend Lufuno for all tours!Quintessential Tour Guide

Rovia🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lufuno )

3 October 2024

Had a great time Once in a lifetime experience Great time

Kluei🇹🇭 Thailand

(About local Lufuno )

30 September 2024

Lufuno is a very caring, trustworthy tour guide. She took care of my mom very well that I booked her for two consecutive days. When my mom returned on the first day, she was very happy to see Soweto and hear stories from Lufuno. She was so pleased and requested to have Lufuno be her tour guide on the second day. Although this is the first time my mom and I met with Lufuno, she took care of my mom as if she were her own mom, which made me feel very comfortable. I am grateful and sincerely appreciate Lufuno. I would recommend everyone who reads my review to book Lufuno to be your tour guide while you are in Joburg. You will get to see places normal tours would not take you too with a professional touch Lufuno provides you by her nature. Fantastic Lufuno

Rachele

(About local Lufuno )

19 September 2024

When reaching out to Lufuno I had specified my boyfriend and I were not interested in purely touristic places and I also told her that I had been disappointed by a tour in Soweto and wanted to see the real township. She was the most amazing guide: after an informative tour in Maboneng, she drove us to Soweto and during the drive she showed us different places in the city we were interested about and told us a bit about local perceptions over the city and the country. When we arrived to Soweto we had the most welcoming and interesting experience, as I had asked her we walked a lot in the township, met a lot of nice and welcoming people and completely felt within the vibe of the community! We got to see a glimpse of the real Soweto off-tracks while enjoying an interesting conversation and atmosphere that went also beyond the scheduled time! We were also offered the chance to do a sunset hike but unfortunately we had another event schedule, but it will be for the next time!!! thank you so much Lufuno :)Personalized tour in the real Soweto

Alice🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Lufuno )

14 September 2024

The tour with Lufuno was like being with a friend who shows you her hometown. Her tour was informative, but also fun. Lufuno and her boyfriend took great care of our group of 7 people and made us feel like we were experiencing the real Joburg. Thank you!!!Fun & informative

Roger🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lufuno )

13 September 2024

We had a wonderful time with Lufuno. She took us to eat in places we certainly would not have found or tried on our own. She straightforwardly pointed out the good and bad aspects of the neighborhood we were in and answered all our questions in a cheerful and easy to understand manner. I would definitely recommend her! One note about timing. We went out at 4 pm. Many shops close (and the sun sets) around 6 pm, and so our last stop the city felt a little empty. You might consider starting out earlier.Truly memorable experience!

Marion🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Lufuno )

4 September 2024

Lufuno ist an extraordinary good guide. We enjoyed EVERY minute of our Maboneng Tour. We became a perfect insight of this part of Jo-Burg. She showed us some hidden gems and we visited different local shops and tried excellent local food. We got a very good insight of the positive, as well as the negative aspects of life in Maboneng. Highly recommended! Join a tour with this amazing woman. Just try yourself. You won’t be disappointed. Thank you very much Lufuno! Amazing experience!

Konnie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lunga)

4 September 2024

This was our first experience with WithLocals and we couldn’t be happier. Lunga was an absolute delight; so very knowledgeable, a great storyteller and historian. We got an up close and personal view of culture and life in Johannesburg, tasted special treats and saw so many amazing pieces of street art. We wouldn’t have ventured out on our own, but felt very safe with Lunga. We got a once-in-a-lifetime experience and are so very grateful!Amazing Experience!

Stefan

(About local Lunga)

31 August 2024

What an impressive tour we had with Lunga. a tour you can't miss if you go to South Africa. Lunga, most hospital, took us by foot through the history of J burg. This tour gives you the history, you feel the pain of what has happened and at the same time shows you what a beautifull and colourfull people live in J burg. Nothing but respect for Lunga with his nowledge and hospitality. thank you so much that you have given us insight in the real world and past of Johannesburg. we'll never forget this.Must do for an honest view of J- burg

Christin🇳🇴 Norway

(About local Lufuno )

30 August 2024

We had a very special day in Maboneng with party and sightseeing. The next day, sightseeing in and around Soweto. Good food, drinks, excellent guiding. Really felt well and safe all the time. Met a lot of interesting people, great views, great vibes 😎. Will absolutely recommend Lufuno for guided tours in Johannesburg if you want to see the real city- off the classic tourist tracks.Wonderful experience in Joburg and Soweto