• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Take a walk off the beaten track, away from the tourist crowds, and see the real side of Johannesburg. On this private tour, go beyond the classic route and explore Maboneng where you’ll experience a different Johannesburg, like a local with a local by your side!

Destination

Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

2.5 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English

Included

• Private Guide
• 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 At the entrance of Pata Pata restaurant - 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. Off the Beaten Track

   Done with the main highlights of Johannesburg? Check out Maboneng. Explore a lesser-known part of the city that will give you a more authentic feel of Johannesburg. Check out Arts on Main, Kwa Mai Mai Market and more!

4. The Real Deal

   Let a local expert in the area you’ll visit show you their Johannesburg from a different perspective - away from the tourist traps. See street art, cultural hot spots, local vendors, hangout spots, and historical gems, and embrace the vibe!

5. Personalized Recommendations

   Want to explore more of the area after the tour? Your host is happy to recommend their favorite eateries and where to take a break while wandering in this vibrant area

6. Unique Plan

   Depending on your host, this tour will be experienced based on their knowledge, passion, and expertise. Pick a host that matches your interests and see their city through their eyes!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

Ignace

(About local Lufuno )

11 August 2024

Thank you Lufuno for the wonderful experience in Joburg before and after our safari trip in South Afrika. You guided us personally throughout Soweto and Joburg. The first days you proposed unique activities such as the Tuk Tuk tour with a typical African lunch, you arranged a private visit in the FNB World cup 2010 Stadion, we danced at the spiritual healer we visited, we got a 360 view on Soweto… And the last days you guided us safely through the different suburbs Newtown, Braamfontein, … with the special lunch in the Kwa Mai Mai market, the visit in Maboneng, .... A type of city which is somehow out of our comfort zone, but thanks to your experience we had full trust in the visit. Finally, a nice massage and manicure for Lieve’s birthday and a nice lunch with a marvolous view on Joburg from the Blueberry Hill top roof restaurant. We thank you for this wonderful time together, your honesty and your reliability. We really appreciated your passion for Joburg. Good luck in your future ambitions in the tourist sector!Thank you Lufuno !

davide🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Lufuno )

2 August 2024

Lulu is very kind, with a communicative and gentle approach. She gave us a deeply interesting view of Maboning. Lulu had let us get in touch with real life in Maboning and Johannesburg.Pleasant Maboneng tour

Rebecca

(About local Lufuno )

15 July 2024

Not sure if we love Johannesburg or Lulu more. We chose a walking tour through the Maboneng area of Johannesburg. From the moment we arrived, Lufuno made us feel part of the community. She understood what we wanted from the tour and brought us to a couple of cool Jazz bars, craft shops and art galleries. The Maboneng region is very colourful, fun and vibrant. We really felt like we were hanging out with the locals! We highly recommend Lulu as a host, she is full of local knowledge and has the most beautiful soul ❤️ We can't wait to spend more time in Johannesburg in the future. Lots of love from the Irish girls, Lauren and Rebecca ☺️✨️Fun, vibrant afternoon in Johannesburg ✨️

Joao 🇵🇹 Portugal

(About local Lufuno )

2 July 2024

A wonderful urban experience, an attentive guide who showed the best of Johannesburg in just a few hours, always in a relaxing and safe environment. Great job, congratulations Lufuno!Fantastic walking Johannesburg tour

Dennis🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Lufuno )

29 May 2024

We had a wonderful tour with Lufuno! She is a very warm hearted person and welcomed us openly. She’s been friendly from the very first second with us and gave us a deep look into her country and her culture. As Europeans we have been very curious as to see a part of the city with the eyes of a local and we thank Lulu very much for doing just that. Highly recommended!Amazing tour with great insights with Lulu

Evelyn

(About local Lufuno )

26 May 2024

Es war ein absoluter toller Tripp. Ich wurde von Lufuno abgeholt und sofort sehr herzlich begrüßt. Sie zeigte mir tolle Orte, die ich alleine niemals gesehen hätte. Ich hatte wirklich das Gefühl in Afrika zu sein. Lufuno kennt viele Menschen und alle sind freundlich. Lufuno gab mir einen tollen Einblick in ihr persönliches Leben. Es war einfach unglaublich speziell und wunderbar. Lufuno ist eine unglaubliche Frau. Vielen lieben Dank für diesen außergewöhnlichen Nachmittag. Amazing tour

qktpz85t8m🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lufuno )

19 May 2024

Could not be any happier with the experience of this tour. Lufuno was amazing. She explained traditional culture and customs. The local shops were a great experience that we would never have experienced on our own. I look forward to doing this again when we return and have more time. I would highly encourage everyone to do this while they are in Johannesburg. Must Do Experience!

Josh🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lufuno )

12 May 2024

Upon pick-up I was warmly welcomed in such a friendly manner, we had a fantastic start! The guide and tour was extremely good, very flexible (appreciate this!) and for that Lufuno deserves a special thanks. Lufuno has such a warm personality and is a highly motivated guide (recommendable!). I truly enjoyed walking around the city with her. She had a plethora of knowledge and had good relationships with many of the people in town. It makes for an extravagant experience as you walk through the city. I was fortunate enough to be taken to a monument site where they gave me a private tour as they told stories and explained deeper cultural beliefs. To include respecting mothers and how they embody "peace". If that wasn't amazing enough you'll be walked to a tower that will give you a 360 view of the city. This location also gives you a fantastic view of the sunsetting over the city. The atmosphere is so special that it really felt like home. I was told that your name is important because its something you should live up to. "Lufuno" means love, and she truly lives up to that name. Many thanks again and I recommend Lufuno to everyone!Extraordinary

qxj7v2qxkv

(About local Lufuno )

5 May 2024

When Lulù arrived to pick me up at the airport I immediately understood she was a special person, full of energy and enthusiastic about life and his hometown. She drove me to Maboneng like only Schumacher could do. Then we spend wonderful hours, she really knows the off beaten places. She talk me about Zulu culture and we had some shopping. Thank you for this experience, Lulù.Around Maboneng with Lulù

Jody🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lufuno )

20 April 2024

Lufuno was such a delight. She was warm, welcoming, knowledgeable and knew so many locals. We had a great time walking through Maboneng with her and would definitely recommend her tours!

Klaus

(About local Lufuno )

13 April 2024

Lufuno hat mit sehr großem Sachverstand die 2,5 stündige Führung gemacht. Es hat viel Freude gemacht. Ich kann jeden eine derartige Führung zu buchen.Großartige Führung

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

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!

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

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!

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

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 !!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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.