SOWETO is one of the most famous townships in the world. It holds a rich South African history and its people contributed a lot to the freedom of this country.
Soweto, home to millions, including prominent figures like the late Winnie Madikizela Mandela, is a place everyone should experience.
Intrepid Travel hosted a full-day tour to Soweto, giving us an authentic experience through the eyes of Sowetans, rather than the typical tourist perspective.
When people talk about visiting Soweto, they always mention Vilakazi Street, which is like the posh side of the township and doesn’t necessarily reflect the life of an ordinary Sowetan.
However, this tour was different. The tour, organized by Lebo's Backpackers in Orlando, commenced with a delectable breakfast of pap and potjie, a traditional meal for many Sowetans, dispelling the notion that pap is unsuitable for brunch.
If anything, it gives the people the strength they need to hustle through the day.
After the filling meal, the friendly staff gave us a tour to learn more about this popular attraction.
We first stopped at the garden, where they pick all the fresh vegetables to prepare meals for the guests. Near the garden is a camping site and when you go up the stairs, you can see the full view of Soweto, including the giant Orlando Stadium and the Soweto Towers.
Travelling by TukTuk around the hood was the fun part of the tour because every time we passed a group of children coming from school they would wave at us, which is another thing the people are known for: friendliness.
We drove from Orlando to Meadowlands, where we stopped for Inyama Yehloko (cow head meat) and a taste of the Soweto Gold beer. Prepared for a minimum of three hours, inyama yenhloko is a delicate in Soweto that is best paired with pap and umhluzo (soup from the meat).
It is not seasoned, you can add salt, aromat or chillies when tucking in. This meat is known as the best hangover cure because it has fat and is usually served hot.
After snacking, we headed to Mzimhlophe Hostel, formerly known as a male-only hostel for mine workers during apartheid. This hostel is now home to many families, including women and children.
The downside is the living conditions are not good. There is no proper sanitation and the sad part is that during the 2012 Fifa World Cup, apartments had been built for the community of Mzimhlophe Hostel but they were not able to move in because they could not afford the rent proposed by the municipality.
It has been 14 years and they have not reached an agreement. And to show that the people would’ve loved to live there, no vandalism has taken place because they believe that one day they will reach a consensus with the municipality and live in better conditions.
We then headed back to Lebo’s Backpackers for snacks, where other organisations like Black Mamba had come to join us.
Black Mamba is a female-led anti-poaching team that protects wildlife by patrolling the Kruger National area.
Through its foundation, Intrepid Travel has partnered with Black Mambas and The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust to curb rhino poaching and assist with female empowerment and education, as well as wildlife protection and community development.
“We believe that travel can be a powerful force for good, driving economic growth, creating jobs, and supporting local communities. Our 2030 strategy is designed to maximise the positive impact of tourism while minimising its environmental footprint,” said Darrell Wade, chairperson and co-founder of Intrepid Travel.
