The 18th of July is just around the corner, and it marks an opportunity to give back to your communities and the less fortunate. The 18th of July is Nelson Mandela Day, marking the day he was born and encouraging everyone to uplift others as he had. And to celebrate his legacy City Sightseeing Johannesburg gives you the opportunity to nominate someone deserving of a free bus ride with our Pay it Forward competition, and encourages you to visit one of our many attractions Nelson Mandela is prominent in.

Image Source: http://leadwithhumanity.co.za/

Pay it Forward this Mandela Day

On Sunday the 18th everyone will dedicate 67 minutes of their time to helping others in their communities, representing the 67 years Mandela served our country. Dedicate time out of your day to tell us about someone in your community who really deserves a day out. Like the nurse who works overtime, or the aunty who’s always available no matter the time of day, and the granny down the street taking care of all the children in the neighbourhood, the teacher who goes all out for the kids, or just someone who’s really struggling right now.

These are the everyday heroes who deserve a trip onboard the City Sightseeing Red Bus. Follow this link to submit the name of your nominee, as well as why you think they deserve to win a day out with us. There are 67 sets of twin one-day bus tickets to give away. Nominations close at 18h00 on the 18th of July 2019 (Mandela Day), and the winners will be announced before the 31st of July.

Image Source: Constitution Hill

Celebrate Mandela Day with City Sightseeing

Book your red bus ticket online on Nelson Mandela Day to walk in his footsteps. Take a trip across Johannesburg with us, and we’ll recommend a few of our best Nelson Mandela related spots for you to hop off at. Keep your map and timetable on hand to know just when and where to hop on and hop off.

Take a trip through past, present and future at Constitution Hill

Hop off the bus at STOP 5 for the interchange point from one route to the next, but also to find Constitution Hill. Constitution Hill stands as a memorial to the events of Apartheid and the victims who endured them. It gives visitors a look into our present and our future and speaks of the respect we owe our fellow man.

Constitution Hill has housed many famous prisoners over the years, including Gandhi, Winnie Mandela, and Nelson Mandela himself. The Fort, the Woman’s Prison, Number 4, and parts the Awaiting Trial Block still remain today to be explored. Visitors can also see the Constitution Court, which has been built from the bricks that made up the Awaiting Trial Block, to signify our transition into democracy and victory over the past.

Image Source: Culture Trip

Get an in-depth glimpse in Apartheid at the Apartheid Museum

Hop on the bus again to head to STOP 14, where you’ll find the Apartheid Museum. It stands as a testament to the struggles of Apartheid and takes you on a journey through the years, right up until the process of reconciliation.

It’s an emotional journey, providing insight into the everyday lives of South Africans as they lived under the harsh rules of Apartheid, and documents their struggles to free themselves from this state-enforced system of oppression and segregations. The museum houses 22 exhibitions, and by the end of the museum experience, visitors are encouraged to take a stone from a pile on the right and add them to the pile on the left, signifying their pledge to fight against racism or discrimination wherever they see it.

Image source: City Sightseeing

Visit Vilakazi on our Soweto Minibus Tour

The good news is you don’t have to travel far for this next attraction. Head back to STOP 13 to transfer to our Soweto minibus shuttle. This is your chance to go out on a guided tour of Soweto, from the iconic Orlando Towers to one of the largest hospitals in the world, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

But the main attraction on our Soweto tour for Mandela Day is definitely Vilakazi Street, where Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu once lived. You can visit the house where Nelson Mandela lived with his wife. Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu are just one of the many heroes to come out of Soweto. Soweto is famous for its past residents who stood up against the Apartheid regime, making it the strong community that it is today.

Make sure to buy your bus and soweto tour combo tickets online to gain access to the tour, which lasts for 2 hours.

Image source: http://www.gautengfilm.org.za/

Commemorate Nelson Mandela with City Sightseeing

Book your Red Bus tickets online to visit all our favourite prominent Nelson Mandela attractions. We live his legacy every day in our freedom and unity, and for one day we can live how he had, in service of others, striving to better the lives of his fellow man. Remember to check out our Winter specials, such as the 3 for 1 Kids special. With the kids riding on the bus for free, it’s easy to turn the day into commemoration for the whole family.