There is something about South Africa that makes it so very appealing to people of all ages and from all corners of the globe.

There is so much history tied to our rainbow nation that we should explore and be proud of.

Soweto is one of these places. Originally an acronym for "South Western Townships", it is a cluster of townships across a vast area 20 kilometres south-west of Johannesburg.

With so many heritage sites to see, there is never a shortage of tourists in the most well known township in the world.

Soweto - a history

Soweto dates back to 1904 and was known then as Klipspruit. The township was to house mainly black miners away from the city centre. In the 1950s, more "black" people were relocated there as the inner city soon became reserved for "white" occupation.

The acronym "Soweto" was adopted in 1963.

The township grew very quickly with black labourers choosing to move from the rural to urban areas and seek fortune in the city of gold.

Rich in political history, this township is synonymous in the fight against apartheid. One incident that stands out the most for everyone is the Soweto Uprising in 1976. All eyes were on Soweto.

The students were in an uproar as the then Afrikaaner government was planning to enforce education in Afrikaans rather than English.

The mass protests consisted of about 10 000 students marching from Naledi High School to Orlando Stadium.

Police opened fire on the students and many died. One boy that stood out was Hector Pieterson, who was shot dead by police. The famous picture of his lifeless body being carried by mourning youths has come to symbolize the 1976 Uprisings. This photo shook the country and the world.

Interesting info:

Mbuyisa Makhubo, the eighteen year old school boy who carried the wounded body of Hector Pieterson in a famous photograph by Sam Nzima, was harassed by the security services, and was forced to flee South Africa.

A picture speaks a thousand words. Photo by Sam Nzima

After his mother received a letter from him in 1978, they have not heard from him since...

Did this give you goose bumps? Wouldn't it be amazing to stand in the very place that all of this occurred?

If you prefer to explore your surroundings in a way that you have never done before, we have some exciting news for you!

Soweto Bicycle Tours

Lebo's Soweto Bicycle Tours has expanded recently thanks to Lebo's Soweto Backpackers and The Soweto Hotel on Freedom Square.

Taking advantage of the vast amount of tourist that come through this township, they have made exploring it all the more interesting.

The bicycle tours start at the Soweto Hotel and take tourists around the streets of Soweto with a local guide at the helm.

According to Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo, the general manager of the Soweto Hotel, "The tours are a sure fire way to keep the guests happy for longer."

What has the response been like so far?

The tours are very popular among people of all ages. It is an amazing way to discover history and engage with people.

The best part about it is that you are discovering a real town with real people and this makes it very different to a museum tour.

Each of the bicycle tours are different as life in Soweto is very unpredictable. (In a good way of course). It is also great for a team-building weekend.

"We have eighteen celebs from Generations coming to do the bicycle tour with their family very soon" says Lindiwe.

The cost of a bike tour starts from R250 and depends on the amount of hours you would like to spend exploring Soweto.

For more information visit their website.

"Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit." - Frank Borman

Take his advice and explore today!