Lebo’s Soweto Bicycle Tours

Lebo's Soweto Backpackers is a long-established lodge and tour base on Pooe Street in Orlando West, and its bicycle tours are one of the most popular ways for visitors to explore Soweto. Riding through the streets at a gentle pace lets you see everyday township life up close, greet people along the way and stop wherever something catches your eye, which is very different from viewing Soweto through the window of a minibus.

Tours are offered by bicycle, by tuk-tuk and on foot. Bicycle tours come in several lengths, from a two-hour ride to a half-day of about four hours and a full day of around eight hours, so you can choose how much ground to cover. Routes pass through Orlando West and along Vilakazi Street, home to Mandela House, as well as quieter back streets. The tuk-tuk tour is an interactive alternative for anyone who would rather not cycle, and it also heads into the back streets. Tours end back at the lodge, where you can try a bunny chow, the hollowed-out loaf filled with curry that is a South African favourite.

The tours suit active travellers, families with older children, students and anyone who wants a more personal, local view of Soweto. Traffic and road surfaces vary, so you should be comfortable on a bike; ask for a tuk-tuk or walking tour if you are not. Guides share stories of the township's history and of life in Soweto today.

Book ahead through the website's Experience Soweto page or by phone. Wear comfortable clothes and closed shoes, use sunscreen and carry water, especially in summer. The lodge offers occasional specials, such as discounts for children and couples, so check the website when booking. Tour guests who stay overnight get a discount on the bicycle tours.

Tours can be combined with a stay at the lodge, which makes it easy to start early.

Lebo's Soweto Backpackers also offers private and twin rooms, self-catering group facilities and the Lebo-Land camping site with chalets and tents, making it a good base for travellers who want to stay in Soweto itself. The lodge is about 20 kilometres south-west of central Johannesburg; most visitors arrive by car or ride-hailing app.