Mandela House

Mandela House, located on the historic Vilakazi Street in Soweto, is the modest brick home where Nelson Mandela lived from 1946 to 1962. Now a museum, it offers an intimate glimpse into his early family life and political awakening. Visitors walk through rooms preserved with original furniture, photographs, and personal artifacts, including his boxing gloves and a letter from prison. The house stands as a symbol of resilience, surrounded by the vibrant energy of Soweto. The tour also covers the role of the house as a meeting place for anti-apartheid activists. A visit here is essential for understanding South Africa's journey to democracy.

Don't miss

• See Mandela's original bedroom with his personal belongings
• View the courtyard where he held secret meetings
• Examine photographs documenting his life from childhood to presidency
• Walk along Vilakazi Street, the only street in the world to have housed two Nobel laureates (Mandela and Desmond Tutu)
• Visit the nearby Hector Pieterson Memorial to learn about the 1976 Soweto Uprising

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Mandela House

Cheapest way inJohannesburg Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour with Soweto Option4.6★ · 871 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$19 per personSee dates →Best full daySoweto /Johannesburg and Apartheid Museum Guided Full Day Tour4.8★ · 1,068 travelers8–9 hoursFree cancellationFrom$120 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleMandela House Soweto Apartheid museum Joburg, Constitutional Hill5★ · 18 travelers~7 hoursFree cancellationFrom$94 per personSee dates →

Good for

How travelers rate it

Know before you go

• Photography is allowed inside, but no flash.
• Wear comfortable shoes for walking around Soweto.
• Carry cash for souvenirs and local guides.
• Combine with a Soweto tour to see other landmarks.

A bit of history

Mandela bought the house in 1946 after marrying Evelyn Mase. He lived here with his first wife and children until his arrest in 1962. The house was damaged by fire in 1985 but was restored and opened as a museum in 1997.