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A big treasure in Johannesburg!

The Alexandra Township Tour was an absolute highlight off the beaten track! Moya is an excellent... read more

Reviewed 11 September 2024
Kirsten B
,
Dresden, Germany
Brilliant tour

Visitor from the UK. Booked a personal tour with Ms Mandy for myself and my 12 year old daughter... read more

Reviewed 11 August 2024
I3613BPtimm
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Reviewed 19 March 2019 via mobile

Wow! What an incredible day we had with Mandy during our tour of Soweto and the apartheid museum. From the moment we met her in the reception at our hotel we knew that it was going to be a great day!! And that it was! One of the highlights of our 2 week stay in SA in fact! A brilliant tour which aims to get you a bit more off the beaten track, they use local guides to show you around some of the severely deprived areas of Soweto including a quick house visit which was fascinating. Mandy was full of knowledge and always had an answer to all of our questions. Highly recommended! Until next time, Mandy :)

Date of experience: March 2019
Thank shanedannatt
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
imbizotours, Guest Relations Manager at Imbizo Tours, responded to this reviewResponded 14 October 2019

Hi Shane, Such wonderful feedback means a lot to us, Ms Mandy asked we share her love and to thank you for choosing Imbizo Tours. We honestly can't wait to see you again not too far from today. Thank you, and don't forget to tell a friend

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Reviewed 17 March 2019

What a memorable day for us. My colleague and I are from Texas and have six students in South Africa for a conference. Mandy and her team were amazing through the entire process of securing the tour. The day of our tour was one in which our students had their lives changed. Mandy showed us the area and allowed our students to see the many sides of the city. For the students to witness so much of the history and current state of the area was eye opening. Mandy was so wonderful with the students by asking questions, challenging their thinking, and being a friend. We are so appreciative and thankful for Imbizo Tours along with Mandy, Emmanuel, and Delone. THANK YOU!!!

Date of experience: March 2019
Thank ISLSouthafrica2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
imbizotours, Guest Relations Manager at Imbizo Tours, responded to this reviewResponded 19 March 2019

Hi Texas Family, From Mandy and the Team, thank you for your wonderful review. This is the reason we love waking up every morning and sharing our knowledge and passion for people like you and the students. You will all always have a place in our heart, We can't wait to see you again with new students to also experience what these girls have experienced especially in an African Township. Thank you and we trust you will enjoy your conference.

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Reviewed 12 February 2019

As a French TV crew we visited Soweto with Mandy. She introduced us to many people and old Miriam Makeba's friends, helped to visit significant places, told us many stories and took us in a typical Soweto shebeen. Very helpful and interesting! Thank you Mandy!

Date of experience: January 2019
Thank Sonia D
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
imbizotours, Guest Relations Manager at Imbizo Tours, responded to this reviewResponded 14 October 2019

Hi Sonia, thank you for using and choosing Imbizo Tours to assist with your documentary, We pride ourselves in being authentic and having the ability to make anything happen for our clients. You always welcomed to come back again. Thank you

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Reviewed 3 February 2019

We arranged with Imbizo tours for two days in Joburg--one in the city + Soweto and a second day in the Cradle of Humankind. Never having traveled to SA before, we knew we were in good hands when Tati arrived at our hotel right on time with his car and driver. We received exactly what we'd hoped for--not just a cruise around buildings and parks, but an education in the striking contrasts of modern South Africa. Entering
the huge district of Soweto, we first visited the upscale California neighborhood, where residents who have succeeded in business have built their luxury homes as a sign of their commitment to the area. Moving on to Freedom Square, we visited the lobby of the beautiful four-star Soweto Hotel before starting our walking tour of Kliptown, the informal settlement directly below it. We were very pleased that Imbizo engaged a local organizer to provide this tour, including a small direct payment that we are sure will be used for the benefit of residents. This was in stark contrast to the large tourist buses that whizzed by, stopping only to snap a photo of Kliptown from above.

The following day we opted for the Cradle of Humankind and Sterkfontein caves, and again were provided excellent service from Delone, who not only drove but provided insight into this lovely country area of Gauteng and its important anthropological discoveries.

Overall, we were thrilled with our two days and only wish it could have been more. Imbizo was easy to contact by email and prompt to respond with a quote. Do be prepared to pay your guide in cash at the end of the tour unless you've made previous arrangements (they can stop at a safe ATM for you) and let them know what customizations you'd like, including more or less time at certain stops or a drink or lunch break. Working with this local company will surely give you far more insight into SA than a basic "highlights" tour.

Date of experience: January 2019
1  Thank R0ckRidge
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
imbizotours, Guest Relations Manager at Imbizo Tours, responded to this reviewResponded 14 October 2019

Hello, we honestly can't thank you enough for this amazing review. We strive to provide smooth and excellent service at all times and are truly happy to hear you were satisfied and we doing this right. Thank you and please don't forget to see us when you come to South Africa again.

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Reviewed 3 January 2019

Seeing Soweto up close and personal was a truly memorable experience and I'm so glad we did it. As advised by the Rough Guides, we requested a tour with Mandy and did the Apartheid Museum in the morning and then a tour of Soweto in the afternoon. Despite hearing bad things about Soweto, we felt safe at all times.

It was special to have been given such an up-close and personal tour by Mandy, who was brought up in Soweto. We learned a lot and found the experience draining emotionally, physically and intellectually - which just made it all the more worth it.

Imbizo were also able to drop us back at the airport as part of the tour. We were only sad not to have been shown the Soweto brewery as promised when we booked.

Date of experience: December 2018
1  Thank dayseye8
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mandy Mankazana, Owner at Imbizo Tours, responded to this reviewResponded 8 October 2024

Thank you for your heartfelt review! We’re delighted to hear that your experience in Soweto was unforgettable and that you felt safe throughout your tour. Mandy truly brings a unique perspective to her tours, sharing her personal insights and experiences that make the visit all the more meaningful.

We appreciate your feedback regarding the Soweto brewery, and we apologize for not including it in your itinerary. We always strive to provide a comprehensive experience, and your input will help us improve our tours in the future.

Thank you for choosing Imbizo Tours, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Soweto!

Warm regards,
The Imbizo Tours Team

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