Alexandra
Alexandra
3
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This bustling community is well-known for being the first place where Nelson Mandela owned a home.
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3.0
51 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
10
Average
7
Poor
6
Terrible
18
nephilimx
Adelaide, South Australia7 contributions
Apr 2014 • Solo
Its hard to put a overall rating for this township, on onehand its so poor that they have the Alexandra cultural area (mandela house and a huge empty building) not shown with no signage what so ever. Yet on the overhand you get to see how people lived 25 years ago before Apartheid ended.
Area is easy to get too, its a 11rand trip from MTN Taxirank in hillbrow. The taxi ends at the "steps" which is the Alexandra mall. Inside you have a supermarket, fashion, mc donalds and kfc. Its safe with a dozen off guards patrolling.
From there you can explore the township, its about a 15min walk to the local soccer stadium, from there you can explore. Once your off the main road you will see the shacks and homemade brick houses.
Area has a insane amount of backyard bars, literally one every 5mins of walking. You will see children playing with home made toys made of wire and bits of bob, and kicking really old soccer balls.
Children would greet me with "hello white guy", its pretty obvious that many tourists do not walk in this area.
Mandela house/room is just a small bricked wall, people are currently living in it, so you cannot see inside which is a pity.
I would recommend visiting for a few hours, but just be really steetsmart. But your money in your moneybelt/sock, I wouldnt be taking a 1000USD camera around your neck.
Area is easy to get too, its a 11rand trip from MTN Taxirank in hillbrow. The taxi ends at the "steps" which is the Alexandra mall. Inside you have a supermarket, fashion, mc donalds and kfc. Its safe with a dozen off guards patrolling.
From there you can explore the township, its about a 15min walk to the local soccer stadium, from there you can explore. Once your off the main road you will see the shacks and homemade brick houses.
Area has a insane amount of backyard bars, literally one every 5mins of walking. You will see children playing with home made toys made of wire and bits of bob, and kicking really old soccer balls.
Children would greet me with "hello white guy", its pretty obvious that many tourists do not walk in this area.
Mandela house/room is just a small bricked wall, people are currently living in it, so you cannot see inside which is a pity.
I would recommend visiting for a few hours, but just be really steetsmart. But your money in your moneybelt/sock, I wouldnt be taking a 1000USD camera around your neck.
Written 26 April 2014
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.
MIchamisi
Pretoria, South Africa5 contributions
If you want to see how the rest of South Africans live
Written 9 February 2012
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.
Tolga_O
London, UK123 contributions
Feb 2011
Nelson Mandela has 3 houses I know of in Jo'burg. One in SOWETO, one in Alexandra and one mansion in a rather rich neighborhood. It shows how well he progressed in life...
Alexandra is worth a brief visit with a guide to give you an idea how some people on Jo'burg live.
Alexandra is worth a brief visit with a guide to give you an idea how some people on Jo'burg live.
Written 14 February 2011
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.
Esme H
Hondeklip Bay3 contributions
In current violent conditions in South Africa, it is not advisable to visit. You are surely putting yourself into danger.
Written 18 February 2013
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.
Jonathan J
Roodepoort, Gauteng, South Africa22 contributions
The area is dangerous even for the people who live there. The demographics are diverse but sadly the people live in unfavourable conditions and on some occasions might be hostile given certain situations.
Written 3 March 2013
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.
ChrisB16
Johannesburg, South Africa140 contributions
Dec 2012
Anybody with commonsense will avoid this place like the plague. Its not save it looks like a pigs stall even worse .
Written 17 January 2013
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.
SashaSimitopoulos
Johannesburg, South Africa174 contributions
Dec 2012 • Business
I live in JHB and i would not go! Not at all...
It is dangerous!
I have done an organised tour of Soweto- that is a much better bet.
This should actually be removed from Trip Advisor.
It is dangerous!
I have done an organised tour of Soweto- that is a much better bet.
This should actually be removed from Trip Advisor.
Written 4 December 2012
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.
Anna B
Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa367 contributions
Sept 2012 • Business
An extremely disadvantaged township, very crowded and filthy. Has to be seen to be believed. I would not recommend it as an attraction, especially not to foreign visitors, but I think that all South Africans should see it, particularly those in positions of power and influence, but perhaps each one of us can do something small to alieviate conditions, e.g by supporting the schools and other services.
Written 8 September 2012
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.
Zaq R
12 contributions
Mar 2014 • Business
I do not even know why this would show on trip advisor. Do not go there this is one of the worst part of towns, and there is nothing to see
Written 7 March 2014
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.
Sasha N
Johannesburg, South Africa25 contributions
This is a township where people are poverty stricken and should not be treated as a zoo.
Written 10 April 2012
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.
Voglio sapere Alex durante la Seconda Guerra mondiale cosa era e cosa c'era.
Written 17 September 2019
Hallo
Alexandra ist das aller aelteste Township in Johannesburg. Alle die nach Johannesburg kamen zum arbeiten sind nach Alexandra erst gelanded und spaeter nach Soweto. Politiker wie Mandela hatten ihr erste zuhause in Alexandra.
Um dieses Land besser zu verstehen muss man Alexandra auch gesehen haben. Natuerlich bittet Alexandra keine schoene Sehenswuerdikeiten, aber da leben Menschen dort und sie haben Kultur.
Written 18 December 2015
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