The Bo-Kaap

The Cape Town by Foot tour, starts off at the clock tower in the V & A Waterfront and from here the first stop is the Bo-Kaap area.

The Bo-Kaap is known for its colourful houses and a rich cultural background.  The story goes that in the olden days the men of this area, used to travel down the street to the docks, where they would often get very drunk.  Obviously in this state it is hard to find your own home, thus the reason for all the vibrant colours.  It was so that they could recognize their own homes.

As time passed by and different communities moved into this area, they just kept up with the tradition of painting their homes in all these vibrant colours.  Today, the street are still layed out in cobblestones with the bright colours of the rainbow captured in all of the little houses.

 As part of the tour, you visit one of the oldest homes in this area which has been turned into a museum.  This museum captures the history of the different cultures that were brought into the Cape.  The whole museum is filled with the different metalwork and woodwork crafts that were used in the past.  The origin of the Kaapse Klopse is also captured here.  This culture originated on the 1st of January, when the slaves would have their 1 day of freedom.  On this day they would dress up in bright colours and it actually started out as a mockery of their masters.  Today, this day is a celebration of the new year and it has turned into a huge festival that is very much a part of the Cape Malay culture, and the culture of Cape Town at large.

  After this visit, you walk up to the Biesmiellah restaurant to taste some of the original foods made by the Cape Malay people.  There is a wide variety of choices but on this visit, we tasted the milk tarts.  It is a kind of pudding, with a custard texture, sweet and topped off with a hint of cinnamon.

This then ends the first part of the tour in the Bo-Kaap.  Next up, is our walk along Long street and a visit to all the fascinating places that lines this street.

 

Tabel Mountain Hike

Set off from the base station of Table Mountain Cable Way on this hiking tour to the top of this impressive natural wonder. Listen to some of the mountain’s fascinating history, which is both a nature reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, as you start climbing the stone steps to the contour road leading to Plattekloof Gorge.

Admire the many awesome rock faces that adorn the gorge, before tackling the stone-stepped path leading to the summit some 600m above. Enjoy the pace of this moderate climb, stopping to catch your breath, and soaking up the breathtaking views, as often as our pace requires.

Continue the climb for roughly two hours to reach the flat top of the mountain. This is one of the world’s most stunning natural landmarks, and views from the top are sure to impress. Soak it all up before walking 10 minutes to the Top Cable Way Station to refresh with a cool drink. Set off at a relaxed pace on the 90-minute round trip walk to Maclear's Beacon. This walk is mainly on flat terrain and will give you great insight into the vegetation found on this flattop mountain. Admire the stunning views that take in the majestic False Bay, the sweep of the Cape Winelands far in the distance and the dramatic Cape of Good Hope.

From up here you can get a bird’s eye view of the entire peninsula with the ocean lapping around the cape far below. Arrive back at the Top Cable Way Station for the best final views of the Twelve Apostles, Atlantic Sea Board, Clifton beaches and Robben Island. The rotating cable car will entertain you with lasting vistas of Table Bay and Cape Town while descending the mountain. Relax back at the bottom of the mountain, where this unique Cape Town walking tour comes to an end.

Township Walking Experience

Set off on an adventure into the heart of the real Cape Town. Get acquainted with the sights, sounds and smells of the city with a walk around the iconic Grand Parade, the city’s main public square. Learn about Apartheid’s segregation policies, discover iconic District Six and grab the chance to a take a picture of City Hall. It was here, on the famous balcony, that Nelson Mandela made his freedom speech in 1990.

 
Bid farewell to the bustle of the inner city and climb aboard a commuter taxi, complete with typical local music and fellow South African passengers, for a drive to Gugulethu. Pay a visit to the Gugulethu Seven Memorial, which remembers the dark days of apartheid, then stroll down Main Road to soak up the vibrant atmosphere, complete with street vendors, Spaza shops and hairdressers doing business from decorated steel containers. Get to know the Xhosa people, who live in squatter camps and have come from rural South Africa to make a new life in Cape Town.


Experience firsthand the African concept of ‘ubuntu’ – a shared or communal way of life – which is intrinsic to these communities.  Call by a pre-school to meet the township’s children and listen to their contagious rhythm and song.  Enjoy a drink at a local shebeen, where there’s plenty of time to listen to Kwaito music or play a round or two of pool.  For the brave, there’s even the chance to try freshly brewed umqombothi, a traditional Xhosa beer that is made from maize and has a thick and slightly gritty consistency.  Feast on a traditional South African ‘braai’ (barbecue) at one of city’s favourite hotspots – Mzoli’s – before bidding farewell to Gugulethu.  Call by the scenic Victoria & Alfred Waterfront before heading back into the bustle of downtown Cape Town.

Cape Town by Foot.

Start the adventure among the sights along the V&A Waterfront, before jumping in a taxi, complete with typical local music, for the trip into the colourful Bo-Kaap area. Formerly known as the Malay Quarter, this place was born out of South Africa’s slave era, when the Dutch brought slaves from Asia to work in the city. Today, it is famous for its candy coloured buildings, cobblestone streets and rich multicultural heritage.

Pay a visit to the Bo-Kaap Museum, located in the area’s oldest house, to learn more about this fascinating place and to discover the cultural contribution made by early Muslim settlers. Call by a spice shop to discover the many treasures on offer, and perhaps try one of the area’s spicy snacks, from flavourful samoosas to fiery meat skewers.

Take a walk down Long Street, with its collection of restaurants, bars and clubs, and get the insider’s scoop on the best places to return to once the sun has set. Continue on through the Company Gardens, a region that once supplied fresh fruit, vegetables and meat to passing ships, and where some of the original trees remain. Soak up the idyllic surrounds, complete with fragrant rose plantations and abundant bird and plant life, before stopping to admire the impressive parliament houses.

Grab a cold drink and a quick look at the range of curious shops lining Green Market Square, then it’s time to continue on down St Georges Mall Street and into the heart of downtown Cape Town. End the adventure on a sweet smelling note, with a visit to the impressive Flower Market, which has been in operation for over 100 years, before bidding farewell to the streets and heading back to the V&A Waterfront.