Things to Do in Cape Town
Welcome to Cape Town!
Voted the best on the continent (Africa) with the award "The World's Greatest City to Visit Right Now" and recently received from the Telegraph in the UK.
In the itinerary, we will visit some of the main highlights of the city, such as:
- green market square
- Old Newspaper House
- St George's Mall
- Berlin Wall
- St. George's Cathedral
- garden company
- tuynhuis
- slave lodgeI
- District Six Museum
- Groote Kerk Church
- The church square
- slave auction tree
- Welcome Center
- old barn
- castle of good hope
- City hall
- Big parade
- central Library
- food bazaar
- Flowers market
The meeting point is Central Methodist Church Coffee shop .
During the tour, I will be happy to answer all your questions. I would love to share with you my culture and memories, as well as the best kept secrets that some locals don't even know about.
I wait for you to accompany you and make you take home a great memory of my city! NB!!! THIS TOUR DOES EXPOSE A SENSITIVE HISTORICAL NARRATIVE OF SLAVERY AND APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA !! IT'S ALSO ADVISED TO VISITORS TO BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS , BECAUSE CRIMINALS ARE TARGETING CELLPHONES AND JEWELERY SO BE AWARE OF THIS CRIMINALITY . PLEASE STAY SAFE !! ALL TOURS ARE CONDUCTED IN ENGLISH ONLY .
Welcome to Cape Town!
Join me as we travel back in time to the Cape, to the years long before the stop offs by Portugues explorers and the arrival of the VOC / Dutch East India Company. Our journey explores the introduction of the Dutch Reform Church, the arrival of the first slaves, the proselytizing of Islam and the rise of Afrikaner Nationalism and the legislation of Apartheid in South Africa. Did you know that during the years of Apartheid, special courts were set up to reclassify South Africans who felt the need to appeal their race classification. This was very often in the case where families had been split. These reclassifications were based on a person's appearance, language, social circle and even food consumed.
Our visit to the Bo Kaap / Upper Cape traces its origins to the early days of the Dutch settlement and the growing need for low cost housing. Here we will discover the truth behind the colour houses and the reason for the clustering of Muslim families in a single nieghbourhood.
The Auwal Masjied, first Mosque in South Africa is situated here and you will also learn about its founder Prince Abdullah bin Qadi Abdusalaam aka Tuan Guru. The Bo-Kaap's colorful historic narrative is also the story of the Afrikaans language, from its earliest birthing as a kitchen Dutch to Arabic Afrikaans to one of South Africa's 12 official languages. Our walk includes stops at Bo-Kaap's famous Atlas Spice store, stockists of imported spices rice beans and seeds. Their variety of fynbos medicinal teas are practically world renowned. Also for a unique selection of scented candles and colorful Bo-Kaap printed fridge magnets amongst other, Noors home-based store is also a delightful stop. Experience has taught us that our taste buds have the best memory, so we've decided it necessary to conclude our time together tastefully by sampling a Koesister, a unique Cape Malay sweet treat for your send off.
In short, Cape Slavery Islam Apartheid and Colours Of The Bo-Kaap is a journey through a complex timeline of history peoples and politics, culture and custom, heritage and ultimately cuisine. No wonder we are called The Rainbow Nation.
Table Mountain, Robben Island, Bo Kaap... With this complete tour of Cape Town, we'll take you to see all the must-see sights of the famous South African city.
🌟 Cape Town's History and Stories: From Vines & Markets to Mandela
Walk through Cape Town’s streets and uncover a mix of history, culture, flavour, and quirky tales that make the Mother City so unique.
From the oldest living vine in the Southern Hemisphere (1771) to Bunny Chow and vibrant markets, Gothic churches turned coffee shops, and Mandela’s historic balcony — this tour is a journey through time with a taste of today.
🌟 Highlights
🍇 The 1771 vine, still producing wine today
🚶 Bree Street – voted one of the world’s coolest streets in 2024
🛍️ Greenmarket Square – farmers’ market turned African art hub
⛪ Gothic-style Methodist Church with a coffee shop
💐 Trafalgar Place & the colourful flower sellers
🏢 Mutual House – Art Deco gem with a fascinating past
🍛 Taste a local Bunny Chow at Eastern Bazaar
⏰ City Hall with “Baby Ben” & Mandela’s statue
📖 District Six Museum & stories of resilience
☕ Truth Coffee – steampunk and world-famous brews
🙏 Groote Kerk & the Slave Lodge
🪡 Spin Street’s silkworm frenzy
🌈 The Arch for the Arch, honouring Desmond Tutu
🏛️ Parliament, Tuynhuys & Queen Victoria
🌳 Mulberry & Pear Saffron trees, silent witnesses of history
👉 Why join this tour?
Cape Town is about flavours, voices, and stories and we are giving you the perfect mix of history and food. Come and join - we are waiting..........See you soon!
Please Note:
Do you want to see the best of Cape Town? How about some hidden gems? Anything is possible on this private tour! Join me and discover the city center and its unique districts. See the real side of Cape Town.
Welcome to Cape Town!
We begin our journey at Bokaap museum located at71 Wale Street where we discuss the origins of the Bo-kaap. Our adventure then takes us by the Auwal Musjid which is the oldest in South Africa established in1794 .
Along the way we pass by the Noorul islam mosque est. 1834 before indulging a koesiester which is a local treat. Then walking down to the streets with all the colourful houses Chiappini street. We then make our way towards Cape Town’s renouned spice shop, Atlas, where you will smell the fragrences of spices used in authentic Cape Malay cuisine. These spices were not only used by the enslaved for themselves but introduced into the dishes prepared for colonial owners sparking a culinary fusion. No tour is complete without a visit toye Bokaap helpers garden a community initiative to feed the needy.
From here we take a walk down rose street known for the famous Bokaap deli that won best breakfast in Cape town 2 years in a row. Other interesting establishments as well.
During the itinerary, I'll be happy to answer all your questions, doubts and curiosities about my beloved city.
All our tours are conducted in English.
We have 5 walking tours, each one of them focusing on a different topic and subject. Please make sure that the tour you intend to book is one that suits your interest.
If you are making a single booking for 1 person, there is a chance that your booking will be canceled should the minimum number of 2 persons not be reached.
We will be meeting outside the front door, on the pavement at Tanin resturant 86 Bree Street, Cape Town.
The guide will be wearing an official tourist guide badge.
Safe paid parking can be found at Heritage Square.
NB
- We will be walking on some uneven surfaces and there are some steps to climb as well, so please wear comfortable shoes.
- Make sure that each guest in your party has at least 500ml of water.
- For sunny days, a hat is recommended.
- For cloudy days, an umbrella or rainwear is recommended.
- Please be at the meeting point at least 10 minutes before the starting time.
- All our tours are based on proper research and facts, and the information shared is not meant to be disrespectful to anyone's gender, country, religion, ethnicity, culture, ancestors, place of origin, political persuasion, traditions or practices.
- Please note that the tour is approximately 90 minutes long.
- For groups less than 6 people, the tour may progress a little faster due to less people needing coffee, toilet, ATM, asking questions and taking photos.
- We reserve the right to cancel a booking if guests show signs or behavior of being intoxicated.
- By signing up for this tour you hereby accept the GuruWalk Terms and Conditions.
Bo-Kaap
"Secret places . . . we'll take you there"
*Child friendly*
Itinerary:
- Muslim community
- Buildings
- Architecture
- Streets
- Works of art
- Places of interest
- Ruins
- Plants and flowers
- People
- Cultural heritage
- Public squares and open spaces
- Places of worship
- Cuisine
- Sites of significance
- Memorials and more.
The Bo-Kaap Walking Tour is one of those bucket list must do's when visiting Cape Town. It is the most Instagramned place in Africa.
This area is a photographer's paradise where one can admire the friendly locals casually going about their daily routines.
All our tours are based on proper research and facts, and the information shared is not meant to be disrespectful to anyone's gender, country, religion, ethnicity, culture, ancestors, place of origin, political persuasion, traditions or practices.
From Heritage Square we move into the largely Muslim quarter of the city.
Guests will have a chance to experience the area by using one's 5 senses:
- See the colorful houses;
- Smell the aromas of the spices and the home cooking;
- Feel the peaceful yet vibrant community lifestyle;
- Hear the sounds of the call to prayer from the various Mosques in the suburb, or the bang of the Noon Gun on Signal Hill above, or you made be fortunate enough to hear a fish horn echoing in the distance;
- Taste the Cape Malay cuisine which originates from the Bo-Kaap.
Learn and see how the naturally available rock was used in the construction of buildings and other features. Also, get a sense of how the geographic lay of the land influenced the development and direction of the suburb.
We'll visit places of worship including the oldest Mosque in Southern Africa. Get to know how slaves introduced Islam to the Cape and how stories of their suffering and hardship can be told by the locals who are largely descendants of these unfortunate people.
The area is rich in culture from Africa; the southeast Asian islands of the Indian Ocean as well as from Europe and the Middle East.
The tour finishes in the Bo-Kaap where one can enjoy refreshments at a restaurant in the area.
Please note, some of the roads are cobbled uneven streets.
Service ends
We are ready to welcome you!
All our tours are conducted in English.
We have 5 walking tours, each one of them focusing on a different topic and subject. Please make sure that the tour you intend to book is one that suits your interest.
If you are making a single booking for 1 person, there is a chance that your booking will be canceled should the minimum number of 2 persons not be reached.
We will be meeting outside the front door, on the pavement at Tanin Wine Bar, 86 Bree street, Cape Town.
The guide will be wearing an official tourist guide badge.
Safe paid parking can be found at Heritage Square.
NB
- We will be walking on some uneven surfaces and there are some steps to climb as well, so please wear comfortable shoes.
- Make sure that each guest in your party has at least 500ml of water.
- For sunny days, a hat is recommended.
- For cloudy days, an umbrella or rainwear is recommended.
- Please be at the meeting point at least 10 minutes before the starting time.
- All our tours are based on proper research and facts, and the information shared is not meant to be disrespectful to anyone's gender, country, religion, ethnicity, culture, ancestors, place of origin, political persuasion, traditions or practices.
- Please note that the tour is approximately 90 minutes long.
- For groups less than 6 people, the tour may progress a little faster due to less people needing coffee, toilet, ATM, asking questions and taking photos.
- According to the GuruWalk platform, the recommended tip amount is from 15,00 Euros per person per tour.
- We reserve the right to cancel a booking if guests show signs or behavior of being intoxicated.
- By signing up for this tour you hereby accept the GuruWalk Terms and Conditions.
Oppression and Apartheid to Liberation and Corruption
"Secret places . . . we'll take you there"
This is an information intensive tour where we focus on politics only, and the way in which it has influenced the shaping of Cape Town and South Africa.
Should you wish to learn more about other aspects from the past, we recommend our Historical City Walking Tour.
NB
- The information shared may be of a sensitive nature to some, and also includes facts that are not available on the internet.
- This is not a "fun" or an "entertaining" tour.
Itinerary:
- Khoikhoi people
- Slave history
- Apartheid
- Race classification
- Segregation
- Nelson Mandela & Political prisoners
- Religious prisoners
- Forced labour
- Group areas act
- Forced removals
- Places of interest
- Buildings
- Architecture
- Statues
- Streets
- Works of art
- Artefacts
- People
- Cultural heritage
- Public squares and open spaces
- Churches
- National monuments
- Sites of significance
- Memorials and more
Join us for a walk to learn about the details that certain sectors would rather not have on record in our history books.
All our tours are based on proper research and facts, and the information shared is not meant to be disrespectful to anyone's gender, country, religion, ethnicity, culture, ancestors, place of origin, political persuasion, traditions or practices.
Oppression in Southern Africa was practiced long before European settlers arrived in 1652.
The dark side of the Cape Colony has to be the system of slavery.
Later on, the Bantu people who migrated from Central Africa and settled along the eastern section of Southern Africa, suffered a unique and harsh kind of oppression and abuse.
After the policy of apartheid was officially introduced, South Africa experienced a very troublesome era in it's history with the systematic segregation and separateness.
As a result, there was resistance that included the armed struggle, terrorism, smuggling, boycotts, sanctions and people going into exile.
You'll have an opportunity learn more about how these practices impacted the mixed race people of this region.
The evil system of apartheid was perpetuated by the assistance of various international countries and organizations who supported the racist policies of the the National Party.
The influence of leaders like Nelson Mandela was able to achieve the birth of the New South Africa whereby freedom for all is possible. As a result, the country could open up to the world and this includes welcoming millions of visitors to our beautiful city year after year.
Please note, this tour is not meant to challenge anyone regarding political views.
We are ready to welcome you!
