Guided tour

Half Day Township Cultural Tour

4.6 / 5

16 reviews

Activity provider: Cullinan Guided Journeys
Guided tour

Half Day Township Cultural Tour

Activity provider: Cullinan Guided Journeys

From US$ 46.41 per person

Join us for a unique experience traveling through South Africa's past and present.

About this activity

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Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 3.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English
Pickup included
Complimentary collection service available from central Cape Town hotels.

Experience

Highlights
  • Visit the Bo Kaap
  • Visit a church service in Langa (Sunday morning tour)
  • Learn about living conditions in a shanty town
Full description
Join this tour for a unique experience traveling through the three South Africa’s: The birth, where it all started; Apartheid South Africa, what happened then; and the New South Africa, what is different since Nelson Mandela was released from prison. Departing from Cape Town city center, the first stop is in the Bo-Kaap. Here you'll discuss the arrival of an expedition of Dutch sailors in 1652 that proved to be a monumental turning point in the South African history. Taking a short walk along the romantic cobblestone streets between the brightly colored homes, your tour guide explains how the framework for racial segregation was established. Passing some of Cape Town’s landmarks, a short drive brings you to District Six where you'll learn more about the next tier in the South African story i.e. Apartheid South Africa. Once in District Six, you'll drive through the now decaying ruins of what once was a flourishing mixed-race community where 60 000 people lived and worked, but was demolished only to be reserved exclusively for white people. The tour continues to Langa, the oldest Black African Township in Cape Town. Along the way, you'll discover the restrictive legislation introduced by the Apartheid regime to enforce racial segregation. On arrival in Langa, we have a photo stop at the site that commemorates the student uprising of 1976, and discuss the Pass Laws and barracks built for African migrant workers. If conducted on a Sunday morning, the tour includes a short visit to one of the local churches. Here guests are immersed in the charisma and vibrancy of how religion is practiced in the townships. While in Langa, we also share the miracle of our country when Nelson Mandela convinced us to forgive so that we can free ourselves. Guests are also offered a greater understanding of Shanty Town that exploded with the massive migration of mothers and children into the cities, restoring Black dignity at the end of Apartheid.
Includes
  • A visit to church service in Langa (Sunday morning tour only)
  • Return transfers from central Cape Town hotels

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Important information

    Know before you go

    • Minimum of 2 adults required
    • Departs Monday to Sunday
    • Bring closed-toe shoes (no sandals)
    • On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the tour only runs in the morning
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    4.6 /5

    based on 16 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      5/5
    • Transportation
      5/5
    • Service
      5/5
    • Organization
      4.7/5

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    This is a most do experience for any traveller interested in the history of South Africa from the inside. Our guide, Gladstone was able to transport us through the different phases of the political situations in South Africa , all the while maintaining a positive and forward thinking attitude towards the future. We were greatly blessed by his first hand reminiscence of growing up in a township and for his insistence on forgiveness as the most critical element in building the new South Africa. He dismantled the stereotypes of township life and encouraged us to see the progress and hope in this new exciting era. Gladstone displayed great sensitivity as we confronted some terrible historical injustices, all the while leading us away from common misconceptions and into a deeper understanding and respect for the African people.

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    March 31, 2023

    Wir hatten zwar eine Tour auf Deutsch gebucht und nur einen englischspraxhifen Guide bekommen, doch dieser war sehr gut informiert uber die Themen und konnte uns alles gut erklären. Auch der Besuch in einer Kirche zum Gottesdienst war super und gut organisiert.

    March 31, 2023

    Empfehlenswerte Tour mit guten Einblicken in die Geschichte der Townships. Die Kontakte zu den Bewohnern waren jedoch auch ausgesucht. Ein bisschen mehr Zeit im Township-Laden der Weberei wäre schön gewesen.Der Tourbus ist ein wenig eng und umkomfortabel, wurde jedoch von einem Subunternehmen gestellt.

    March 31, 2023

    Product ID: 1057