Free Bo-Kaap Walking Tour

Duration: 1h and 30min
Languages: English
Guru: Michael
Registered on April 06, 2022

Good day walkers, Welcome and thank you for reaching us. Our guests have reviewed us to be the top rated GuruWalk tour operator in Cape Town and South Africa. They also highly recommend us as well. My name is Michael and I am a registered Regional and Provincial Cultural Tourist Guide, as well as a registered National Overnight Off Trail Mountain Adventure Trekking Tourist Guide. I was born in Cape Town and married to Bridget who is a Tourist Guide as well. We have worked and travelled throughout South Africa, as well as in many other countries around the world. My uncle, who is still alive today, was the neighbour of Nelson Mandela when he spent 7 years in the jail cell right next door to Nelson Mandela, as a political prisoner on Robben Island. For more about this, you may want to book our "Oppression and Apartheid to Liberation" walking tour. We also conduct tours all across South Africa, including Rock Art Tours, Safaris, Adventure Tours, Wine Tours, National Parks, and more. https://tuskadventures.co.za/

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  • No minimum number of attendees
    No minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free

Tour description

Bo-Kaap Walking Tour
"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:  

  1. See the colorful houses; 
  2. Smell the aromas of the spices and the home cooking; 
  3. Feel the peaceful yet vibrant community lifestyle; 
  4. 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;
  5. 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 back at Heritage Square where one can enjoy refreshments at a restaurant in the area.
 
Service ends

We are ready to welcome you!

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  • Meeting point:
    98 Shortmarket St, Cape Town City Cen...
    98 Shortmarket St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
    View on map

    Please meet the guide outside Jerry's Burger Bar at Heritage Square.

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

25 ratings
4.8
By category
Professionalism
4.95
Fun
4.48
Expression
4.76
Quality
4.76
Route
4.67
Generic
5 stars
20
4 stars
5
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Bengt 20 Aug 2023
Bremen

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Aug 2023
Michael was such an amazing guide, loved to experience Capetown with him!
יערה 14 Aug 2023
Tel Aviv-Yafo

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Aug 2023
Michael was really great and informative We had a wonderful time getting to know the history of Bo kaap neighborhood
Carolyn 04 Aug 2023

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Jul 2023
Really enjoyed this very personal tour with lots of local detail and personal perspectives. We all enjoyed the colourful area and history and appreciated Michael's attention to detail and excellent story telling.
Leah 29 Jul 2023
New York

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Jul 2023
Michael is an amazing guide, he’s funny and pensive at the same time. He gave us a great historical overview and an eye opening experience
Kathy 12 May 2023
Sun City

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - May 2023
He spoke really good English and answered our questions so we could understand him. He explained the history of Cape Town in a very clear manner and in order of how it happened. So much more logical than other tours we had. Went out of his to show us more than we expected.
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Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Does not accept large group reservations.
Pets
Not suitable for pets.

What should you know?

Minimum of attendees
There is no minimum number of people required for the tour.
Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
When do you want to go?
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