Free tour

Cape Slavery, Islam, Apartheid and the Colours of Bo-Kaap.

4.86

Excellent(345)

Cape Town

Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes

Languages: English

Guru: Nathan Arthur

PRO

Verified quality

Registered on 2 February 2023

Hi I am Nathan Arthur Festus. I am a South African citizen and was born in Cape Town, also known as the Mother City. I am an experienced and seasoned City tour guide. I started my career as a City guide in 2018 and have found it to be immensely fulfilling. My tours are authentic, exposing you the guest to the various political dispensations through which our city and country have gone. Discover the Bo Kaap with me. Ŕŕtťþ

Free reservation and cancellation

Pay-what-you-want tour, no set price, reservation and cancellation are free

Tour description

Welcome to Cape Town!
A visit to Cape Town's Bo Kaap/ boo Kaap is an experience you won't want to miss when in Cape Town South Africa.
Nestled on Signal Hill, Bo Kaap traces its origins to the early days of the Dutch settlement and the importation of enslaved peoples from Africa and South East Asia and the Indonesian Archipelago.
We will visit the Auwal Masjied, first Mosque in South Africa and will be introduced to its founder Tuan Guru. Bo Kaap's colourful houses are an Instagram attraction but more so is an interest in the origins of this colourful display.
Above all, the Bo Kaap still today a 57% - 70% local Muslim community, offers visitors the opportunity to sample the flavour and aroma of its unique Cape Malay cuisine.

In short The Bo Kaap / Boo Kaap is a historical tapestry of culture, custom and cuisine.

Highlights

What will we see on this tour?

Meeting point:

149A Longmarket St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa

We meet outside the Izeko Old Townhouse Museum located at 149 Longmarket Street Cape Town Central. The Old Townhouse Museum is directly opposite Greenmarket Square African Crafts and Curio Market. LOOK OUT FOR THE BRIGHT RED GURUWALK UMBRELLA.

Outside visit

Green Market Square

Greenmarket Square is a historic square situated in the heart of Cape Town central business district. It originally served as a produce and slave market site and overtime as a carpark, flea market and today primarily as a Tourist Pan African Market. It is also the location of the Old Town House which functioned as the center of the growing Town's administration. It was converted into the Iziko old Townhouse museum as part of the declaration of the Square as a National Monument site in 1965.

Outside visit

Bree Street

Bree Street, meaning broad or wide was historically a busy thoroughfare for early Boer Settler farmers. It was the location of trading stores and warehouses, resident to free Blacks and Colonial officials. It was also the street on which Jan De Waal, a Colonial official and sextant of the Groote Kerk Dutch Reform Church had residence. Jan De Waal is considered the founder of Cape Town's first low cost housing, being responsible for the building of the areas first rental cottages, called "huurhuisies"

Outside visit

Heritage Square

Heritage Square is a wonder of urban restoration. The entire block called Heritage Square today was earmarked for demolition in the 1960's as part of the City's segregation urban planning. Consequently, the City's funding ran dry and the area which had already fallen into urban decay was saved by two heritage organisations and the rest is history. Heritage Square is host to a variety of eateries and is a favoured destination on first Thursday of every new month, famously known in Cape Town as 1st Thursdays.

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours don't have a fixed price. At the end, each person contributes to the guide the amount they consider fair based on their satisfaction. As a guideline, Guruwalk recommends between €15 and $50 per participant.