Free tour

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

4.87

Excellent(357)

Cape Town

Duration: 3 hours

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!
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 racially reclassify South Africans wherever a grey area existed based on the subjects 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. We will conclude our time together tastefully as we sample a unique Cape Malay 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.

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

Groote Kerk

The Groote Kerk Dutch Reform Church dates back as the first Christian denomination established at the Cape Of Good Hope and the only Christian Church allowed to practice at the Cape. It highlights the birthing of separate services and eventually separate congregations of faith.

Outside visit

Iziko Slave Lodge

The Slave Lodge built in 1679 dates back as the second oldest building in Cape Town South Africa. Built to house slaves, property of the VOC Dutch East India Company. From Slave Lodge to British Government offices and Supreme Court, today houses the Izeko Slave Lodge Museum since 1998.

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.