- Cape Town Township Tours
For backpackers wanting to explore the rich traditions of Africa, Cape Town township tours offer a blend of education, history and culture of the ‘other side of Cape Town’. While news reports of riots, crime and extreme poverty often lead visitors to believe that the townships of Cape Town are far too dangerous to explore, guided tours show a different side to the townships. On a typical tour you will be able to visit some of the most famous townships in Cape Town, visit a local school, join a service at a local charismatic church, sample delicious African cuisine and even visit a festive shabeen (tavern), where local beer, music and entertainment can be enjoyed.
Cape Town townships – A Brief History
To understand how the townships of the Cape came into being, you will first need to understand a bit about the history of these townships.
During the Apartheid years, many residents of areas such as District Six and designated ‘white’ areas were forced to leave their homes. The Apartheid government moved thousands of people into designated areas outside the main cities. While some of these areas grew into the townships found in Cape Town today, other residents set up informal settlements, where they constructed make-shift houses. Even after South Africa gained independence in 1996, these townships still remain – housing the city’s disadvantaged communities.
What can be experienced on Cape Town township tours?
The good news is that despite the high level of poverty seen on those township tours, the constantly evolving nature of the townships, coupled with a strong sense of culture and tradition, not to mention keen entrepreneurial skills, makes this a fascinating place to visit. Much like the favelas of Rio, life goes on – despite the numerous challenges faced by the residents.
Visit the Townships in Cape Town
Some of the things you will be able to experience on this Cape Town tour include visits to townships such as Langa, Gugulethu and Delft. Gugulethu even hosts an annual Food & Wine Show, showing an entirely different side to this sprawling township. Local dancers and musicians showcase the variety of talent seen throughout the Cape, while local artists can be found in their workshops, creating a wide range of crafts, paintings and jewellery.
No Cape Town township tour is complete with a visit to the neighbourhood shabeen. Essentially a vibrant, noisy tavern serving up cheap drinks and food, shabeens also offer plenty of entertainment, with kwaito music setting the vibe until the early hours.
Be warned however – while it is safe to visit the townships as part of a tour with an experienced guide, it is not safe to wander into these areas alone. Stay safe, and experience another side of life with township tours in Cape Town that are sure to inspire for backpackers and other tourists.
Map of Cape Town
Here you find a map of Cape Town to see where the Township tours in Cape Town take you to. Just click in the map to see more details.
Author Bio: Jack van Zyl writes about a wide range of Cape Town tours, which provide a wealth of information for visitors planning day tours, township tours or even Safari tours in the Cape. If you are interested in writing articles for the-backpacker.com which might be helpful and interesting for other backpackers or you’d like to provide a post about your backpacking experiences please feel free to contact us.
