Wander through the colourful cobblestoned Bo-Kaap neighbourhood on this two-hour walking tour. Begin on the slopes of Signal Hill, where the brightly coloured houses unfold in an array of pinks, greens, blues and oranges. Get a taste of the spicy ‘Cape Malay’ food on offer, made famous by the people who call the neighbourhood home. Along the way, visit South Africa’s first mosque, Auwal Masjid and the Bo-Kaap Museum, which is housed in the oldest home in the area. Dating back to the 1760s, the house highlights the cultural contribution made by early Muslim settlers.

Bo Kaap is an area of Cape Town formerly known as the Malay Quarter. It is a former township that was settled by the descendants of slaves brought by the Dutch in the late 17th and 18th centuries. They originated from different parts of Southeast Asia but were collectively referred to as ‘Cape Malay’. Cape Malays were a mixture of political exiles, convicts, skilled craftsmen, artisans, scholars, and religious leaders. While many of Bo-Kaap’s residents are still of Cape Malay origin, the housing boom in the past 15-years has seen an influx of diversity into the area. However, there are plenty of little local restaurants still open to sample traditional cuisine.

Phone: +27 (0)64 883 0440
Website: www.citysightseeing.co.za

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ADVICE FOR VISITORS

The tour takes approximately 90 minutes, and all tours are guided in English. You’ll be walking the streets of Cape Town, some cobbled, so wear your comfiest pair of shoes and make sure your camera is fully charged and ready to capture the charm of the city.

Be sure to try some of the Cape Malay food on offer to get the most out of your experience of Bo-Kaap. Also check out a great little neighbourhood nearby called De Waterkant, where you will find lots of cobbled streets to wander through, as well as many trendy bars and restaurants.

DID YOU KNOW

The freed slaves that eventually settled into the Bo-Kaap area were used to cooking with spices that originated from their home countries. The Dutch East India Company continued to sail to Asia via Cape Town, so many of these traditional spices were still available. Dutch housewives began to include cinnamon and cloves in their pies, while the Cape Malay cooks started adding potatoes to their dishes. This resulted in a wonderful fusion of cuisines that continues to influence South Africa’s finest dishes.