Photograph by Damien Du Toit
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Cape Town People and Culture Tours

 Return to Day Trips and Tours
A Cultural tour of Cape Town gets you up close to local people and the things that make them unique.   Cape Town People and Culture Tours   Getting into the rhythm on a cultural tour of Cape Town

Cape Town is the oldest city in South Africa and, over the centuries, has become a melting pot of diverse cultures.

Just wandering the streets gives you a feel for the city's rich cultural heritage; the Palm Tree Mosque, Groote Kerk, Great Synagogue and St George's Cathedral; the Castle of Good Hope and old Slave Lodge; Bertram House and the Bo Kaap.

Of course, buildings can only tell you part of the story, it's the people who give a place its soul.

This is a friendly city. Well, the centre is rather like a large village. On sunny days (of which there are plenty) people tend to go about their business with a smile on their face and plenty of time to chat to a stranger.

Business executives rub shoulders with car guards, flower sellers and street vendors who originate from across South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and the DRC.

However, if you really want to gain insight into the Cape's many cultures, you need to visit people's homes and find out more about their everyday life, their beliefs, their music and the food they eat.

Gather in the kitchen of one of the colourful houses in the Bo Kaap and discover just the right combination of spices that create the delicate flavours of a Cape Malay curry.

Experience a slice of township life in Kayamandi, where the spirit of Ubuntu (togetherness) is strong. Spend an evening with some local jazz musicians, or make a bit of music yourself with an African drumming workshop.

Through all these experiences you'll interact with different sections of South Africa's Rainbow Nation - people from diverse backgrounds, who all call the same, small city “home”.

And when it's time to leave, you'll be taking with you far more than just photographs and souvenirs.

We Recommend

African Beading Workshop African Beading Workshop

Create your own, personalised souvenirs when you visit the friendly township of Kayamandi. Learn the art of African beading from local crafters and also a little of their way of life with a tour of the township in which they live.

Detailed Itinerary


African Cooking Experience African Cooking Experience

This interactive tour gives you the chance to learn more about South African cultures and customs. You spend your morning visiting various private homes and shops, meeting and chatting to locals in Kayamandi, a vibrant township in the Cape Winelands.

Detailed Itinerary


Cape Malay Cooking Experience Cape Malay Cooking Experience

This authentic experience gives you a feel for the current everyday life, and history, of Cape Town’s Cape Malay community. Your day begins with a guided walking tour through the historical heart of the Bo-Kaap.

Detailed Itinerary


The Cape Town Jazz Safari The Cape Town Jazz Safari

Cape Town's jazz sound is derived from the mixing of international sounds brought to the city's port over the years. An eclectic mix of African, European and American sounds with a unique Cape Town flavour, jazz has flourished in the townships of Cape Town.

Detailed Itinerary


Township & Drumming Experience Township & Drumming Experience

This township tour takes you off the beaten track, and gives you greater insight into South African culture. First you join a local guide on a walk around Kayamandi, in the Cape Winelands, which shows you the Kindergarten, library, private homes and spaza shops.

Detailed Itinerary