Take a 25 minute boat ride to the historic site of Robben Island, where for hundreds of years, convicts, slaves, princes, lepers and political prisoners were incarcerated. Visit Bo Kaap and District Six and explore local townships and visit the community projects at work there.
Highlights
•Visit the historic prison of Robben Island, which for some 450 years incarcerated convicts, slaves, exiled Eastern princes, lepers, the insane and political prisoners including Nelson Mandela (weather permitting).
•View the historical impact of racial segregation during the Apartheid era.
•Explore the rich history and culture of the local townships.
•Visit community programs, dedicated to uplifting the lives of the local people.
We depart from Cape Town’s Victoria & Alfred Waterfront by ferry for a 25-minute trip across Table Bay to Robben Island. This World Heritage Site, and South Africa’s most revered national monument, was once a prison. We return to the Waterfront.
Enjoy lunch at a local a la carte restaurant before heading to the Bo Kaap. Here we discuss why the arrival of a small expedition of Dutch sailors in 1652 proved to be a monumental turning point in Southern African history. Taking a short walk along the romantic cobble stone streets between the brightly coloured homes, we elaborate how the framework for racial segregation was established.
Passing some of Cape Town’s landmarks, a short drive brings us to District 6 where we move on to the next chapter of the South African story: Apartheid. Once in District 6, we drive through the now decaying ruins of what once was a flourishing mixed race community where 60 000 people lived and worked.
The journey continues to Langa, the oldest black African township in Cape Town where we offer our groups a greater understanding of the many shanty towns which mushroomed up around the city as a result of rapid urbanization following the removal of the restrictive apartheid laws. We share the greatness of Nelson’s Mandela vision and the future under the leadership of our new president, Cyril Ramaposa.
NB. The tour may run in reverse to accommodate the weather.
Tour Code: FE01
Duration: 8 hours
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian
Group Size: 1/13 min/max
Departures: Hotel
Departure Time: 09h00
Returns: Hotel
Return Time: 17h00
OTHER TOURS ARE AVAILABLE WHICH INCLUDE BUSHMEN CULTURE, JEWISH CULTURE, LOCAL CRAFTS AND COOKING.
Includes:
Entrance fees for Robben Island, District Six Museum and township venues as well as an a la carte lunch.
Excludes:
Personal shopping and gratuities.
