This day offers a fascinating look at the different cultures of the Cape. It also encompasses a visit to Robben Island , which was once a leper colony and a prison.The 45 minute ferry crossing also offers spectacular views over Table Bay.

Cape Town has millions of people living in townships, and this tour takes you to visit them and offers an opportunity to find out about their harsh past, to witness the challenges they face everyday, and about the positive hope for the future.

So much has been achieved, but there is still so much to be done! We start our tour in District Six and hear all about the forced removal of people who called this home.

We continue to Langa which is the oldest township in Cape Town, and we visit the local market and a wonderful art and craft centre before we have an exciting experience with a traditional healer to watch him in action! Warm hospitality greets us at the local B&B and we find a safe haven for children at a local crèche.

Off we go to Bonteheuwel, Nyanga, Crossroads, Gugulethu and Khayelitscha. Each of these townships has a story and a culture all of its own. In Gugulethu we drive past the Amy Biehl Memorial and Memorial of the Gugulethu Seven.

We find out about the history and the heroes, and what makes these places ‘tick’. You have the chance to interact with the locals and learn out about their different cultures, and you’ll leave with a greater understanding of how each of these townships contributes in its own unique way to the Rainbow Nation.

You’ve spent the morning visiting the townships on our Township Tour and you can extend it into include a visit to Robben Island. We board the Robben Island ferry at the V & A Waterfront and as we sail out into the bay towards the island you will be amazed to see how Table Mountain wraps itself around the city like a natural amphitheatre.

You may even see the table cloth hovering over the mountain! Once on the island you will join a guided tour where you are taken to the prison cell where Nelson Mandela was held.

All the hardship endured by the political prisoners is explained and you will get an understanding of what it must have been like for them to be so close to Cape Town and yet it was so unreachable! Upon arrival back in Cape Town harbour we’ll return you to your hotel.

Recommended: Strong sun protection, and sea sickness preventative treatment along with protective clothing is advised.

Robben Island, Cape Town

The famous Robben Island, whose prison was once home to former South African president Nelson Mandela as well as many other black political freedom fighters, is now a World Heritage Site and provides stunning views across the bay with Table Mountain as its backdrop. A trip to the island is an unforgettable experience and offers a glimpse into the life and times of the apartheid era.

Daily tours to the island include the ferry trip there and back, an island tour and a tour of the prison with a fomer political prisoner as your guide. Allow three and a half hours for the trip (this includes the 1/2 hour ferry trip each way) and book in advance.

Ferries leave at regular intervals throughout the day from the Clock Tower precint at the V&A Waterfront

We can also assist with competative accommodation rates – please enquire now !