City Sightseeing have partnered with Nielsen Tours to offer two new Cape Town Guided Walking Tours - the Historic City Walk and the Bo-Kaap Walk – both of which depart from, and return to, the City Sightseeing Long Street Tour Office. Walking Tours cost R70 per adult and R35 per child up to the age of 18. Kids under 5 are free (max 2 per adult).
Historic City Walk
The Historic City Walk departs from Stop 5, the Long Street Tour Office, at 11am every day and takes in places such as City Hall, where Nelson Mandela made his first speech as a free man, as well as Tuynhuys where you can learn about the Dutch era and slavery – with a stop in the garden by the old tree, which is 362 years old. It also includes a stop by the benches in front of Cape High Court where your guide will talk about the Classification Act and the Separation Act before making your way onto the Slave Lodge and the Eastern Food Bazaar.
The tour is around 70 minutes long and highlights include:
· St Georges Cathedral
· The Parliament and presidents house
· The Old Strand and Old Mutual Building (demarcating where the beach used to be)
· City Hall
· Green Market Square
· The Parade and the Castle of Good Hope
· The Flower Market
· The Slave Lodge
· Company Gardens (with probably the world’s oldest pear tree and the begging squirrels)
Bo-Kaap Walk
The Bo-Kaap walk, which departs at 3pm every day, takes you along the cobbled streets of Bo-Kaap through the beautiful, brightly coloured houses where you will learn about the history of the Muslim population and see Cape Town’s first Mosque. You will hear about the popular Cape Malay food and even be advised on where to soak up some of Cape Town’s enticing nightlife.
The Bo-Kaap is an area formerly known as the Malay Quarter. It is in essence a Township, situated on the slopes of Signal Hill above the city centre and is an historical centre of Cape Malay culture in Cape Town.
The Bo-Kaap Walking Tour highlights include:
· Greenmarket Square - filled with African art, drums, cloths, jewellery, great coffee shops
· Cape Malay Quarter Hills
· Auwal Masjid – the first Mosque in Cape Town
· Colourful Houses
· Cobbled Streets
· Cape Malay food
· Bo-Kaap Museum
“A walking tour is often the best way to get up close and personal, and experience the finest that a city has to offer,” says Claus Tworeck, CEO of City Sightseeing South Africa. “On foot is the best way to get a feel for a place, its past and its people. A walking tour of Cape Town promises to completely absorb you into the sights, sounds and smells of this busy, eclectic and beautiful city.”
There is no need to pre-book for the Walking Tours - just arrive at Stop 5, the Long Street Tour Office in time for the next tours departure.
For more information on the City Sightseeing Walking Tours as well as the other tours on offer from City Sightseeing visit www.citysightseeing.co.za or contact City Sightseeing on +27 (21) 511 6000. Buses operate daily from 09h00, with commentary available in 16 different languages, and includes a fun Kids Channel.