The Black Route Walking Tour

Embark on an immersive journey through the vibrant heart of Cape Town, where the echoes of history, culture, and resilience converge. The Black Route Walking Tour offers an eye-opening exploration of the city’s rich Black heritage. Traverse the Slave Route, uncover hidden gems and delve into narratives often overlooked by traditional guidebooks.

Guided by passionate locals, you’ll start at the Castle of Good Hope, South Africa’s oldest surviving colonial building. This symbol of the start of European settlement in the Cape also marks the beginning of dispossession for the indigenous Khoi and San peoples. It’s here that colonial authorities waged the first wars against the Khoi, forever changing the land and its people.

Your journey continues to District Six, once a lively, multicultural neighbourhood. In 1966, the apartheid government declared it a “whites-only” area, resulting in the forced removal of more than 60,000 residents. The land stood empty for decades, a silent testament to the pain of forced removals.

Next, you’ll visit the Slave Auction Tree and the Slave Lodge, both poignant reminders of Cape Town’s slave history. Enslaved men, women, and children were sold like property under the tree, their labour building much of the city. The nearby Slave Lodge housed hundreds of enslaved people under harsh and inhumane conditions.

St George’s Cathedral, known as the “People’s Cathedral,” is a beacon of faith, courage, and moral leadership. Under Archbishop Desmond Tutu, it became a centre for resistance during apartheid, hosting prayer vigils and launching protest marches.

The Parliament Buildings narrate two stories: one of oppression enforced through law, and another of the people’s will triumphing to create a new South Africa. The Company’s Garden, tended by enslaved labourers, is a peaceful public space layered with the history of colonialism and exploitation.

The Apartheid Benches serve as a stark reminder of systemic segregation. Greenmarket Square, once a site where enslaved people were sold, later became a rallying point for anti-apartheid protests. Today, it’s a bustling market where traders from across Africa sell their crafts.

The tour concludes at the new City Hall, where Nelson Mandela addressed thousands of South Africans hours after his release from prison. His speech marked the dawn of a new era and remains a significant moment in South Africa’s journey to democracy.

This isn’t just a walk; it’s a transformative experience that redefines your understanding of Cape Town. So, come and walk with us. Discover Cape Town as it has lived — not the one in postcards, but the one written in blood, sweat, and song.

What’s included?

Guided walking tour

What’s not included?

Lunch, however, we will have a stop to buy refreshments at guest’s own expense

What to bring?

Camera to snap all the amazing moments. A hat Sunscreen and sunglasses.

What to wear?

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes to walk in.

Duration

180mins

Where?

CURIOCITY Green Point – 153 Main Road, Green Point, Cape Town