Robben Island is an island in Table Bay – Cape Town. It was named by the Dutch- Robben Island and the British had called it Seal Island. It was used as an animal quarantine station, as a leper colony and for isolation of mainly political prisoners. To date, three former inmates of Robben Island have gone on to become President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma. Robben Island was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1999 and offers daily tours. Tour to this world Heritage site begins at the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront.
After pick-up from your hotel in Cape Town, you will be driven to the V&A Waterfront where you board the Robben Island Ferry to the world-famous place of incarceration of Nelson Mandela for 18 of his 27 years. This place dubbed “South Africa Alcatraz” served as a leper colony, a place of isolation, banishment, and imprisonment. The Island is a state reminder of the harsh conditions endured as a reward for freedom from the Government of apartheid. After the historical, emotional, educative and informative tour which is conducted either by ex-prison warders or ex-prisoners of Robben Island, you board the ferry back to the Waterfront.In Cape Town, there are plenty of restaurants offering delicious traditional African dishes from various countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Congo, and Ethiopia. We will visit one of them and that will leave you finger-licking. You may also want to try the famed South African braai (barbecue) and Malay curry dishes that Cape Town restaurants are famous for.In South Africa, the term township or location refer to the often underdeveloped racially segregated urban areas that, from the 19th century till 1994 – the era when apartheid came to an end, where reserved for non-whites, that is, Africans, Coloureds and Indians
Townships were or are still referred to as locations or lokasies in Afrikaans and also called “Kasie” in slang, which is a short version of “lokasie”.
Townships have large informal settlements sprouting up in unexpected areas. Despite all this, townships in South Africa are known to be very vibrant, steeped in history with a strong sense of togetherness and a great sense of belonging, community, and cohesion.
It is also a place where great entrepreneurial spirit thrives, with art and culture among the most notable characteristics of the townships. Here is a place which doesn’t go to sleep especially during the pay days.
ITINERARY Experience- The Oldest Township in South Africa. >Take a walk in Langa Township. > Learn a bit of Xhosa for greeting the locals as you tour Langa. > If its a Sunday morning visit local church for an African Worship experience.
Visit Guga S'thebe Cultural Centre. > Enjoy art, design and performance. You may even learn how to play the African drum
Apartheid Hostel Visit > Hear the heart-rending stories of great-grandchildren of migrant workers that lived in the ‘bachelor flats’ whilst their wives and kids worked at farms many kilometers. > Learn the history of apartheid
Art and Craft Market Visit > Walk through the art and craft market where you have the opportunity to buy locally made art and craft. These include: *bead-work, *stone curving, *wooden sculptures, *wire art and craft and many more. *traditional dresses
African Witch-doctor visit This witchdoctor is available for consultation by all visitors at a minimal price. Since Africans are very superstitious, meeting the witchdoctor will make you understand township life from a spiritual viewpoint.
Langa Taxi Rank See how the township transportation system works. At the taxi rank you will see many small businesses selling their wares and services including braai (barbecue). If fortunate, you might even catch some free public performances by local musicians and artists.
