South Africa · Culture

Township Langa - Apartheid Museum Plus Arts and Culture Tour

4 Hours Round trip from Cape Town Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Explore Langa, the oldest township in South Africa
  • 02 Walk through the township with insights into local history and daily life
  • 03 Visit Guga S'thebe Cultural Centre for art, design, and performance
  • 04 Learn about apartheid history during an apartheid hostel visit
  • 05 Browse locally made beadwork, sculptures, wire art, and traditional dresses
  • 06 See the township transport system in action at Langa Taxi Rank
  • 07 Opportunity to learn how to play the African drum
  • 08 Possible Sunday church visit for an African worship experience

Discover Langa, South Africa’s oldest township, on a guided cultural experience that explores its history, community spirit, and creative energy. This tour offers a closer look at everyday life in the township while introducing the stories, traditions, and resilience that have shaped it over time.

Walk through Langa with your guide, visit the Guga S'thebe Cultural Centre, and explore local art and craft stalls featuring handmade beadwork, sculptures, wire art, and traditional dresses. Along the way, learn about the history of apartheid, see the township transport hub at the taxi rank, and gain insight into the cultural and spiritual life of the community.

Discover Langa, South Africa’s oldest township, on a guided cultural experience that explores its history, community spirit, and creative energy.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Hours
Tour type Shared
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Not included
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access No
City Cape Town
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

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 where 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.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Cape Town 1 city · 4 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Bottled water
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Entry To Gugas' Thebe Arts and Craft Centre + Community Centre
  • Opportunity To Buy Art and Craft
  • Learn to Play The African Drum (Djembe)

What's Not Included

  • Lunch
  • Gratuities

Know before you go

  • WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
  • STROLLER OR PRAM ACCESSIBLE
  • ANIMALS OR PETS ALLOWED
  • PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY
  • INFANT SEATS AVAILABLE
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • We pick up travelers from the hotel lobby and reception area in the 5km radius of the city of Cape Town. We also do pick ups from the Cape Town Cruise Ship Terminal

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Cape Town, ZA
Tour start
Cape Town, ZA
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 4 hours finish where they began, in Cape Town.

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