Call 01306 744 656 or
Call 01306 744 656 or
You’ll hear Nelson Mandela’s story on Robben Island and visit the townships where residents were gravely affected by apartheid laws…
Learn about apartheid in South Africa on this unique Walk to Freedom tour. You’ll hear Nelson Mandela’s story on Robben Island and visit the townships where residents were gravely affected by apartheid laws. You’ll also get the chance to talk to the people who live in these communities today. It’s a human-orientated trip and we hire guides directly from the townships, so you get to walk our streets and hear our stories – you’re not a voyeur, you’re our guest.
This full-day tour starts at 9am on the site of District Six, one of the old residential areas of the city. This once busy, multi-racial community was destroyed during apartheid when the government ordered mass evictions and sent people to townships miles outside of the city centre. Next, we visit Langa, a typical black African township where you’ll be greeted by a community site guide who lives there and will show you around, perhaps even introducing you to their family.
The tour continues with a visit to Bonteheuwel, a former mixed-parentage township where you’ll learn how people were classified as ‘non-white’ during apartheid and separated into different areas. Our final stop is at Gugulethu, where we visit the Gugulethu Seven Memorial which commemorates the deaths of seven young black activists killed by police in 1986 and the Amy Biehl Memorial, who was a young American student and anti-apartheid activist who was murdered here.
At about midday, we drop you at the V&A Waterfront where you can grab a bite to eat before boarding the boat to Robben Island. This part of the trip is run by the official Robben Island Museum and is split into two legs, a one-hour bus tour of the island and a tour of what used to be the maximum-security prison, led by a former political prisoner. You’ll get to see Nelson Mandela’s cell – it represents an incredibly important moment in South Africa’s history.
A lot of guests say that visiting the townships is a real eye-opener and they cherish meeting the real people of South Africa. If you want to connect the dots, this Walk to Freedom tour will answer your questions about our political past and how we came to be. There’s a philosophy I believe in: if you tell me I will forget, if you show me I will remember but if you involve me I will understand.
Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Laura, who's travelled extensively in South Africa. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - ex banker who can show you the hottest foodie spots in Cape Town, the award-winning young sommelier who can introduce you to Stellenbosch's finest wines and the walking safari ranger who can guide you to the best game.
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