Our walking tour kicks off in front of the Bo-Kaap Museum, which is also the oldest house in the Bo-Kaap and showcases Dutch architecture. The house is still in its original condition, complete with sash windows, front door and parapet. Leading on from here on foot, we enter the Auwal Mosque, the oldest Mosque in South Africa, that dates back to 1794, when it was started by slaves in defiance of Dutch law. Inside the Mosque we will see a Quran handwritten from memory, by Tuan Guru, an exiled political prisoner from the Island of Trinate.
We then work our way to a local’s home to enjoy a traditional treat and a cup of rooibos tea. The host will regale you with stories of this historical neighbourhood, its people and its cultures. From here, we wander down the most photographed street in South Africa and make our way towards Cape Town’s famed spice shop, Atlas, to smell the heady aromas of spices used in everyday Cape Malay cooking. These are the same spices used by slaves as an expression of freedom in their masters’ kitchens. Our tour ends at the Bo-Kaap Hub, a living heritage museum, housing a beautiful exhibition and explanation of traditions and the history of these traditions in Bo-Kaap. Proceeds go to the employment of an in-house guide and supports a local charity, which provides regular meals to those in need in Bo-Kaap and homeless people on the periphery of the city centre.
