March 2023
Two important milestones take place in South Africa in March. These are the beginning of Autumn (a glorious time when the weather is just perfect to take a bus ride or walk through the Mother City) and the celebration of our Human rights day. Both occur on March 21st and both invite tourists to the Cape to come and ride and walk to capture the culture and history of the Cape!
What are we talking about? Well, you can catch one of the City’s iconic hop-on hop-off busses (already themselves a part of the history and culture of this glorious city) to one of the meeting points where you begin one of our historic and cultural walks. It’s an invigorating, healthy and absolutely fascinating experience, and just a few of the historic highlights of our country and the Cape that you can find on our historic city walk are…
St George’s Cathedral - is the oldest and one of the grandest cathedrals in Southern Africa and is affectionately known as “the People’s Cathedral” for its role in the struggle against apartheid. Here, after Archbishop Desmond Tutu led a mass demonstration of 30 000 people in 1989, he coined the term the “rainbow nation” to describe South Africa’s diverse population.
South African Museum - Step back in time to see more than 1.5 million items of cultural and scientific importance in this bastion of South African history. The museum houses a wide range – from specimens and fossils dating back over 700 million years to contemporary T-shirts and you can also visit the adjacent Planetarium to learn about the planets and stars from a fascinating virtual exhibition.
District Six Museum - In 1966, the South African government of the time swooped on District Six as part of its efforts to enforce apartheid, forcibly removing its occupants and declaring the area a “whites-only” zone. Decades later, this impressive collection of historical photographs, paintings, artefacts and physical remains is a reminder of these tragic events, but also a symbol of return and restitution for its former residents.
The Castle of Good Hope - Built between 1666 and 1679 by Dutch administrator Jan van Riebeeck of the Dutch East India Company mainly as a defensive fort, this castle’s long history has seen it serve as a military stronghold and prison. It is now a museum, heritage site and public gathering landmark.
Colourful sights smells and sounds You can also experience Cape cultural delights on the vibrant Bo-Kaap Tour which is situated at the top end of the CBD at the foot of Signal Hill. Take in the colourful houses, smell the spices and hear the call to prayers of the local mosque. This part of Cape Town is unique and a real gem that you will totally fall in love with during the 90-minute walking tour.
Just the tip of the iceberg! These wonderful historic and cultural walks are just a couple of the incredible range of happenings that are all a part of your City Sightseeing experiences when you grab a hop-on hop-off City Sightseeing bus. Watch this space to find out about many more as there’s practically nowhere of interest in the city and its surroundings that you cannot get to on one of our great street cruising double-decker busses. Feel the wind caress your hair as you take in the sights of one of the most beautiful cities in the world and experience everything from wine tasting and superb cuisine to breath-taking scenery and action-adventure experiences.
Choose the experience package to suit you and your pocket- or contact us for all the information you need. We can’t wait to help you ride and walk to capture the culture and history of the Cape – and so much more!
