South Africa · WALKING TOURS
Bo-Kaap, the Company’s Garden, Maboneng and the Durban beachfront all read better on foot. These 15 walks are priced by length, with a note on the ones that involve real hills and the ones that run after dark.
Spend four hours walking through Soweto with guides such as Maweza, Teboho, or Mulalo. Visit the Hector Pieterson Memorial, Mandela’s House, Vilakazi Street, Winnie Mandela’s home, Orlando East, Nomzamo Park, and the Soweto Towers. Lunch, bottled water, and a short minibus taxi ride are included. Mandela’s House entry costs extra.
“Great experience - really interesting and guides were great”
Meet the Face Adrenalin team at Bloukrans Bridge, cross to the arch by zipline, then make the world’s highest bungee jump with specialist equipment and pendulum technology. Guides such as Viron, Mario, and Rendy have been praised for keeping the mood calm and fun. A winch ride and 216-meter SkyWalk return you to solid ground.
“Amazing! Every single person was so friendly, had a wonderful time and would definitely do it again”
Spend 150 minutes walking through Langa with local guides such as Nathi or Zuzie. Visit Guga S’thebe, see community projects, meet residents, and learn how apartheid shaped daily life. Expect history, local stories, craft work, and a candid look at both the warmth and hardship of township life.
“The tour was very nice! We got a very good feeling and insight on the history, the advantages and disadvantages of Langa, but also talked about what is needed to improve the social situation in the future.”
Meet at Bo-Kaap Deli and walk through Bo-Kaap, Long Street, Greenmarket Square, Company’s Garden, the Slave Lodge area, Parliament, and District Six. Guides such as Mandi, Olwethu, and Diego bring local stories, art, language, and practical city tips into a compact two-hour introduction to Cape Town.
“Olewethu was very professional and knowledgeable. Once complete we were hungry and asked about options the suggestion was bree Street so we started down the street after taking our picture with statue of Nelson Mandela. unfortunately we did not get passed the first block when one of the ladies in our party almost had her neck pulled from a robber. maybe better suggestion or guidance when walking streets without guide. we left the city right after she was very nervous to continue looking at the city so were us”
Walk through Woodstock and Salt River with a local English-speaking guide, seeing murals by South African and international artists. Guides such as Diego, Mandy, Chandy, Terence, and Sipho explain the art, local history, politics, and community life. The two-hour route begins and ends at Salt Circle Arcade and includes coffee and workshop stops.
“Diego is a great guide, who knows a lot of mural art in Woodstock. If you are interested in street art, a „must do“ while being in Cape Town. 👍👍👍👍👍”
Spend four hours walking through Soweto with a local guide such as Maweza or Mulalo Mphuma. Visit the Hector Pieterson Museum, Vilakazi Street, Mandela’s former home, Tutu’s house, Baragwanath Road, and Orlando Towers. Hear personal accounts of apartheid and enjoy a traditional kota sandwich with bottled water.
“Maweza did a great job! He‘s very knowledgeable and sheds light into the layered and dark history of Apartheid and what part Soweto played. No question remained unanswered and I felt safe throughout the experience. I definitely left with food for thought and will be back!”
Spend 90 minutes walking central Stellenbosch with an English-speaking local guide such as Johan Nepgen, Marlene, or Juliana. See Cape Dutch buildings, The Braak, Dorp Street, the Mill Stream, and the old Moederkerk graveyard while hearing stories of Simon van der Stel, historic fires, university life, and local legends. Comfortable shoes are essential.
“This was an informative and easy walking tour. Our guide tailored the narrative to the group which made for a pleasant and relatable experience. I finished the tour with better historical knowledge and a contented smile! This is an excellent way to spend 1.5 hours and is worth more than the cost for sure.”
Spend 150 minutes walking through Langa with an English-speaking local guide. Visit the Guga S’thebe Arts and Cultural Centre, Langa Heritage Museum, an art gallery, community projects, and one local home. Guides such as Wanda, Thando, Mike, and Mzukisi tailor the route and explain Langa’s past and present.
“I had a lovely tour of the Langa township and enjoyed meeting many local people, learning about their community projects and even got to eat a fried liver sandwich with the guide! My only constructive feedback would be removing the trip to the orphanage from the tour- for child protection reasons. I don’t think foreigners who have no credentials or police clearances should be around vulnerable children. The guide was understanding of this and asked not to take photos of the children- which was positive but I feel it needs to be removed from the itinerary altogether.”
Meet a private Lokafyer near central Cape Town, often at the Cape Wheel, and shape a two to six-hour walk around your interests. Guides such as William, Willie, Fred, and Bosco have led history, culture, and orientation walks through the V&A Waterfront, city center, and Bo-Kaap. Transportation, meals, and attraction tickets cost extra.
“We got a good iver view of Capetown and its history. Tony showed us not only the obvious but also the hidden lokal attraktions.”
Spend about three hours tasting at least four African dishes, walking through Maboneng or Yeoville, and learning about Johannesburg’s food, art, and neighborhoods. Guides such as Nkosi, Joe, Rambo, Lebo, and Romeo bring local stories and humor. Pickup, drop-off, food, water, and an English or French-speaking guide are included.
“Romeo was an awesome guide. We were able to get a nice history of the area. Please be warned, this is a walking tour but it was enjoyable. I would most definitely do this again.”
Spend about three hours walking central Cape Town with a private foodie guide and sampling 10 local foods and drinks. The route can be shaped around your tastes and dietary needs, with stops near Greenmarket Square, Company’s Garden, City Hall, and local food spots. Guides such as Daryl, Christopher, Zuzy, and Parinita have led past tours.
“Zuzy shared both historical and gastronomical stories with us. The food was delicious, the portions were huge, and the experience was enlightening. Zuzy was a delightful guide! We highly recommend this tour.”
Start at Truth Coffee and walk through District Six, Grand Parade, the Slave Lodge, St. George’s Cathedral, Greenmarket Square, and Long Street before finishing in Bo-Kaap. Guides such as Dylan, Terrence, and Tarrin explain Cape Town’s past, present, and culture in English, Zulu, Xhosa, or Afrikaans.
“Good introduction to Cape Town places and history. Some comments about nature and landscapes would have been nice.”
Spend three hours walking Johannesburg’s city centre with an English-speaking guide such as Refiloe, Thabo, or Mulalo. Follow the gold-mining story from Gandhi Square to Ferreirasdorp, see Mandela and Tambo’s former law office, visit Newtown’s Workers Museum, and finish near Nelson Mandela Bridge and Braamfontein. Expect history, politics, architecture, and candid talk about today’s CBD.
“This walking tour is Amazing, I would definitely recommend it. I went with my brother and we loved to see more of the city centre and learn a lot about the history of Johannesburg. our guide Tebogo was Amazing and could tell us a lot! He knew exactly where it was safe and interesting for us to go! defenitly recommend!”
Meet at 71 Wale Street for a one-hour walk through Bo-Kaap with a local guide such as Ilyas, Rafiq, Siddiq, or Sedick. Hear family stories, visit Auwal Mosque, browse Atlas Trading Company, and enjoy rooibos tea or coffee with a Cape Malay snack. Expect hills, uneven cobblestones, and a small group of up to 20.
“Great experience and wonderful knowledgeable and passionate guide. The tour was cost effective and so great to be in such a small group being able to understand the history much more thank in a large group. Thankyou”
Spend five to six hours with Durban guide Johnny, walking through six city markets, riding a local minibus combi, and learning about Durban’s history, culture, politics, and daily life. The tour ends with bunny chow near the beach. Groups are limited to 10, lunch is included, and hotel pickup is not provided.
“Johnny is a fantastic tour guide who clearly loves Durban and the history of his city. He is the kind of guy who immediately makes you feel comfortable and has the whole group feeling like friends rather than strangers. He is knowledgeable, fun and has put together a great day tour of the city. Whether you are visiting Durban on a cruise ship, or if you are there traveling South Africa, I recommend booking this tour. We also absolutely loved ending the tour with a wonderful meal of Bunny Chow right at the ocean. What a wonderful treat! Thank you so much for a wonderful day and I can't wait…”
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