Township Tour — Local services in Langa

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Chippa, for making this my second incredible Township Tour to Langa.

This time, I brought my friend, and it was his first time to both South Africa and Langa Township. Chippa came and picked us up in the morning, driving us to Langa, telling us all about the history of townships, the intricacies of this, and the strength of the communities within Langa. It was a really beautiful experience to visit again, and I already know I'll be back next time I'm in Cape Town.

Visiting Langa is a multifaceted journey that unfolds on various levels. It offers a captivating cultural immersion that enriches you not only intellectually, but also emotionally, spiritually, as well as leaves you with a deeper sense of wisdom.

ARE YOU ON THE FENCE ABOUT GOING? Here are some pointers if you feel on the fence about doing a Township Tour:

1. You will be 100% safe. The perception that it is dangerous is not the reality. At no point did I (a white cisgender female) feel unsafe. On the contrary, there was a very strong sense of “everyone looks out for each other” within the community.

2. Cultural immersion or poverty tourism? Our guide, Chippa, started the tour by saying how the community welcomes tourism because it creates jobs, spreads awareness, offers an insight into local life, supports local businesses, shows the real South Africa. It also breaks down stereotypes - and truly will leave you feeling much wiser, and will challenge some of your own prejudices.

3. Enter this experience with an open mind. Know that the people who live in these communities aren’t unhappy - do not go in thinking “I feel bad for you”. There are also many people who could easily afford to live elsewhere, and they choose to stay in the townships because of the community. You’ll understand why!

If you're still on the fence - take it from someone who was very worried whether it was the "right" thing to do beforehand - GO. You will leave feeling wiser, warmer, and very inspired.

MY TOP TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT: Be respectful. A township is a residential area, not a tourist attraction. I.e., ask before you take pictures (generally, do not take pictures of children as they cannot consent yet). If you are wanting to post the pictures online, ask the person(s) if it is okay for you to do so.

Support local businesses Buy their products/services. This boosts local economy and supports the community.

Promote local businesses. I.e., get their Instagram handles and post a picture of their shop and tag them / recommend them to others in another way.

Bring cash. Tip the people whose houses and/or businesses you visit. We weren’t made to feel like this was expected, but felt it right when they have taken time out of their day to show us their homes / work spaces.

ENJOY.

IG: @ emmatravelsplaces (if you want to see more...

Siviwe Township Tours

Clear instructions on where to meet the guide. Try not to arrive too early as there is limited parking near the initial meeting point. The guide then took us to the Cultural Centre to start the tour. Our tour guide, Namhla was lovely. She was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about Langa and showed great pride in the people there. Namhla was able to answer all our questions and we certainly threw plenty at her! Part of the reason we wanted to do the tour was to show our three daughters the conditions that some people face on a daily basis. The tour really helped describe the range of conditions seen in Langa. Had a chance to try some of the local cuisine such as home brewed sorghum beer and LFC (Langa Fried Chicken!!). Meeting the residents was wonderful. 'Shooter' (aka Morgan Freeman, or MacGyver!) was an absolute gent and made us feel welcome. The Cultural Centre at the end was an opportunity to see some local art and craft items for sale. In total the tour took just over 2.5hrs, The length of time will depend on how much you interact with the guide and the residents. One thing we did miss, which was a shame, was the chance to visit a school. Our tour started just as they finished so we couldn't go. If this is something you would like, then try to book an earlier tour (e.g. before 12pm). We really enjoyed the tour and felt we got a lot from it....

As a black American, I have to say I was skeptical at the idea of a township tour; I worried it might be exploitative but reading previous reviews convinced me and I’m so glad they did. The tour is not only community-led but also allows people from an important and historic part of Cape Town to tell their story to visitors who might otherwise have a deeply incomplete understanding of the city and to benefit from tourism that often goes to select few places. As beautiful and sparkling as the Mother City is, the effects of apartheid are still present and the project of equity and restitution remains unfinished. The tour provides a glimpse into the how and why. I also really lucked out having Kazi as a guide. She is warm, knowledgeable, and invested in the community. It felt like visiting with a very informed friend who took me through the history of the area, as well as present challenges and opportunities. I have to echo others who said this was a highlight of their Cape Town trip, especially if you are someone who travels to understand other places and cultures. One could even go multiple times because it’s so personalized and adaptive. There is no script, no proscribed stops, just a rare and beautiful invitation for connection and insight. Also, I’m sure all the guides are great but if you want something really special, I can’t recommend Kazi...