Historical Cape Town City Tour

Overview

[Full Day Private Tour] This full day guided history tour of Cape Town gives you an incredible overview of the rich and sometimes turbulent heritage of the Cape. It involves a few museums and visits to different parts in and out of the city as well as a visit to the historic Groot Constantia wine estate right outside the city. Your private, local guide will share his or her little secrets, relevant and interesting facts and hidden gems along the way.

Pickup 8am ~ 5pm drop-off.

• Walk through the Company Gardens and learn about the role the Dutch played in colonising the Cape
• Visit the Slave Lodge which explains the impact the slave trade had on the formation of Cape Town
• Explore the District Six Museum in the heart of the city and learn about the forced removals during Apartheid
• Visit the famous brightly coloured houses of the Bo-Kaap
• Discover the heritage of the vibrant Cape Malay people at the Bo-Kaap Museum
• Look out for the Rhodes Memorial, University of Cape Town and see if you can the Quagga (a cross between a Zebra and a horse) as you drive to historic Constantia
• Take a step back in time with a cellar tour and chocolate and award winning wine pairing at one of the oldest wineries in South Africa, Groot Constantia
• Drive home via the coastal town of Hout Bay to catch the sunset on your way to your final stop, Camps Bay beach

Tour Gallery

Tour Itinerary

Tour Highlights

Full Details

Begin the day with a stroll through the Company Gardens, where you’ll learn about the role the Dutch East India Company played in developing Cape Town and how their influence lives on today.

Cape Town was established by the Dutch in the 1600’s to refuel the passing ships on the trade route from Europe to the East, more commonly know as the Spice Route.

Take a visit to the Slave Lodge museum, which showcases a darker side of how the Cape was used as a trading post for slaves, predominantly from Java, Indonesia, Malaysia and the east. This is an important aspect of the history of the Cape that gives insight into the current makeup of the population of Cape Town. Discover what a big influence these people had on the local cuisine and culture.

Your next stop is the District Six Museum which takes us back to a time when there was a thriving community in the centre of Cape Town. The District 6 community was forcibly removed by the Apartheid government and relocated to designated areas outside the city.

Next, head on over to the Bo-Kaap and explore the streets lined with the famous colourful houses and meet some of the animated locals going about their day. Discover spice shops and little local stores tucked away on the back streets before visiting the Bo-Kaap Museum.

On your way to Groot Constantia Wine Estate in the Constantia wine valley, your guide will tell you the story of the Quagga. This extinct half zebra half horse has been revived using DNA from a Quagga in a museum. 

Once you arrive at historic Groot Constantia, you will taste the delicious wines that make the region famous worldwide. Learn about the importance of the wine industry to the South African economy and its role in the heritage of the Cape. Wine was first made in the Cape in 1659 as part of the “refuelling” station for the thirsty sailors. This historical time frame makes Cape Town the oldest of the New World wine regions.

Finally, make your way all the way around the base of Table Mountain on the way home via Hout Bay and Camps Bay. Stop for a picture perfect moment as you watch the sun set over the ocean from the winding coastal road, perhaps even stopping for a sunset cocktail at one of the many swanky bars on the Camps Bay strip.

Rate includes: Pickup and drop-off from your accommodation in and around Cape Town, private vehicle, private specialist guide, entrance fees, 1 wine tasting 

Rate excludes: Lunch and gratuity

Please contact us to request a quote.

*NOTE: For last minute bookings, special requests or large groups, please contact us at +27 79 607 1978 or [email protected]

What Is Sideways Approved?

Explore Sideways has left no path unexplored on the journey to offering our guests a truly unforgettable immersive experience. Each one of our tours and experiences is the result of meticulous planning and research and every one of our activities has been handpicked and personally tested by our very own inhouse team of expert local Experience Curators.