The Black Route Walking Tour

Activity Description

Embark on an eye-opening journey through Cape Town’s vibrant heart, where history, culture, and resilience converge. The Black Route Walking Tour offers an immersive exploration of the city’s rich Black heritage—narratives often overlooked by traditional guidebooks. Guided by passionate locals, this walking tour delves into the untold stories of the indigenous Khoi and San people, the legacy of slavery, and the enduring spirit of the Black community. Traverse the Slave Route, uncover hidden gems, and witness how the echoes of the past continue to shape the present. This isn’t just a walk; it’s a transformative experience that redefines your understanding of Cape Town.

CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE – The First Indigenous Conflict
We start off at The Castle of Good Hope, South Africa’s oldest surviving colonial building, built by the Dutch East India Company in the 17th century. It symbolises the beginning of European settlement in the Cape — and the start of dispossession for the indigenous Khoi and San peoples. It was from here that colonial authorities waged the first wars against the Khoi, forever changing the land and its people.

DISTRICT SIX – Displacement & Cultural Loss
Next, we visit what was once a lively, multicultural neighbourhood. District Six was a place of music, culture, and close-knit communities. In 1966, the apartheid government declared it a “whites-only” area, forcing more than 60,000 residents from their homes. The land stood empty for decades, a silent testament to the pain of forced removals.

SLAVE AUCTION TREE & SLAVE LODGE – Cape’s Slave History
The Slave Auction Tree was a public site where enslaved men, women, and children were sold like property. Many had been brought from across Africa and Asia, their labour building much of the city. Just a short walk away, the Slave Lodge housed hundreds of enslaved people under harsh and inhumane conditions, serving the needs of the Dutch East India Company.

St GEORGE’S CATHEDRAL – The People’s Cathedral
Known as the “People’s Cathedral,” St George’s became a centre for resistance during apartheid. Led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, it provided a safe space for activists, hosted prayer vigils, and launched protest marches that challenged the regime. It remains a symbol of faith, courage, and moral leadership.

PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS – Colonial & Post-Colonial South Africa
This is where laws that shaped the nation were debated and passed — from colonial policies and apartheid legislation to democratic reforms after 1994. It tells two stories: one of oppression enforced through law, and another of the people’s will triumphing to create a new South Africa.

COMPANY’S GARDEN – A Place of Contradictions
Established by the Dutch to grow fresh produce for passing ships, the garden was tended by enslaved labourers. Today, it’s a peaceful public space filled with statues, flowers, and trees — but also layered with the history of colonialism and the exploitation that sustained it.

APARTHEID BENCHES – Everyday Segregation
These benches are replicas of those once marked “Whites Only” and “Non-Whites Only” during apartheid. They serve as a stark reminder that segregation wasn’t just a policy — it was woven into the smallest details of everyday life.

GREEN MARKET SQUARE – A Site of Trade & Protest
One of Cape Town’s oldest public squares, Greenmarket Square has seen centuries of change. It was once a site where enslaved people were sold, later becoming a rallying point for anti-apartheid protests. Today, it’s home to a bustling market where traders from across Africa sell their crafts.

CITY HALL – Nelson Mandela’s First Speech of Freedom
Our last stop is at the new City Hall. On February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela stood on the balcony of City Hall just hours after his release from prison, addressing thousands of South Africans. His speech marked the dawn of a new era and remains one of the most significant moments in the country’s journey to democracy.

“I am the memory of this land — Khoi, San, slave, fighter, dreamer. I’ve seen our cattle taken, our homes torn down, our voices silenced. Yet here we stand. I have felt the chains of the Castle, the bulldozers of District Six, the sting of a ‘Whites Only’ bench. I have sung in the People’s Cathedral and cheered at City Hall. Walk with me, and I will show you Cape Town as I have lived it — not the one in postcards, but the one written in blood, sweat, and song”