Half day in Cape Town on Foot
From the Slave Lodge to Bo-Kaap. Bo-Kaap’s roots stretch back to the 1760s during the Dutch East India Company (VOC) rule. Originally known as the Malay Quarter, the area was developed with small rental houses leased to enslaved people, political exiles, and artisans brought to the Cape from Dutch colonies in South and Southeast Asia.
Slave Lodge is one of the oldest buildings in Cape Town. It was built in 1679 by the VOC to house enslaved people brought to the Cape Colony to work for the company. The structure initially accommodated up to 500 enslaved individuals, who lived in overcrowded conditions.
From here, walk along Wale Street. Walk inside the Company's Garden, then admire St. George's Cathedral, which served as a crucial sanctuary and staging ground for resistance against the apartheid regime.
As you walk, you will find the Provincial Parliament, a prominent Art Deco landmark. Heading toward Long Street, there are colourful Victorian buildings with iron balconies
At Long Street, turn left and take a picture of the Open House, a red building on the left. You can walk up and give a speech if you feel like.
Walk toward Wale Street. You will find colorful houses and traditional cobbled streets. You are now in the center of the Bo-Kaap district. Many homes here were originally built as rental properties during the 18th century and leased to enslaved people.
Walk around Wale Street and Chiappini Lane. This area is perfect for colourful pictures and browsing art galleries. Don't miss the Murals in the arched passageway. The artwork was collaborative, created by Iranian artist Nasser Palangi alongside a few local artists. Located near an entrance, the piece depicts two children looking back at their cultural heritage through a series of historical images and photographs.
The last location is Tana Baru Cemetery. The cemetery is the final resting place of several prominent figures in the community, including religious leaders and early settlers.
