Offbeat Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

Parading the V&A Waterfront, going wine-tasting in the vineyards, exploring Cape Point, Boulders Beach, Robben Island and Table Mountain, just a grab of the many must-do’s when visiting Cape Town. But before soaking up South Africa’s moving history on Robben Island, indulging yourself to good food, delicious wine or taking selfies from the top of Table Mountain overlooking the magnificent views of the City Bowl, there is one activity that deserves a little more attention: discovering the real Cape Town with a local.

It is in front of the Prins and Prins Diamond store and museum that we meet the passionate Ursula, our South African guide who grew up in the Mother City and who knows all of its secrets and backstreets. After giving each of us the elevator look and telling us which piece of jewellery to put away (after all, this is still South Africa!), she claims enthusiastically: “There is a story at every street corner!” As we follow her eyes to admire the beautiful colonial building: “Take Prins & Prins for instance, this used to be the wine cellar of the Huguenots back in the 17th century.”

Cape Town is intimately linked to its early Dutch history easily noticed on street signs: Hout Street, Loop Street, Breestreet, Buitengracht (or outer canal as yes, the Dutch also built canals here to supply the city with fresh drinking water). Crossing the outer canal that is long gone, we find ourselves surrounded by small colourful houses lined up along steep cobble stone streets: the photogenic Bo-Kaap area is home to the oldest Muslim community in South Africa. Often referred to as Cape Malay, this community finds its roots in the island states of the Far East where the Dutch East India Company (or VOC) operated. The Cape colony was used by the VOC to send in exile influential Muslims and slaves from Java, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. to resupply passing ships… Ursula explains: “Over time, the populations have mixed also with other slaves from Madagascar and other African countries. Today it is a large and vibrant Muslim community.” Ursula continues: “Bo-Kaap has not always been as peaceful and colourful as today. In 1934 it was declared a slum, but the government did not tear it down as it was too expensive. Restoration started in the mid-1960s and this is when ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).