Guided personally by author and storyteller, Gerald Garner, this is the most insightful tour you will find about Cape Town. An absolute must-do experience. This is not merely a tour but a mesmerizing storytelling experience. It will provide you with insight and understanding of the history and make-up of this fascinating city. And it will make you understand the entire South African story. With this knowledge, you will enjoy the rest of your visit to the city and country much more! This 4-hour walking tour is easy, covering 3,5km. It is for the curiously minded, but also includes opportunity for sightseeing, photography, experiencing the vibe of the city – and even a stop or two for drinks and sampling a local delicacy. The tour focuses on the background story of Cape Town. We start off with the 1870s Industrial Revolution and the Scramble for Africa before returning to pre-colonial history and moving on all the way to the early 20th Century. Join us for sure!
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Nov 14.
The tour starts at Ginja Restaurant at the Victoria & Alfred Hotel, V&A Waterfront. Simply the spot with the best view of the city and Table Mountain, as well as the surrounding harbour - originally excavated under the supervision of Prince Alfred, son on Queen Victoria in the era of British expansion into Africa.
We amble along the walkways of the Canal District, stopping along the way for storytelling and take in the views from Battery Park with its skate park, basket ball courts and more. A great green rooftop space in the city.
From the Waterfront we walk into the Foreshore area of the city, built on 194 ha of land reclaimed from the sea and today dominated by modernist buildings, before walking to the more historic part of the city.
We stop for drinks, storytelling and one of the best views in the city. From here you can see Green Point Stadium, the Waterfront, Table Bay, Blouberg, the Foreshore, the old city centre and of course Table Mountain. It is also the best viewspot from which to photograph the colourful and historically-significant Bo-Kaap district.
The tour ends at this historic complex of buildings dating the the 1750s. Today the home of a boutique hotel and a number of eateries, restaurants, bars and retail spaces. The courtyard boasts the oldest grapevine in the city!
We admire the incredible Art Deco buildings surrounding the square and pause for some curio market browsing too
We explore maginficent architecture and history along this pedestrianized street.
We explore the spectacular garden that started out as a vegetable garden for the Dutch East India Company but became a Victorian Park over time. Today it is a stellar city park in the heart of Cape Town.
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Excurgo comparison of 3,060 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
LocalPlaces Understanding Cape Town Walking Tour lasts about 4 hours. The itinerary has 8 stops.
Prices start at $73 per person for this Cape Town experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, starting at 9:00 AM.
Children aged 3–11 pay from $36, adults from $73. Infants go free.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is We meet at the Native Roasters Coffee Counter inside Ginja Restaurant at the Victoria & Alfred Hotel, V&A Waterfront. Find the entrance next to Nobel Square with the Nobel Peace Prize sculptures, opposite the Time Out Market. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 LocalPlaces Understanding Cape Town Walking Tour | 4 hours | 5.0 (25) | $73 | |
 Wine Tour: Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch incl 3 wineries | 8 hours | 4.9 (6,317) | $67 | View |
 Zipline Cape Town - From Foot of Table Mountain Reserve | 2 hours | 5.0 (5,124) | $64 | View |
 Cape Point and Boulder's Penguins Full Day Tour | 8 hours | 4.9 (4,586) | $36 | View |
 Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Penguins Day Tour from Cape Town | 9–10 hours | 4.9 (3,890) | $55 | View |
 Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point Group Tour from Cape Town | 10 hours | 4.7 (2,389) | $64 | View |
 Cape Town Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour with Optional Cruise | 30 min–2h 20min | 4.7 (1,997) | $26 | View |
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 20 participants.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 25 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by LocalPlaces.
