Short Tours in Cape Town

We started later than the designated time so Gilbert suggested we see the Mandela exhibit at City Hall. And rather than dashing off, he was generous enough of his time to allow us to take a quick walk through a wonderfully curated short exhibit of Mandela and his years in Cape Town. But that set the stage for the rest of the tour. Gilbert shared his personal story of his family and how they were displaced from District 6 and resettled in the Townships being offered for relocation. Gilbert shared vintage photographs of the District and overlaid where appropriate what stood at which spot and how the area is being rebuilt. The transition into Woodstock was an eye opener. Both from the beautiful street art work and the history of the neighborhood. We ended the tour on a different note. Having been to the Old Biscuit Mill, Gilbert offered to walk us to Observation. An area undergoing gentrification and with a totally different vibe. We said goodbye with him recommending a restaurant for lunch for us. A badly needed respite from all that walking. Certainly a very entertaining afternoon. Something we’d never have done on our own and we leave richer, knowing more of the history and background of Cape Town.

We had a great afternoon with Gilbert. He arrived at the allotted time and place. We walked from the Old Town Hall towards District 6, dropping in on a cultural centre ( very interesting) on the way. Gilbert gave us excellent historical context to buildings and street art. He is a font of knowledge and answered all our questions. It became very clear that the sad history of District 6 clearance is very close to his heart as his own parents and grandparents used to live here. From District 6 we took an über to the areas of Woodstock and Saltriver where gentrification is setting in which became the topic. We would have never dared to visit these areas without Gilbert… and that would have been our great loss. Such interesting buildings and friendly people everywhere. A big thank you to you, Gilbert, for sharing this with us! Katja&Chris

It was my first local tour and I had such a great time with Gilbert. He showed me some hidden gems and I learned a lot about SA history. He was able to customize my experience to my needs and I really felt I was safe and welcomed. I feel like I gained a friend and I will definitely book him again next time I visit. I also appreciated all the extra advice and suggestions he gave me to enjoy for the rest of my trip.

Gilbert was the perfect guide for our tour and helped us with his knowledge and insights to not only understand the historical background of Cape Town, but to feel the vibe of it. Thanks so much for this entertaining and interesting afternoon - we can highly recommend Gilbert!