Bicycle Township Tour in Cape Town
Description
Gain insight into the changing urban dynamic of Cape Town on this bicycle township tour guided by a local. You will get to see traditional dancing by a Sangoma (traditional healer), visit a creche/ day care and have lunch at a local restaurant, either Nongoloza's or Nonny's. 10% of tour proceeds go towards Masicorp, an NGO dedicated to improving lives of the people in the local community. Choose to meet your guide at the starting point or to be picked up form your hotel.
Tour Options
Itinerary
En route to the location you could drive over Chapmans Peak or Ou kaapse Weg
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Dress code:It is advised to wear casual clothing and try to avoid excessive jewelery
- Please don't give sweets or money to the locals,rather donate to local NGO that helps with education and housing
- Please note: visit to the creche is on weekdays only
Reviews(48)
We did the tour through a township followed by a cooking workshop all with a guide. The guide was very enthusiastic and told us a lot about life in the townships and the food. We have been introduced to various projects that have been started and explored the area on foot and by bike. Earlier we also made a bike ride through Cape Town with AWOL (via Baja Bikes) led by an NL guide. This one was also very interesting with several facts about the history
Dear Hermandejonge, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed both your township tour and cooking workshop, as well as your Cape Town bike tour. Combining cultural experiences, local stories, and authentic interactions is something we strive for, and we're pleased that your guide's enthusiasm and insights helped bring the township's history, community initiatives, and culinary traditions to life. The opportunity to explore by both bike and on foot allows guests to connect more closely with the people, projects, and daily life of the communities they visit. We're glad you found the experience both informative and engaging. It's also wonderful to hear that you enjoyed your Cape Town bike tour and appreciated learning about the city's rich history from your guide. We believe that exploring by bicycle offers a unique perspective, allowing guests to discover far more than they might on a traditional walking tour while still being immersed in the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of the city. Thank you for choosing AWOL for multiple experiences during your visit. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for more adventures in the future. Kind regards, Helen for AWOL Tours.
What a super fun and informative tour! Vincent knows a lot about both history and life in this city. Highly recommended!
Dear Suzanne - Thank you for coming o our 3 hour immersive City Cycle Tour. We are so glad that you enjoyed all Vincents historical tales about the History of Cape Town All our City Cycle Guides are passionate about our city and her people We hope that you will share your positive experience of Cape Town with all your friends and family
This is the best way to get a glimpse of the city. The guide knows a lot about interesting and not always easy history
Thank you for taking the time to feedback to us anout our popular City Cycle Tour of the Mother City of Cape Town. Whilst our history is difficult - this tour is not! Three hours of easy - paced cyclig with interesting Guides through our beautiful city makes for a loely start or end to a vist to Cape Town !
Nothing so beautiful to see a city by bike. We had enthusiastic Amber as a guide and she let us discover Cape Town. Great experience and recommended
Thank you so much for stopping in to rate our City Cycle Tour that you experienced in Cape Town We are so happy that you chose AWOL Tours, and hope that you will be back soon to do another cycle or hike with us. Amber is a very enthusiastic and professional guide and we do love having her on our team, so glad you were lucky enough to book on one of her group tours .
We experienced the bike tour through the township as an enrichment of our trip. It was an interesting tour, where we got a realistic picture of life in a township. We found Lutho a very pleasant guide, who took the time to tell us about the township. He answered all our questions clearly. Lutho is a friendly and respectful man, with whom we felt very comfortable. He took good care of us and for safety. In addition, there was room for a joke here and there. An absolute must is this tour!
Dear Hilda J Thank you for taking the time to share your experience on the AWOL Tours Township Bike Tour. We are delighted that you found the tour enriching and that it offered a realistic and insightful glimpse into township life. AWOL guide Lutho is an experienced local guide who is passionate about sharing his community. It’s wonderful to hear that Lutho made you feel comfortable, answered all your questions clearly, and ensured your safety throughout the tour — all while sharing a friendly smile and a joke or two! We understand that some guests may have reservations about visiting an informal settlement and may feel uneasy about witnessing poverty firsthand. However, the residents of the townships warmly welcome visitors and actively encourage these tours, as they provide a valuable opportunity for local involvement in the tourism sector. Our township tours are operated on a non-profit basis, with fees directly supporting the individuals and communities we visit—those who make these experiences possible. The AWOL tourism project in Masiphumelele has created significant, sustainable benefits, offering real and lasting positive impacts for the local people. The residents of Masiphumelele have so much to offer, and we look forward to sharing this meaningful experience with many more guests in Cape Town. Thank you again for this very much appreciation recommendation. Kind regards, Helen for AWOL Tours.
Thank you Awol Tours and Lutho for giving us the opportunity to visit a township. First, the communication with Awol was perfect. Then we spent great moments in different churches and areas of the township. We also eat a traditional SA dish, the vegetarian meal called Tchakalaka! We also saw different projects for making life of the children better. Thanks to Lutho (our guide) we could see ordinary life but without a "voyeurist gaze" and it was so great. I definitively recommand this visit.
Dear Franck F, Thank you for your thoughtful and heartfelt review. We truly appreciate your kind words about your experience with AWOL Tours and our guide, Lutho. It is wonderful to hear that our communication met your expectations and that you enjoyed exploring the township, visiting churches, and experiencing local traditions—including the delicious Tchakalaka! We are especially grateful for your recognition of the community projects that aim to improve the lives of children. Providing authentic and respectful experiences is at the heart of what we do, and we’re delighted that you felt welcomed and engaged without a “voyeuristic gaze.” . AWOL guide Lutho takes great pride in sharing his community and culture with our visitors. We understand that some guests may have reservations about visiting an informal settlement and may feel uneasy about witnessing poverty firsthand. However, the residents of the townships warmly welcome visitors and actively encourage these tours, as they provide a valuable opportunity for local involvement in the tourism sector. Our township tours are operated on a non-profit basis, with fees directly supporting the individuals and communities we visit—those who make these experiences possible. The AWOL tourism project in Masiphumelele has created significant, sustainable benefits, offering real and lasting positive impacts for the local people. The residents of Masiphumelele have so much to offer, and we look forward to sharing this meaningful experience with many more guests in Cape Town. Thank you again for this very much appreciation recommendation. Kind regards, Helen for AWOL Tours.
Very interesting bike ride through township with lots of info from guide Lutho, he lives here with his family and grew up there, it was a good hour away for us, but on the way back plopped on the beach in Muizenberg, good combination 🤩
Beste Sacha V, Bedankt dat je de tijd hebt genomen om je culturele townshiptour door AWOL Tours te beoordelen. Wij stellen de aanbeveling zeer op prijs.We are so pleased that you enjoyed the company of your guide Lutho; yes the Masiphumelele cultural tour is an authentic experience guided by resident guides who live in Masiphumelele. We understand that this is not a leisure tour and guests might have reservations about visiting an informal settlement and feel awkward at viewing people’s obvious poverty. The local residents in Townships welcome you and encourage tours to take place in their communities, as it is one way in which they have an opportunity to get involved in the Tourism sector. The tours are operated at a non profit basis and a fee goes directly to the people we visit and who make this tour possible. The AWOL tourism project in Masiphumelele has generated significant, sustainable benefits and has proven to provide real, lasting benefits for the local people. The residents of Masiphumelele have so much to offer and we look forward to sharing the experience with many more guests to Cape Town. Kind regards, Helen AWOL Tours.
We had an amazing tour with our lovely knowledgeable local guide Lutho from AWOL. On a very relaxed cycle through Masiphumelele he showed us the school, library, computer centre and local church. We wandered on foot through the corridors of the informal settlement, met the wonderful local children and ate in a local restaurant. This tour was humbling, enlightening and highly recommended.
Thank you for taking the time to review your AWOL Tours Tours cultural township tour experience. We are so pleased that we could contribute meaningfully to your Cape Town stay. We very much appreciate this review and recommendation. AWOL Guide Lutho really enjoys sharing his community and his culture with our guests. Guests might have reservations about visiting an informal settlement and awkward at viewing people’s obvious poverty. The local residents in Townships welcome you and encourage tours to take place in their communities, as it is one way in which they have an opportunity to get involved in the Tourism sector. The tours are operated at a non profit basis and a fee goes directly to the people we visit and who make this tour possible. The AWOL tourism project in Masiphumelele has generated significant, sustainable benefits and has proven to provide real, lasting benefits for the local people. The residents of Masiphumelele has so much to offer and we look forward to sharing the experience with many more guests to Cape Town. Kind regards, Helen AWOL Tours.
We recently experienced an incredible 3-hour bike tour in Cape Town, and it was an absolute highlight of our trip! Our guide, Mike, was fantastic—knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about sharing the city’s unique history and culture. The tour took us through a variety of neighborhoods, each with its own distinct charm and story. From vibrant streets filled with colorful murals to quieter residential areas, it felt like we were seeing a side of Cape Town that most tourists miss. Mike provided interesting insights at every stop, making it both an educational and engaging experience. A real treat was sampling some local snacks along the way. They were delicious and added an authentic touch to the journey. It was also the perfect way to recharge before hopping back on the bikes to explore even more of the city. The pace of the tour was just right—relaxed enough to take in the sights, yet active enough to feel like an adventure. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just enjoy a leisurely ride, this tour is accessible to all. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Cape Town. It’s a fun, interactive way to explore the city, and with Mike as your guide, you’re guaranteed a memorable experience. Don’t miss it!
Dear Inspire41240788883, Thank you so much for taking the time to review your AWOL Tours Cape Town City Cycling tour experience. We are so pleased we could provide a highlight cycling experience and that you enjoyed the company and expertise of your AWOL Guide Mike; he’s passionate about sharing Cape Town’s history and culture, and it’s great to know his insights added value to your tour. Faeeza’s Home Kitchen is always a highlight, and we’re so glad you enjoyed the tasty break there! It’s fantastic that you found the tour easygoing and fun, with just the right amount of activity. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for more adventures in the future!
Great experience to see how people live and Lutho showed us an honest picture of life in the Township, we were allowed to ask anything we wanted to know!
