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Bo-Kaap Museum

Bo-Kaap Museum: Our most recommended tours and activities

Cape Town: 3-Hour Malay Cooking Class & Lunch in Bo-Kaap

1. Cape Town: 3-Hour Malay Cooking Class & Lunch in Bo-Kaap

A local food-lover, Faldela Tolker, will be waiting to greet you on the doorstep of her neat, lilac-colored house. She’ll welcome you into her kitchen where a large metal pot simmers on the stove, emitting a spicy aroma. Chef Faldela conducts cooking classes in her home in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town. The food cooked in this predominantly Muslin neighborhood is as piquant as the hot pink and burnt-orange painted houses that rise gently up the lower slopes of Signal Hill, part of Table Mountain. Unique to the Western Cape of South Africa, Cape Malay cuisine fuses African tradition with that of Malaysian and Indonesian slaves, brought over by the Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries. A blend of spices — ginger, fennel, star anise, tamarind, and, most importantly, turmeric — gives the food a distinct aromatic quality. Stews, roasts, and sauce-heavy curries are popular in Malay cuisine, as are meat patties, milk, and bread puddings.

Cape Town: 3-Hour Bike Tour

2. Cape Town: 3-Hour Bike Tour

Learn about Cape Town’s heritage on a bike tour from the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront to the bustling inner city, and get up close and personal with its inhabitants along the way. Marvel at the urban landscape, and see sights old and present as you visit the historic fort of the Castle of Good Hope, journey down Adderley Street and go to the former township of Bo-Kaap. Cycle to Company Gardens and St. George’s Mall and see the impressive Green Point Stadium, where the 2010 FIFA World Cup was held. Explore the newly landscaped Green Point eco park and admire the oldest working lighthouse in South Africa.

Cape Town: Half-Day Table Mountain and City Tour

3. Cape Town: Half-Day Table Mountain and City Tour

Ascend to the summit of Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town on a half-day tour that also includes a hotel pick-up and exploration of the city’s most historic neighborhoods. Start with a drive through the city center, passing landmarks such as the Castle of Good Hope, built in 1666 by the Dutch East India Company. Admire the baroque grandeur of City Hall and the Grand Parade. Continue along Adderley Street to St. George’s Cathedral, overseen by the Anglican Diocese of Nobel Peace Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Pass Company Gardens and the Malay Quarter (also known as “Bo-Kaap”) in the foothills of Table Mountain to see the historic district of the Cape Malays, descendants of slaves brought to Cape Town from Java, Ceylon and other regions of the Far East in the early 18th century. Next, go to Table Mountain via Kloof Nek, and ascend to the top (weather permitting) by revolving cable car (tickets not included). Look for wild flowers and the famous silver tree, before getting a bird’s-eye view of the city and its beaches. On clear days it’s possible to see Cape Point on one side and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, on the other side. 

Cape Town: Table Mountain Scooter Tour

4. Cape Town: Table Mountain Scooter Tour

Meet your guide at the Table Mountain Kloofnek parking area. Hop onboard a bus and be shuttled to Signal Hill for the 1st downhill run.  On arrival at Signal Hill, you will be issued with helmets and gloves, before receiving a safety briefing on how to operate the scooters. Follow the guide down a jeep track all the way into Bo Kaap to complete the first run of the tour. Next, hop back on board the bus and be taken to Table Mountain to reach the starting point of the 2nd downhill run. After being dropped at Dead Man's Tree, enjoy panoramic views of Cape Town, and take the opportunity to get some fantastic photos of the city. After this photo opportunity, freewheel down the mountain on another off-road trail, passing by Deer Park and finishing at Oranjezicht. After the shuttle up to Table Mountain, the fun begins again as you get the freewheel down a jeep track down the mountain, through Deer Park into Oranjezicht.

Cape Town: Private Full-Day Table Mountain and City Tour

5. Cape Town: Private Full-Day Table Mountain and City Tour

Join this tour for a day filled with the city's biggest highlights. Travel by cable car to top of Table Mountain. Descend through Malay Quarter, also known as Bo-Kaap. Visit the Bo-Kaap Museum and see the beautiful colorful houses. Explore the city center, Company Gardens, and Green Market Square. Visit the Castle of Good Hope, the oldest colonial building in South Africa. To finish the day, we take a bike ride along the Sea Point Promenade to the V and A Waterfront for a late lunch, shopping, or for drop-off at your hotel.

Cape Town Half-Day City Shared Tour & Table Mountain ticket

6. Cape Town Half-Day City Shared Tour & Table Mountain ticket

Start your morning with a pickup from your accommodation in Cape Town and begin your tour in the heart of the city, otherwise known as Adderley Street. While exploring this area see historical monuments like Bartholomew Dias, Jan van Riebeeck, and Zacharias Waganaer Reservoir. Proceed to the Castle of Good Hope, one of the oldest buildings in South Africa and have the chance to witness the Key Ceremony or the Cannon Firing Ceremony. Afterward, drive through the city and pass by City Hall where former president Nelson Mandela delivered his first speech after he was freed from prison. Arrive in the Bo-Kaap, formerly known as the Cape Malay Quarter, and take a photo stop with the colorful historic houses and have the opportunity to buy and taste Malay foods like Samoosas, Koeksisters, and Melktert. From the Bo-Kaap, make your way to the Noon Gun, a historic time signal in the city of Cape Town. While here, get an incredible view of Table Bay, the city center, the Atlantic Ocean, Robben Island, and Table Mountain. Move on to Afrogem Jewellers for a jewelry factory tour to see the manufacturing of exquisite African jewelry.  This tour culminates with a stop at Table Mountain to take the cable car to the top of the mountain for a guided tour.

Other Sightseeing Options in Bo-Kaap Museum

Want to discover all there is to do in Bo-Kaap Museum? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Bo-Kaap Museum

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 154 reviews

Had a great time cooking with Fedelda. She was clearly passionate and knowledgeable and delivered the lesson with a huge dollop of humour. Would highly recommend it She was also willing to share her experiences of post apartheid SA

We had a good time, as the Tafel Berg was not clouded or crowded. Also our guide was very caring and pleasant!

A fantastically beautiful trip, it was absolutely fantastic to walk around up there on the table mountain.

Very interesting introduction to creating a Malay curry. We enjoyed it very much.

It was brilliant, informative and a great experience