The Cape Town district of Bo-Kaap is deep in culturally diverse and historical significance. Formerly known as the Malay Quarter, the area today has deep cultural ties to Malaysia, Africa, India, and Sri Lanka, many of which date back to the slaves brought to the area by Dutch imperialists in the 16th and 17th centuries. Even today, tourists find the area’s rich history and many religious communities to be an interesting and unique combination.
The Bo-Kaap is one of the most interesting and vibrant areas in Cape Town, with many restaurants and shops to discover. The following are some of our top picks for must-see attractions in the Bo-Kaap neighborhood.
Bokaap, a vibrant Cape Malay (Muslim) district not far from the downtown area, was formerly home to the city’s slave population. In any case, the area expanded throughout time, and now a wide variety of people live there.
The Cape Malay community is now a thriving part of town. Residents are used to having their houses documented on Instagram, so feel free to go about and snap some shots. Our goal in visiting the area first thing in the morning was to take advantage of the best lighting for photographs and to see the neighborhood come to life.
Bokaap has top-notch Cape Malay eateries, and all are nearby the Auwal Mosque, South Africa’s first mosque. It is a great location for taking pictures of the colorful orange, green, pink, and blue homes.
This is the oldest residential neighborhood in South Africa, and its streets include the country’s greatest concentration of buildings constructed before 1850.
Bokaap is a vibrant neighborhood with a lot of attractions. The streets are well-known for their eye-catching color scheme and the high quality of its Cape Dutch and Cape Georgian architecture. Jan de Waal constructed the oldest surviving building in Bo-kaap in 1768; now, it serves as the Bo Kaap Museum, the best destination for first-time visitors to the area. The museum, designed to seem like the home of a prosperous Cape Malay family from the 19th century, provides visitors with a glimpse into the daily lives of the city’s first residents and an understanding of how Islamic customs have shaped Cape Town’s artistic and cultural landscape.
Terraced Cape Dutch buildings of the Bokaap are among of the oldest in Cape Town, having been developed in the 1760s by Dutch Colonialist Jan de Waal as accommodation for the Cape Malay slaves.
Located more than 1,100 meters (3,500 feet) above sea level, Table Mountain offers some of the city's finest panoramas of the greater Cape Town suburbs and the scenic Table Mountain National Park.
One of the first things we did was ride the world-famous cable car to the top of the mountain. The top cable station offers viewpoints, curio shops, a restaurant and walking trails of various lengths.
Nearby Lion's Head can be reached in about 45 minutes. It's like Table Mountain's little sibling or bro. Bring your camera on your trek, since this is one of the most picturesque areas in all of Cape Town.
In 1679, the Dutch East India Company constructed Slave Lodge to shelter its slaves. You can count on it being one of the city's oldest structures. Over 60000 slaves were traded here.
Cape Malay cuisine is a fusion food born in Africa. Its alimentary origins can be found in the cooking pots of 17th and 18th century exiled dissidents and slaves brought to the Cape.
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Bokaap is far more secure for travelers than some of Cape Town’s other less affluent neighborhoods. The V&A Waterfront (the city’s primary tourist destination) is a 10-minute drive away, although the city center can be reached on foot in about five minutes.
Walking along Wale Street towards the Bokaap Museum is the quickest way to locate oneself in the center of Bokaap. Spend an hour or two getting lost in the museum’s charming side alleyways after you’ve finished perusing the exhibitions.
Anyone interested in learning from a local guide can sign up for one of the numerous BoKaap walking tours offered across the city. Cost-free Guided Tours There is a well-liked free walking tour of Cape Town, however visitors are encouraged to bring cash to tip the guide.
