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Private tour in Cape Town Lesley C
Historical Waterfront Tour with a Local
5.0
(2) reviews
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2 hours
1
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2 hours
1
Lesley C.
5.0
Guide rating
26
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3 hrs
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Good day I have been a tour guide offering private tours for 21 years and love sharing the history, culture and heritage of Cape Town on foot. To absorb the true spirit of a city, I believe this is best enjoyed by walking. My walking tours are a mix of history, heritage, culture, architecture, memorial art, and stories about people and events which have shaped our community today. I will be able to tailor the route around your interests, use a pace comfortable to you and it will give us a chance to engage and reflect about our history and culture. Cape Town offers a mix of colonial and political history; you will feel comfortable to engage and ask questions about any subject. I am a traveler also, so, understand firsthand the level of service and experience you are looking for. Timing is flexible, if need a coffee stop, or to visit inside a church on route for example. I never stop learning. We are lucky to have active museums, and historical societies, and I regularly attend evening lectures. I am a volunteer committee member for a local heritage society and organize excursions and speakers to generate funds for heritage preservation. My new volunteer role is to reignite our heritage blue plaque program, whereby blue plaques are established on buildings around the city to recognize people and events which have made a key contribution to our history. I am looking forward to meeting you and welcoming you to Cape Town. Registered Tour Guide (Qualified as National Guide) BA (Hons) History (graduated in 2016) I am not offering driving tours (walking tours only), but I can arrange for a car and driver should the need arise.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Lesley C.
2-hour walk through the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Overview of your Cape Town tour
First impressions of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and you could be forgiven for thinking you are entering a giant mecca of shops, restaurants, and boat trips. But scratch beneath the surface on a historical walking tour, hidden away are stories of convict labour, maritime history, and the lengths they went to, to create this working harbour. Stories about the historical development of the fishing and agricultural industries and how they depended on this port to supply the growing population of Cape Town. The concept behind the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront started in 1860 with the plans to build a breakwater to minimize the shipwrecks, and Prince Alfred ceremoniously throwing the foundation stones. This walking tour is two hours at a leisurely pace and there are many places for refreshments on route. The itinerary can be customized upon request. The following itinerary can be customized to suit your needs and interests. Feel free to contact me.
Your Cape Town tour itinerary
Meeting point: Protea Breakwater Lodge, Portswood Road Former Industrial Breakwater prison Treadmill: 19th century punishment for convict labour and view the original prison walls from the first prison of 1860. Time ball: Mariner's time keeping for their navigation instruments, the chronometers Tunnel: stones were brought along this route to create the first breakwater Breakwater: ceremonial throwing of the foundation stones by Prince Alfred Jetty One museum: original jetty to transport prisoners to Robben Island Union Castle Building: the main shipping line bringing the mail and vacationers Nobel Square: memorial art to our four Nobel Peace Prize winners Robinson Dry Dock: and the creation of the basins Clock Tower: the original office of the harbour master's office The Fishing Industry at the Cape Synchrolift: modern dry dock The Silo: history of the agricultural industry and today Museum of Contemporary Africa Art Makers Landing: Duncan Dock (container ships) and cruise terminal
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Transport details
Type: Walking
This is a walking tour. No transportation offered, but can be organized on request.
What's included
What's not included
Meeting location
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Cruise Terminal, Breakwater Protea Lodge, Cape Grace Hotel, this tour is flexible for any meeting point inside the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and Cruise Terminal.
- You can request a different meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout process.
Other details
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EnglishActivity level
Traveller reviews for this private tour in Cape Town
2 reviews
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2 hours
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2 hours
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Book with a deposit
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
How it works
- Your credit card will be authorized only for the deposit amount.
- Funds will not be withdrawn until your tour booking is fully processed.
- 30 days before your tour date, the remaining balance is automatically charged.