What is the world's oldest registered trademark? How many water
reservoirs are there on Table Mountain? Where exactly did Jan van
Riebeeck land? What was the purpose of Green Market Square? A
three-hour walking tour with Footsteps to Freedom answers all your
burning questions about Cape Town.
By far the best way to get to know a strange city, its history and
its culture is by exploring it by foot. Or even better: by a guided
walking tour by Footsteps to Freedom. In no less than three hours, a
highly experienced and very knowledgeable guide takes you on a guided walk
through Cape Town and through its modern history, covering all
important periods: The moment the Dutch landed in 1652, the overtaking
by the British, the era of slavery, the period of apartheid and of
course the birth of freedom and democracy.
"It is estimated that Jan van Riebeeck landed over there," Carline
of Footsteps to Freedom says, standing on the Grand Parade with her
back to City Hall and pointing to the Absa building. "Where we are
standing he built his first fort from wood. Weather circumstances and
the ocean made him build a second, more durable construction which we
know as The Castle."
The Castle isn't the only souvenir of Jan van Riebeeck and the
beginning of Dutch, thus European, presence in the Cape. "The bricks
used for the steps were used as ballast in ships of the Dutch East
India Company or the Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC)," Carline
explains at the Old Town House on Green Market Square, which houses
priceless paintings of Dutch and Flemish masters. "And did you know -by
the way- that the VOC is the world's oldest trade mark?"
Greenmarket Square was where farmers and slaves sold vegetables and
fruit produced in amongst other the Company Garden. This lush and
exotic garden was once the veggie garden of the VOC. "Slavery and
slaves play an important role in the Cape's history," Carline says,
explaining about cruel slave codes, the inhumane treatment of slaves in
the Cape and the impact slaves had on South African culture and
language.
Indeed, the guided tour incudes many slavery sites like the Slave
Lodge, the Slave Tree near Church Square and the Slave Church on Long Street.
One of the most interesting stops of the Footsteps To Freedom
walking Tour is the District Six Museum. This fascinating museum is
dedicated to District Six. In the 1960's this colourful, vibrant and
multicultural neighbourhood was allocated as a white residential area.
When the community resisted the decision, the authorities flattened the
area and scattered the community over the Cape Flats.
Only a few mosques and churches remain on the still barred land.
"Steps are being made to let people move back into District Six",
Carline explains. "The first families have already moved back!"
Our tour ends with a stroll through the Company Garden, where we
walk along the buildings of Parliament, the Tuynhuys, a massive statue
of John Cecil Rhodes. It is unbelievable that this lush, exotic garden
with soft lawns and a small restaurant used to be the working ground of
hundreds of slaves. Luckily time has changed in South Africa. For the
best!
The Footsteps to Freedom Walking tours, free with
The Cape Town Pass, depart from Monday to Saturday at 10:30 from Cape Town Tourism Visitor
Information Center, Burg Street, Cape Town City Centre. Contact +27 (0)
21 465 2032 / + 27 (0) 83 452 1112 for more information.
The Foot Steps to Freedom walking tours are usually done in
English, depending on the availability of multilingual guides. But, on
request, all the information is provided in several other languages as
French, Dutch German and Italian.
Source: Miriam Mannak / CapeTownMagazine.com
This tour is Free with the Cape Town Pass.
The Cape Town Pass comprises of a choice of over 65 attractions
to choose from, all included in a full colour guide book.
CapeTownMagazine.com has negotiated the absolute best price anywhere,
as we give 15%(!) discount when you book your pass online with us.
How does the Cape Town Pass work? Read more and click here!
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