We see many beautiful places on Instagram every day that inspire us to travel to certain destinations. If South Africa was ever on your list, then probably those colourful houses in Cape Town were one of the things that talked you into it. But before heading to Bo-Kaap, the vibrant neighborhood with the famed buildings, how about you learn more about it?
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All About Bo-Kaap and the Colourful Houses in Cape Town
The story behind these colourful houses in Cape Town is as bright and refreshing as its sight is.
DON’T FORGET TO GET INSURED
The History of Bo-Kaap
Bo-Kaap was formerly known as the Malay Quarter as it was inhabited by Cape Malays. Those were slaves who were brought from Malaysia, Indonesia, and the rest of the African continent to work in the city.
Now, you’re probably wondering why the houses are painted in all these bright shades. Back in the 1760s, Cape Dutch and Georgian rental houses, known as “huurhuisjes”, were built and leased to slaves. The rule was that all houses, that were aligned by cobbled roads, had to be white. But when this rule was lifted and the slaves became able to purchase their houses, they decided to paint them in the brightest colors as a metaphor for freedom!
The neighborhood that’s been home to the Cape Town Muslim population, sits at the foot of Signal Hill. You can easily reach Bo-Kaap through Rose, Chiappini, Shortmarket, and Wale Streets, which also mark the iconic area’s borders.
Things to Know About the Bo-Kaap Community
They love rugby
The sport runs in the Bo-Kaap community’s blood; the love for rugby has been passed from one generation to another. It’s very big there!
Craftsmanship is also big
From beadwork to shoemaking, the Bo-Kaap community is known for bringing up very talented artisans, whose work speaks on their behalf.
Things to Do and See in Bo-Kaap
Go on a Bo-Kaap walking tour
You have to go on a walking tour around the neighborhood via Tinggly or Viator. See the iconic houses up close, snap a few photos, and don’t forget to take a picture with the famous vintage blue Ford Cortina, parked there, AKA Mikki’s Ride.
Take a cooking class
Learning cookery overseas is an unforgettable experience and a great way to not just get to know the culture, but also make new friends. Explore the Cape Malay cuisine and get to learn from the experts by taking a cooking class in Bo-Kaap, which could be easily booked through Viator or Airbnb Experiences. Or you could opt for traditional food tasting if you feel out of place in the kitchen. Either way, these are hands down a couple of the most fun Cape Town tours.
Visit the mosques of Bo-Kaap
Bo-Kaap boasts more than nine mosques, which make up one of the cornerstones of the community’s culture. The oldest mosque there is the Auwal Mosque in Dorp Street. Other iconic mosques include Mosque Shafee and Boorhaanol Mosque.
Visit the Bo-Kaap Museum
The Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum is actually one of the oldest houses that were built in the neighborhood. The building dates back to the mid-eighteenth century and the museum showcases Islamic culture and heritage as it depicts the lifestyle of a nineteenth-century Muslim family.
Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance!
Travel (solo or not) isn’t always rainbows and butterflies – things might go down south sometimes. You might fall ill or lose your luggage, and that’s when you’ll thank me for having your back covered with travel insurance.
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Booking a trip soon? Here are some useful travel resources:
- Book your flight with Skyscanner, Kiwi, CheapOair, or WayAway.
- Book your hostel with Hostelworld.
- Book your hotel with Booking.com or Agoda.
- Get your travel insurance with SafetyWing.
- Hire a car with Skyscanner, Discover Cars, Rentalcars, or AutoEurope.
- Book your tours with Viator or Klook.
- Download an eSIM from Airalo or Jetpac.
- Check out my trip planning tools for more travel resources.
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Nadine is an Egyptian curly-head who decided to quit the norm because it just doesn’t suit her. She ditched her 9-5 as a magazine editor to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time digital nomad and to inspire aspiring travelers to embark on their own solo adventures.
Beautiful story! Also, I had no idea that
slaves were also brought to Africa. Very
interesting read.
Glad you found this informative 🙂
I love it. I have been wanting to go here for so long.
Then you shouldn’t wait any longer! That’s a great plan for when the travel ban is lifted 🙂
I can’t believe that I was in South Africa a few years ago and didn’t visit Bo-Kaap! Big mistake but just an
excuse to go back and visit! Loved your colorful photos!
Now you have an excuse to revisit!
Thank you 🙂
This is one of my favourite places in Cape Town. I try to go there every time I’m in the city!
It was one of my favorite places there too!
I love that you’ve delved into the history. I’d seen the beautiful images of this area before but didn’t know
anything about it.
Now you know the story behind them 😀 I’m glad you found this useful and informative!
Wow that’s interesting..loved those
colourful houses .hope to visit someday
You’ll love it even more in real life 🙂
Those houses are stunning in a completely different way. Makes me want to put South Africa on the “to
visit” list.
Oh South Africa is a beautiful country! You should definitely visit!
Wow what a bright and vibrant place to visit!
It’s a really really cheerful and lovely place!
What a beautiful town! But also, what an informative article on Bo-Kaap. It has a fascinating history. I
hope to visit one day.
Glad you enjoyed this read 🙂
Those colorful houses are so cool! This place is very photogenic, I am sure I would have a lot of fun
wandering here! Thank you for sharing more info about the history!
It is even more beautiful in real life! Glad you enjoyed this as much as I did 🙂
What stunning houses! I love all the
colors and would love to visit for
myself. Thanks for sharing!
Pretty sure you’d enjoy it as much as I did 🙂
These are amazing pictures. So inviting I definitely want to go.
You’d really enjoy it there 🙂
Those buildings are super
gorgeous. I don’t know if I will
ever get to go. Butbit would be
lovely.
You should definitely add it to your list 🙂 Totally worth it!
Beautiful history
How to get there?
An adress please
Bo-Kaap is the name of the neighbourhood in Cape Town. So, if you just write that on your GPS, you’ll get there. I personally took an Uber and both the location and driver knew where to drop me off.
Hi,
I love your website and of course, your beautiful photos. I just wondered, if any of these properties go on
sale? If one was supposed to visit, would it be possible to see inside one of them?
Cheers!
Maggie
Hi Maggie! I wouldn’t know about this since I’m not from there.. This is a tourist site because of the neighborhood’s story and heritage, yet the houses belong to the people. We don’t usually knock on people’s doors to ask them for a tour around the house if there’s no “on-sale” sign, so my guess would be no, I don’t think it’s possible. Unless a landlord is putting his property on sale.. and I don’t even know if that’s possible in Bo-Kaap.. In some cases (maybe in certain countries), certain buildings are viewed as monuments that cannot be sold nor knocked down.. Not sure if that’s the case there.. your best option is to try to reach out to a local; they’d be more knowledgeable about this.