South Africa Bicycle Township Tour

Learn about the political past of Apartheid, how to click like a Xhosa and join the Sangoma for a traditional ceremony all whilst cycling through the community on a bicycle.

“AWOL’s Community-based Bicycle Tours in Cape Town are a responsible take on township tours, providing tourists with many more opportunities to interact with the community than they would have from an air-conditioned bus.”

AWOL started operating Bicycle Township Tours in Masiphumelele in 2002 in conjunction with BEN a non-profit organisation that imports second hand bikes, trains bike mechanics and assists entrepreneurs to operate bicycle shops in communities. We also sponsor shared premises with Songezo cycling academy where tour guests, on occasion, get to meet and engage with these young athletes. Guests have the option to sponsor a younger rider or bring nutritious high energy non perishable food items to assist with cycle tour training.

In 2006 at the World Travel Centre in London this bicycle township tour was the winner of the First Choice Responsible Tourism Award for the category “Best for Innovation and Technology”.

A local guide will take us round the township visiting interesting places and explaining some local Xhosa customs. During school time, we visit a local crèche where the teachers work under very difficult circumstances. Part of the tour proceeds go towards the betterment of their facilities. A highlight of the tour is to visit a Sangoma (traditional healer) who performs interactive dancing and drumming. For lunch we visit a local African restaurant or a local entrepreneur who hosts the tourist groups in her home and prepares authentic African tea or lunch. 10% of all tour proceeds go directly to Masicorp a non profit organisation.

Guests might have reservations about visiting an informal settlement and feel awkward at viewing people’s obvious poverty. The local residents in townships welcome you and encourage tours to take place in their communities, as it is one way in which they have an opportunity to get involved in the tourism sector. The tours are operated on a non profit basis and a fee goes directly to the people we visit who make this tour possible.

The AWOL tourism project in Masiphumelele has generated significant, sustainable benefits and has proven to provide real, lasting benefits for the local people.