Photo Gallery
Introduction to townships
Published: 31/01/2011 by Carrie Hampton
Apartheid-era 'Homelands Policy' allocated areas according to ethnicity. This has left its mark on the ethnic distribution of Cape Town to this day, and townships are there in all their squalor for everyone to see. The spectacle greets you before your plane lands, as many of Cape Town's informal settlements are adjacent to the airport. These overpopulated areas are distinguishable by their lack of infrastructure and services, but adhere proudly and defiantly to a mixture of traditional and western ways.
Don't be afraid to head into a township (probably best on a guided tour), to see, feel, smell and touch a side of life very different from you own. Your visit will be most rewarding and your fears will be quickly allayed by the optimism and warmth of Cape Town townships residents.
For a much more detailed guide on Cape Town townships and tours, please read this book.
