Bo-Kaap | Vitality Travel
Nestled at the foot of Signal Hill, a stone's throw from the city centre, is one of the most Instagram-worthy spots in Cape Town: the Bo-Kaap.
Any trip to Cape Town is incomplete without a stop to the Smarties-coloured “huurhuisjes” (rental houses) that the Dutch colonists leased to the Cape Malay slaves back in the 1760s. Built in Cape Dutch and Georgian architectural styles, the houses had to be white while on lease. When this rule was finally binned and the community was allowed to buy the properties, they painted the houses in bright colours in celebration of their freedom.
Most importantly, it is home to the Cape Malay community. Cape Malays are a fusion culture made up from the slaves brought from Malaysia, Indonesia and other parts of Asia and Africa to work in the Cape. Many families who live in the Bo-Kaap have lived there for generations, the community is a fundamental part of the Cape’s cultural heritage. Today, plannign a trip means planning the locations where you’ll shoot fire Instagram content. We spoke to some content creators about their top tips to help you get the most out of your trip.
African travel blogger Farirai Sanyika (known as Gophari), counts Bo-Kaap among her fave cultural hotspots in South Africa. “Colours bring joy, Bo-Kaap is a happy place. It's a colourful showcase of the Cape Malay community's heritage. I love that visitors are welcomed warmly and that it is free to go there. There’s no place like Bo-Kaap in South Africa. Beyond it being incredibly instagrammable, it’s a destination of historical significance for its community,” Sanyika says.
“There’s so much to learn about this oldest surviving residential neighbourhood in Cape Town,” says travel content creator Tebogo Pin-Pin. “Learning about the area you plan to visit and its community gives you a better understanding of the environment and how it should be treated,” Pin-Pin says.
Comedian Yaaseen Barnes has family in Bo-Kaap, and says the community is very close to his heart. Barnes encourages visitors to look beyond the postcard to the culture. “Bo-Kaap is such a warm community. You literally have to speak to someone, greet them and they will welcome you into their home. They’ll tell you stories for days about every generation that has lived there and everything they went through to still be there. It’s a tourist destination that brings you to the people of Cape Town,” he says. When speaking to the locals, call older men “Uncle” and older women “Aunty” as a sign of respect.
Bo-Kaap is part of the lineage of Islam in South Africa, boasting the first-established mosque in South Africa: the Auwal Mosque, built in 1794. Here, you can learn about the story of Tuan Guru, the mosque’s first Imam. There are many mosques in the small space of Bo-Kaap and all of them are well-loved with their own place in history. Hearing the athaan (call to prayer) in Bo-Kaap is a special part of the experience. “It makes you feel part of the community. You hear it and think, I’m close to home and I’m close to people, I’m not just an outsider,” Barnes says.
Barnes encourages visitors to eat in Bo-Kaap, because food is part of the culture. There’s Bo-Kaap Kombuis, offering traditional Malay food which has survived over generations. There’s also Biesmillah, a fast food place, which serves the street food of the community and Cape Town. Against The Grain, Barnes’ friend’s place, puts a restaurant twist on indigenous food.
Food and lifestyle blogger Razeena Palekar also encourages visitors to sink their teeth into the most delicious koesisters (spiced Cape Malay doughnuts drenched in a sticky syrup and rolled in coconut) in the city. Palekar swears by the koesisters from Rose Café.
The best time to visit and shoot content is the off-peak. “Given the location of Bo-Kaap, it’s best to avoid visiting during peak times,” Palekar advises. Pin-Pin adds to avoid the main street (Wale) because it’s so busy. “Park on Wale Street and take a walk to inner small streets to get the best pictures. They are always empty or have fewer people,” he says.
Palekar’s top outfit tips for Instagram-worthy content? First of all, choose comfy shoes, because the incline is not for the faint hearted. “Try to stick to neutrals and simple colours when planning your look so you stand out better against your generously bright backdrop!” Palekar says. Sanyika likes to wear white when she’s in Bo-Kaap and shooting content for this reason.
When it comes to posing, Sanyika says to get creative. “Try standing between two different coloured houses or add some movement to your shot by jumping and skipping.” She also advises to check the weather before you go, because sunny days make for the best shots.
Palekar suggests observing the design of the homes when taking note of the architecture: “I love how deceptive the houses are,” she says. “They look fairly cosy from the outside but many of them are super spacious with unique layouts inside.”
Just remember, the houses around Bo-Kaap are people’s homes. “If you see people sitting outside the homes, politely greet them and ask if it’s okay to take pictures of their homes,” Pin-Pin says.
Echoing Pin-Pin, Gophari reminds visitors to be respectful of the fact that you are visiting a real neighbourhood and community. “Though visiting Bo-Kaap is free, consider giving into the community by doing a paid guided tour or a Bo-Kaap experience like a Cape-Malay cooking class. You can find local-run experiences through Airbnb Experiences,” she says.
Everybody has the same Instagram post. Follow Barnes advice and connect to the space. “The photos you take will look and feel different because you are different. When you know about Bo-Kaap and you have a relationship with it, you’ll take pictures that are different,” he says.
Follow the content creators whose insights you read in this article.
Farirai Sanyika (Gophari)
Instagram: @Gophari
http://www.gophari.com/
Yaaseen Barnes
Instagram: @ya_a_seen_him
https://yaaseenbarnes.co.za/
Razeena Palekar
Instagram: @razeenapalekar
www.ladolcerosa.com
Tebogo Pin-Pin
Instagram: @tebogo_pinpin
www.westerncapeexperiences.com