Bo Kaap (meaning ‘above the Cape’ in Afrikaans) is also known as the Malay Quarter, and is the oldest suburb in Cape Town.

The suburb is a thriving Muslim community, and was largely left untouched during the forced removals in the Apartheid era.  Original cobbled paving and brilliantly coloured traditional Malay houses can still be seen in most parts of the suburb, which give it a special appeal.

Bo Kaap is bordered by Tamboerskloof on the city bowl side, with Military Road forming the border. On the other side, Bo Kaap is bordered by De Waterkant. It is a few minutes walk to the CBD, and situated on the slopes of Signal Hill.

One of the busiest roads in Bo Kaap is Whale Street, which is where you will be able to sample some fine Cape delicacies at the Spice Market, and also visit a community arts project called Monkey Biz.

If you are lucky, you may get a glimpse of the legendary Bo Kaap ice-cream van, which runs exclusively through the Bo Kaap area during summer afternoons and can be heard from miles away.

The area is fairly safe, however it is recommended to arrange a tour of the area through a travel broker such as Giltedge Travel. This will ensure that you don’t miss a thing, and those steep cobbled roads are easier to manage by car.