Cultural tours in South Africa


Cultural tours in South Africa can encompass everything from Winelands to townships. You can shop at local markets for Swazi blown glass or Zulu beadwork, blend spices at a Cape Malay cooking workshop, join the party at an Afrikaans braai (barbecue), or dig into Cape Town street food.
Some tours take in a stretch of the magnificent Garden Route, allowing you to learn about medicinal plants and traditional hunting techniques in a Xhosa village, or admire the art deco architecture of Durban. Even the longest holiday in South Africa can only skim the surface here, but travelling with responsible tour operators ensures that not only will you make the most of your time but also that your trip will have real benefits to the communities you visit.
Our South Africa Holidays
KwaZulu Natal discovery tour, South Africa
A tailor-made trip to South Africa's KwaZulu Natal region
Garden Route holiday, tailor made, South Africa
Wildlife, mountains & sandy beaches, adventure and people
South Africa holiday, Cape escape
South Africa's highlights: Beaches, winelands and wildlife.
Classic South Africa tour, tailor made
A drive around South Africa! Safari, good food, wine and more
Cape Town walking holiday
Leisurely walks and excursions in Cape Town
South Africa archaeology tour
Unravel humanity's origins in and journeys out of Africa
Gardens of South Africa tour
Discover jewels of the Cape Floral Kingdom in spring time
South Africa gourmet tour
Savour the culinary flavours & wines of the Cape and Karoo
Johannesburg to Cape Town tour in South Africa
An incredible journey of wildlife, culture and stunning scenery
Cape Town & winelands holiday, South Africa tailormade
Explore this city, meet its people, and taste fabulous wine and food
South Africa food & wine tour
An epicurean expedition to sample local Cape specialities
South Africa food and wine tour
Luxury Guided Food and Wine Tour in the Cape
Kruger, coast and cape holiday in Southern Africa
African wildlife, friendly locals and relaxing beaches
Family holiday to South Africa & Swaziland
Kruger, Swaziland and Durban with the family
South Africa architecture tour
Discover unique Cape Dutch and Afro-fusion building styles
Arts and crafts holiday in South Africa
See how South Africa's zesty art, craft & design intersect
South Africa history tour
Track South Africa's turbulent past via historical hotspots
South Africa vista lodge safari
Classic Journey northern South Africa, Kruger private lodge
South Africa luxury holiday, 14 days
Great food, wine, beach & safari experience in South Africa
Kwa Zulu Natal self drive South Africa holiday
South Africa's best kept secret, a must for second time visitors
Things to do on a South Africa cultural holiday
Township tours
Explore tribal culture
There is no one tribal culture in South Africa. Even the Zulu people – the largest ethnic group in the country, who live mostly in the KwaZulu-Natal province – are enormously diverse in their customs and beliefs. Xhosa tribes mainly live around the Eastern Cape, and smaller ethnic groups include Bapedi, Batswana, Basotho, Swazi and Tsonga.In Addo, you might spend time with Xhosa people, learning techniques for survival in the African bush. Find out how to identify medicinal plants, shield your skin from the sun by plastering it in clay, track animals and set snares for them, find drinking water, and build a shelter.
And in KwaZulu-Natal – homeland of the Zulu people – township tours will introduce you to contemporary Zulu culture while supporting scholarship programmes for local children. Explore historic battlefields such as Rorke’s Drift with informed guides and learn how to create traditional beadwork. Evenings are spent in restaurants that profit share with projects that support street children in Durban.
Drive the Garden Route
Our top South Africa Holiday
South Africa holiday, Cape escape
South Africa's highlights: Beaches, winelands and wildlife.
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Toast the Winelands
Understanding apartheid
Apartheid (Afrikaans for apartness) became law in South Africa in the 1950s with a series of Land Acts that provided a legal framework for segregationist policies. Non-whites were forced to carry identity documents, use different public facilities and denied political representation. Interracial relationships were banned. But while there was always both national and international opposition to the apartheid system, it took half a century of chipping away at the foundations before it was brought down.The figurehead of the anti-apartheid movement was Nelson Mandela. To understand the roots of apartheid, how the legislation was finally repealed, and the birth of the Rainbow Nation, you need to know the story of Mandela, warts and all. The best place to start is Robben Island in Cape Town, where he was incarcerated for 18 years.
Discover KwaZulu-Natal
More about South Africa
