I am now 21 years old, and have lived in Cape Town literally all my life. This here is an amazing city. It’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is ranked as one of the best travel destinations.

The sad and disappointing thing about this city is the vast and growing gap between rich and poor which is most clearly visible when driving from the Cape Town International Airport-one of the best airports worldwide-situated near Nyanga East(one of the biggest townships in Cape Town and where I was born) towards the city center.

You can’t say you’ve seen Cape Town until you’ve seen Robben Island, Table Mountain, The Waterfront, The amazing beaches, right? But equally so, you can’t say you’ve really seen Cape Town until you’ve visited it’s informal settlements (townships) located in the outskirts of the city. The townships are home to millions of people and have a thriving economical and social culture within them. So to anyone visiting Cape Town I would suggest getting the best of both worlds.

Going to a Tshisa Nyama in the townships is a must. Whether it’s Ace’s place in Khayelitsha, Maphindi’s in Nyanga, Chippa’s in Paarl or Mzoli’s in Gugulethu, you are sure to recieve a good time! So when in the Mother City, be sure to check out a tshisa nyama for Le good  meat, Le good people and Le good fun!

If you wanna know about the history of Cape Town and of the townships particularly, then a township tour is the way to go. Though these tours may not be a direct reflection of people’s lives, they are an amazing way to learn about the history of Cape Town, interact with the people and see a different side of the city. From bicycle tours to B&B, these promise to open up the visitor to the warm and exciting vibe of the townships.

All I’m trying to say is, there is more to Cape Town than the lush beaches and fancy restaurants.