Championing the cause of eco-tourism while exploring the city on two wheels.
According to the tour guides, the idea is not just to help locals rediscover places that they had relegated to their childhood memories but to also help the travellers – who come to the city for business trips – connect with the city. And of course ensure that tourists experience the city in a unique way while also saving the environment from carbon emissions
“What’s really unique about awol tours is that we follow the philosophy of responsible tourism closely, we want to provide the best experience for the guest so that it has benefits to community and the environment.” Helen Baker – AWOL tours
The cyclists get to know the city differently and are able to explore the back lanes. In the city of Cape Town – tourists learn about the country’s favourite son – Nelson Mandela – His incarceration and being the first black president in this country. But they also gain a deeper understanding of South Africa’s complex social dynamics first hand.
“Where we stand now, this is the start of District six – district six, almost exactly sixty years ago, it was proclaimed as a whites only area. This is in the early 1960s when the group areas act took place in South Africa. What the government did at that time – this is under apartheid – they cleared the whole area, bulldozed the whole are except the religious sites, so this area was rebuilt.” Jeremy Schreiner – Tour Guide
But even though we can live wherever we want these days you still see the effects of that. The tours have also been extended to the townships. It’s where tourists learn of the hardships and challenges of daily life in areas close to Cape Town’s bustling city centre.
“It brings tourism into the township which are not always communities that can get out, it’s a very authentic cultural experience and also beneficial to the communities.” Helen Baker- AWOL tours
Awol tours wants to extend the cycle tours to all townships around Cape Town.
