South Africa’s notorious apartheid era left a legacy of vivid social inequality. During apartheid, races were forcibly separated with people of colour being relegated to the so called “townships”. These areas, situated on the periphery of white cities, were underdeveloped and served primarily as a labour source for the cities.

Post-apartheid South Africa inherited the townships with their associated challenges of poor infrastructure. And so today many of the country’s poor continue to live in these neighbourhoods which were designed by the architects of apartheid and created during the apartheid era.

However, today there are no longer controls on where people of different races may live and these “townships” are considered to be just additional suburbs of the associated cities.

These are vibrant and colourful communities with associated histories of resistance during the anti-apartheid period and many visitors to South Africa are intrigued to experience township life. However there is a fine line between a sensitive cultural immersion and voyeurism.

RACONTOURS RECOMMENDS a company that manages to not only unmistakably provide a sensitive and informative tour but also brings an additional positive dimension to the tour. Our partners introduce you to township life through the medium of projects that are making a positive impact on people’s lives. The tours visit constructive projects in the township, where you meet enthusiastic township dwellers and learn about their lives.

Furthermore the cost of your tour goes toward supporting several successful projects that are enhancing the quality of life of people who most need it.