To book a tour contact: kate@cultureconnectsa.com +27 (0)72 377 8014

Let us create a special tour for you,
perhaps a combination of art, design and heritage.
We can arrange leisurely paced or lightening speed tours.

Art to see and Art to buy

Discover Cape Town’s dynamic and growing art scene.

Whether you are just looking or interested in buying, we have the knowledge and contacts to help you get what you are after.

Cape Town’s Centre

Combine a visit South Africa’s national gallery or leading art school (Michaelis) with a studio visit and walk around Cape Town, including small and hard to find galleries and art.

Winelands

Head to Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Franschhoek or Constantia to view private collections (and studios), set in stunning landscapes.

V&A Waterfront and Docks

Visit top galleries, public art and the new Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, as well as a bronze foundry.

Cultural Quarters (Woodstock)

Combine visiting contemporary art galleries of note with studios and street art. Woodstock, Maitland, Newlands, Observatory and/or Salt River.

Township Tours

See how art transforms through education and enterprise – Langa, Imizamo Yethu (Hout Bay), Gugulethu or Masiphumelele.

Collections

Enjoy South African modern and contemporary art in situ – collectors’ homes, wine estates and offices. Also by special arrangement, see the nation’s collection of art and artefacts not on public display.

Enquire

Design and architecture

Learn the history of Cape Town, as told through its design and architecture. Or just enjoy the variety of styles and influences. Shopping can be included.

Cape Town’s Centre

Experience Dutch 17th-century city planning, British colonial architecture, Islamic heritage and the colourful Bo-Kaap, 20th-century international styles, the legacy Apartheid planning, and recent developments.

Art Deco

Visit some of the world best-preserved Art Deco architecture from Mutual Heights, the tallest building in Africa at the time (1939), to Mullers, which still serves its original purpose as an optometrist.

V&A Waterfront

Discover how Africa’s most visited attraction, developed from having coastal defences in the late 1600s to iconic old grain silos converted by multi-awarded designer Thomas Heatherwick CBE.

Townships & Informal Settlements

Visit creative, collaborative community architecture of note. A sobering and humbling, yet often uplifting and life-affirming experience.

Central Design Town

Enjoy a pick of the best local design studios, shops and showrooms. Homewares, furniture, leatherwork, beading and textiles – mainly by locals but also designers and makers from around Africa.

Winelands

See the distinctive 17th and 18th century Cape vernacular to contemporary wine farms and sculpture gardens, while enjoying stunning landscapes and mountain views.

Enquire

Heritage and Social History

Immerse yourself in Cape Town’s rich heritage with guided historical walking tours, either quick orientations ideal for first-time visitors, or in-depth special interest.

Cape Town’s Centre

Combining the must-see sights, with getting off the beaten track, you’ll get a good feel of the city’s vibe and history, plus what else to see independently.

Simon’s Town, Muizenberg & Kalk Bay

Take a scenic peninsular tour and have cultural stops – the 200 year old naval base in Simon’s Town, the fishing town of Kalk Bay popular home to artists and Muizenberg, once Cape Town’s Riviera.

Specific Focus Areas

Have a specialised focus –first people, enslaved and indentured labour, Freemasonry, Forced Removals during Apartheid, Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities and social justice – let Kate know what you are after.

Enquire

FAQ

What is the cost of a private tour?

It varies on the length of the tour, the number of tours you book, and their location. We usually charge a flat hourly rate, irrespective of the number of people on the tour itself. Click for a quote

How do I pay?

Best is EFT (ie electronic funds transfer via your bank). 5% extra for credit card payments. Regular clients and ones through personal referral can pay cash on the day. Paying by card on the day is 5% extra and you need to advise us in advance. Click to request more info

What to bring and/or wear on a private tour?

  • Sensible shoes – good for walking on uneven surfaces.
  • Weather protection – hat, sunscreen, windbreaker, waterproof…
  • If you are going to the Bo-Kaap– no short shorts, strappy tops – women and girls should dress respectively/conservatively. If visiting a mosque, please bring a scarf for the head. For synagogues, men will need to cover their heads.
  • Always keep phone, purse/wallet out of view and well tucked away and close to you eg in a zipped handbag or an inner jacket pocket that is hard for pickpockets to get to!

Insurance

Please make sure you are insured in case you lose something. Ditto if you have an accident.

I can no longer make it to private tour. What are the cancellation charges?

Contact us asap – phone (then WhatsApp or SMS/text).

  • Cancellations – on the day – no refund
  • A day to 3 days in advance – 50% charge
  • 3 days to a week – 25%
  • Over a week and less than a month – 10%

How long does it take to do a private tour?

This depends on the tour. Kate has done a gallery gallop in an hour but recommends a minimum of two hours. Tours in the city centre are between two and three hours, whereas tours in the winelands are approximately five hours.

Where is the private tour meeting point?

We’ll agree in advance. What works best is to meet at a gallery or a landmark, depending on your tour. We can meet you at your accommodation but this can waste time and be more expensive for you.

How will we get around?

Most tours are walking tours. Generally the client pays for an Uber if we travel to different districts. A driver and car can be arranged in advance for an extra cost. This can be good for art and design buying trips.

What if I have a medical condition?

Please let us know anything that could affect the tour, such as bad knees, recent operation, phobias and food allergies.

Joburg and Pretoria tours

Occasionally Kate does private and public tours in Johannesburg and Pretoria. She has contacts that are based there who do tailored arts and culture tours, and is available for consultation. Kate may also be able to help with art tours in other parts of the country and continent.

“Curated with care and originality, these wonderfully immersive experiences are interesting, culturally diverse and very stimulating”      Sonya Shoeman, Editor Getaway
We did the art tour of artists’ studios and small galleries in the Woodstock area of Cape Town, plus street art with explanations. Kate is knowledgable, reliable and charming. If you are visiting Cape Town, we can enthusiastically recommend her services.” Ellen Seidman (Puerto Rico)
You really gave me such a wonderful introduction to Cape Town, taking me to people and places which I could not have done alone and which made SUCH a difference to understanding (or rather trying to understand) the city.” Philippa Vaughan, Project Director, The Calcutta Tercentenary Trust
“Culture Connect’s Kate Crane Briggs was delightful; she took Cathy and me to exactly the type of galleries and studios that we were interested in. With her help we ended up buying four paintings which will remind us always of this special trip.” Bob Werner (Austen, Texas)
“Culture Connect is one of the best ways to discover Cape Town both for locals and foreigners. I truly recommend it.”    Pedro van Zeller, architect, Barcelona

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