Langa, that means solar, was established in 1927 when it comes to the 1923 City Space Act and is without doubt one of the oldest townships in South Africa. It was a focal space for a lot of the resistance in opposition to the apartheid authorities and as such has a wealthy – if typically turbulent – historical past. It’s well-known for its cultural choices, its heat and sense of group and big range of choices out there to guests.
Distance from Cape City to Langa: 12.4km (14 minutes)
Watch our Neighbourhood video on Langa as native playwright Fatima Dike takes you on an insider’s tour of the realm, dropping in in any respect her favorite spots:
The place to eat
Eziko
The Eziko Restaurant presents a memorable African consuming expertise. Linked to the Eziko Cooking and Catering College, which was set as much as train members of the local people to cook dinner and so present them with marketable expertise. Eziko is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on prior request, and is a well-liked cease with tour operators.
Web site: www.ezikorestaurant.co.za
Lelapa Restaurant
Lelapa, which suggests ‘the house’ was established in October 1999, impressed by an concept to create a restaurant serving conventional township delicacies and to permit company to expertise a small slice of township life. Catering for as much as 100 folks, Lelapa gives a heat, relaxed environment with an area marimba group available to offer the leisure.
Web site: www.lelapa.co.za
Mzansi’s Restaurant
Mzansi Restaurant was born by means of the imaginative and prescient of Nomonde Siyaka’s late mom. Serving conventional meals served in an genuine African surroundings, Mzansi’s has an in-house marimba band offering the tunes and the environment, whereas Nomonde and her husband Ace are sometimes round to work together with company. Heat and welcoming, the restaurant is positioned within the coronary heart of Langa and is an area favorite.
Web site: www.mzansi45.co.za
Malusi’s Tavern
A youth-orientated tavern that mixes two of the town’s finest choices – meat and beer. Good for these searching for a spot with a energetic and welcoming environment.
Contact: 082 481 1726
The place to play
Langa Sports activities Advanced
The Langa Sports activities Advanced is a multi-purpose sports activities facility, which has helped produce plenty of native sportsmen, who’ve since gone on to characterize South Africa in a variety of sports activities, together with cricket, rugby and hockey. Nationwide and Provincial groups – each native and from overseas – typically conduct clinics with the native children to assist enhance their expertise and provides them the very best likelihood of success of their chosen sports activities. The complicated is spectacular and types part of many native excursions.
Neighbourhood Tradition
Guga S’Thebe Arts & Tradition Centre
Guga S’thebe Arts & Tradition Centre is a must-visit whereas in Langa. Housed in a brightly colored constructing, the centre, like lots of the companies in Langa, is devoted to the empowerment of the native folks. The centre has exhibition areas, the place there are common exhibitions, artwork studios and a useful resource centre.
The identify Guga S’thebe is suitable and has a wealthy cultural that means. It’s derived from the identify of the standard Xhosa platter often called isithebe that’s used to serve company and relations. The phrase signifies a gathering place and ubuntu as a result of throughout meal occasions folks sit across the isithebe to share a meal. Fittingly, the precinct is a shared public house the place communities can come collectively and share a meal or their tales.
The theatre, in the meantime, is part of the broader Langa Cultural Precinct that has preserved the township’s wealthy cultural historical past and serves to help artistic expertise. The theatre challenge was developed with a purpose to develop native audiences even additional. The 200-seater auditorium was deliberate to cater for theatre, dance, music and movie, whereas the centre as a complete providers visible arts, design, crafts and efficiency.
Web site: shorturl.at/p7Zal
Excursions
There are a variety of tour operators that run quite a lot of choices in Langa. Under are just some you could select from, all providing distinctive and genuine experiences of the realm.
Ubizo Occasions and Excursions
Ubizo Occasions and Excursions is a tour operator specialising in excursions that encapsulate the locals’ lives. Excursions embrace native African meals at Mzansi’s, Ubuntu tradition, conventional music, a wealthy numerous historical past in addition to a ‘homestay’ expertise, all designed to offer a real engagement with the local people.
Web site: www.ubizo-sa.co.za
Take a Tour with Camissa
Study concerning the historical past of the black group from Langa locals while you take a half-day tour with Camissa Journey and Advertising. Let your tour information, who resides in Langa, take you on a strolling tour of their neighbourhood to indicate you the township as they see it.
Web site: www.gocamissa.co.za
Sam’s Cultural Excursions
Providing excursions to small teams, incorporating the wealth of tradition within the space and run by educated native guides, Sam’s Cultural Excursions are a incredible strategy to get to know Langa. Excursions embrace visits to a household hostel, a shebeen and a standard healer.
Web site: www.samsculturaltours.co.za
Township “Diski” (Social Soccer Tour)
Socialise with the younger and outdated of Langa township throughout a casual sport of soccer.
This tour additionally features a “braai” (barbecue) and beer in one in all Langa’s widespread social venues the place guests can additional mingle with locals.
Web site: www.gocamissa.co.za
The place to remain
Ma Neo’s
Ma Neo’s is the main B&B in Langa, with nice amenities guaranteeing a cushty stayover and incredible conventional meals on supply. Lunch and dinner can be found on request and inside strolling distance of native shebeens.
Location: Zone 7 St, Langa
Contact: 021 694 2504
Langa Quarter Homestay Resort (LQHH)
This Social Enterprise Resort idea organises taking part ‘homestay’ households beneath one group construction. The strategic advantages of a resort; advertising, reserving, coaching, are mixed with the distinctive experiential high quality of residing with a household in a homestay. Different residents provide the LQHH with providers, from laundry, meals provides and hair & pedicures.
Web site: www.ikhayalelanga.co.za
Airbnb
Locals have opened up their properties to vacationers through Airbnb, permitting guests an genuine expertise and locals an opportunity to construct a enterprise. This space is such an Airbnb favorite that their co-founder Brian Chesky visited the realm early in 2017 to congratulate the primary 9 hosts who graduated from iKhaya le Langa’s host program. iKhaya le Langa is a non-profit organisation that seeks to uplift the group by means of tourism and social enterprise with Langa Quarter, a precinct showcasing the heritage of this space.
Web site: www.airbnb.com/s/Langa or www.ikhayalelanga.co.za
POCKET-FRIENDLY LANGA
Twins Sifiso and Sibusiso meet with their buddy Zintle to find the distinctive group of Langa. Catch drumming, historical past and a really particular vibe as they uncover the realm for R150 per individual!
