AWOL Bike Tours
Imagine taking a relaxing stroll through a charming South African village, where the unique African spirit, the scent of authentic cuisine, and the joy of the local community fills the air.
When you take part in an AWOL bicycle township tour, you’re not only experiencing a breathtaking journey through Cape Town’s beautiful township, Masiphumelele, you’re also, simultaneously, giving back to the local community. Famous for their exceptional ability to fuse a rich cultural learning experience with sustainable efforts, AWOL has been awarded the Imvelo Award for their responsible tourism efforts and is also a certified Fair Trade in Tourism organization.
AWOL, which means “a world of learning,” is a proud partner of the Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN), and works closely with BEN to spread their conservation efforts across the local townships. BEN is a nonprofit organization that works to alleviate poverty through the importation and use of gently used bicycles, and works to promote the bicycle’s health benefits and environmental benefits.
How do you benefit from an AWOL tour?
- Unlike any other tour in Cape Town, the AWOL bicycle township tour is filled with a variety of activities that allow you to completely immerse yourself within the local Xhosa culture.
- As you stroll through the quaint Masiphymelele township on bicycle (without the confinements of a bus or vehicle), you’ll have the opportunity to observe and interact with the locals in their everyday lives. During your tour, you’ll learn about the Xhosa people’s unique customs and traditions from a highly-knowledgeable and certified local guide.
- One of the greatest highlights of the bicycle tour is the chance to view a traditional Xhosa dance performed by a Sangoma (African traditional healer). This is one of the most enlightening experiences of the bicycle tour as it incorporates authentic music with traditional dance rituals. And we promise, you’ve never seen or heard anything like it.
- Enjoy an authentic, home cooked meal in an African home and taste the delectable flavors of local spices and produce. During this lunch, you’ll be able to interact with a local family and participate in the cooking experience if you so choose and you will also be able to view the interior of a traditional Masiphymelele home. Nothing is more satisfying than taking the time to see how traditional African cuisine is prepared and learning first-hand cooking lessons from the locals.
- See the joyful faces of children at a local pre-school and interact with them for an even deeper insight into the local customs and community lifestyle.
AWOL Bike Tours
How does the community benefit from an AWOL tour?
- AWOL strives to sustain the local economy by assisting locals to start up their own business and by employing locals to become qualified guides. This not only allows the locals to proudly share their knowledge of their cultural and historical heritage with visitors, but it also allows them to be paid for these services.
- Because the bicycles used in the AWOL bicycle tour are second hand and produce no carbon emissions, they are completely safe for the environment and allow the local community to financially profit from the tours. In addition to helping sustain the local economy, the fact that bicycles produce no gas emissions means a healthier environment and lifestyle for the locals.
- Locals who offer their cooking expertise to visitors are also compensated for their efforts and have the opportunity to share their natural born skills with visitors.
- Some of the proceeds from the tour go to a local pre-school that is visited during the tour, which helps to sustain the local education system.
