Live the Magic of Africa » Calabash Tours

The Top 5 Ways to Explore Africa’s Vibrant Culture

Sandy Salle — Fri, 06 May 2011 12:30:07 +0000

Colorful. Magnetic. Beautiful. There are thousands of words that could be used to describe Africa’s unique culture, but none of those words do this culturally-enriched continent justice. In order to really discover the true beauty behind Africa’s cultural scenes, you must explore them first hand.

Below are five ways to explore Africa’s vibrant cultures:

Sans Bushmen tours

1. Experience an Interactive Tour with the Sans Bushmen: Explore the African bush with the Sans Bushmen, one of our only living links to ancient Africa. These hunter-gatherers continue to uphold some of their traditional ways of life dating back more than 20,000 years ago and share these unique lifestyle choices with travelers who embark on a cultural tour. As you enjoy an interactive bushwalk with the Sans tribesmen, you’ll gain a rare insight into survival tactics, hunting skills, weapon crafting skills, and the secrets of the land. You can also hear the tribesmen interact through a unique language that consists of various “click” sounds.

2. Embark on a Cape Malay Cooking Tour: Relish in the salty and savory flavors of traditional Cape Malay cuisine on an exciting cooking tour through Bo-Kaap (South Africa’s Cape Malay Quarter) where you’ll learn from a local community member how to create traditional South African dishes. During this tour, you’ll discover the history of the Bo-Kaap region and learn about the European and Asian influences that have shaped Cape Malay cuisine over the centuries. As you sip a glass of local South African wine, you’ll learn the basics of some of South Africa’s most celebrated spices as you lend a hand in creating savory dishes such as bredie—a slow-cooked stew comprised of meat, vegetables and an edible lily called a waterblommetjie—and roti—a flaky, pastry-like dish filled with curry and minced lamb or chicken.

3. Tour through Mpumalanga’s Art and History Scenes: Mpumalanga’s first signs of artistic expression date back thousands of years ago when ancient legends were told using rock paintings. Today, many artists throughout Mpumalanga still keep the area’s cultural heritage alive, incorporating elements of the past into their exquisite artwork. While visiting Mpumalanga’s art scene, you’ll notice a colorful array of artwork in the form of beading, masks, baskets, wood carvings, and vibrant pop culture art.

In addition to the region’s eclectic art world, Mpumalanga is also known for its intriguing history, which many might correlate with the gold rush of the 1870s. Today, travelers to Mpumalanga have the rare opportunity to step back in time while visiting royal tombs, buried trade routes, and historical monuments that tell a fascinating story of royalty, war, and corruption.

4. Calabash Tours’ Shebeen Tours: If you’re in the mood for local dance and music, the Calabash Shebeen tour through Port Elizabeth, South Africa is just what you need. With the social atmosphere of a pub, shebeens are places where the local community gets together for drinks, music, dancing, and of course, socializing. On this unforgettable tour, you’ll visit a handful of bustling shebeens and have the rare opportunity to speak with the local Xhosa people, and enjoy traditional cuisine and drinks in the hospitable company of local community members.

Zanzibar's Stone Town

5.Tour Zanzibar’s Stone Town: Once established as a primary trading hub of East Africa, Stone Town received visitors from all over the eastern hemisphere who had a part in shaping this seaside town into an eclectic melting pot of culture. Influenced by Arabs, Indians, Asians, and Europeans, much of Stone Town’s architecture, cuisine, and overall ambiance were transformed by outsiders. Today, visitors can experience over 200 years of history through Stone Town’s 19th-century homes, spice plantations, and historic landmarks—including The Old Dispensary, David Livingstone’s home, The House of Wonders, and The Palace Museum.

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Calabash Tours: Travel off the Beaten Path in the Garden Route’s Port Elizabeth

Sandy Salle — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:03:04 +0000

Synonymous with gorgeous weather, Port Elizabeth in South Africa’s Garden Route is the best place to visit for enjoying ocean and beach related activities such as sun bathing, sailing, scuba diving, and boating, as well as fine dining, shopping, and more. In addition, Port Elizabeth is also famous for its close-proximity to local townships and private game reserves.

With its ideal location in the Garden Route, Port Elizabeth is a short drive to a variety of game reserves including Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Addo Elephant Park, and a handful of other smaller reserves where visitors can view a wide spectrum of diverse fauna and flora as well as the Big Five.

Port Elizabeth is also known for its rich historical and cultural heritage. As the second oldest city in South Africa, Port Elizabeth is celebrate for its Xhosa heritage and a wide spectrum of historical landmarks such as the Historic Donkin Heritage Trail, Old Hill, old-world architecture, and stunning parks comprised of intricate gardens and gorgeous green fields.

Although Port Elizabeth is famous for its beauty and abundance of activities, some argue that nothing compares to visiting a local township where you can interact with locals, learn about their everyday lifestyles, and immerse yourself in an enlightening cultural experience.

For those looking to travel off the beaten path, a tour with Calabash Tours is the perfect way to open your eyes to hidden areas you would have never seen on your own. What separates Calabash Tours from other tour providers is their superior expertise and knowledge of the area as well as their ability to open your eyes to both urban and rural cultures. Whether you’re looking to take a safari tour through a nearby game reserve or tour a local Xhosa township, Calabash Tours brings you up-close to it all.

But Calabash Tours offers more than exceptional tours through Port Elizabeth’s townships and adjacent game reserves. As a Fair Trade In Tourism (FTTSA) certified touring company, Calabash Tours gives back to the local economy, communities, and school systems, and works to sustain the local environment to ensure a thriving wilderness.

Select from a variety of excellent Calabash Tours, including . . .

The Addo Day Tour:

Home to the largest population of elephants on the planet, Addo Elephant Park is the perfect place to spend a day while visiting Port Elizabeth. During your tour through Addo Elephant Park you’ll see mother elephants tending to their young, as well as antelopes, zebras, lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinos, and more. As you observe these magnificent creatures in their natural environment, Calabash Tours’ exceptional guides will provide you with their rich knowledge on the behavior and lifestyle of these animals.

The Real City Tour:

Calabash Tours provides you with a deep insight into the local villages and people as you venture to the nearby townships of Kwazakhele, Zwide, and New Brighton. During this visit, you’ll discover what it was like for South Africans during the apartheid and how their social history has shaped their existence today. You’ll also travel down one of the main shopping streets where street vendors sell their products and works of art, visit a local community-run children’s school (where some of the funds from your tour fee goes to), and tour through Red

Location—the oldest township in South Africa.

During your trip to the local townships, you’ll partake in one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime as you witness the excitement and eagerness of the locals to share with you their lives and history. Throughout the entire tour you will learn about the history of Port Elizabeth as you interact with the guides and locals. Because you are not traveling in a closed vehicle, you have the rare opportunity to interact with the locals without the barriers of a car or bus window.

Shebeen Tours: