Nyanga, Cape Flats
Nyanga, a sprawling, poverty-stricken illustration of Cape Town's urban sprawl, is one of the oldest and largest black townships after Langa, establishing itself as early as 1955. It lies about 26 kilometres from the city centre, along the N2 close to the Cape Town International Airport and, like most of townships in the country, originated as a result of the migrant labour system - a spillover once Langa was filled to capacity.
Nyanga, meaning ‘moon', has one of the oldest taxi ranks, which has undergone reconstruction to make it safer and more accessible, and is abuzz with energy and a true ‘township vibe' that has visitors from all over the world taking tours through Langa, Nyanga, Khayelitsha and Gugulethu in an attempt to get a taste of township life.
Nyanga is still poor and is made up mostly of informal settlements where people live cheek-by-jowl in shacks made of zinc, cardboard and wood - this despite recent governmental development initiatives to provide more brick houses. Families here live below the breadline.
Despite this, Nyanga is where things are happening. Organisations like Abalimi Bezekhaya are promoting a culture of self-help by facilitating food growing and environmental action, and role models like Mama Maphosela, who takes in TB and Aids orphans, are working to deal with the stigma attached to HIV. Vibrant entrepreneurs have opened barber shops, hairdressing salons, tuck shops and informal traders and fruit sellers line the main streets.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Camdene Guest House
Camdene Guest House offers accommodation in an Halaal friendly environment and is a home away from home. Ideally situated to explore the charms o...
Liziwe's Guest House
Experience township life, a warm welcome and a relaxed atmosphere at Liziwe's Guest House. The guest rooms are decorated with a tasteful touch of...
Cheval Vapeur
Cheval Vapeur offers self catering Philippi accommodation on a horse farm in the heart of Cape Town's seasonal wetlands. All the units are self c...
Hotel Verde
Located 400m from Cape Town International Airport, Hotel Verde offers 145 rooms, conference facilities, restaurant, bar, indoor gym, outdoor jogg...
Things to do in the area
Eziko Cooking and Catering School
Eziko restaurant is an 80 seater facility offering home cooked traditional African food as well as Western cuisine. Eziko Cooking and Catering Sc...
Maboneng Township Arts Experience
The Maboneng Township Arts Experience is a fascinating initiative that is aimed at showcasing local artists and crafters to the world. This has b...
Theatre in the Backyard
Theatre in the Backyard is a group of actors without an auditorium or a stage. Not only do the actors move beyond their usual boundaries taking t...
Noteworthy attractions
Table Mountain
Since the first person laid eyes on Table Mountain, it has exerted its powerful and charismatic pull, enchanting and drawing any and all who fall...
Teez Lounge
Teez Lounge is Guguletus most popular hang-out spot. Every Saturday and Sunday this is where people spend their afternoons, eating meat, chatting...
Cape Town Township Tour
This is a full day visit to the poverty stricken "Townships" of Cape Town. Experience Township life, visit schools and be entertained by the scho...
Rondevlei Nature Reserve
One of the country's oldest ornithological field stations, has some easy walks and fantastic bird hides that offers the bird lover hours of enter...
Gugulethu Seven Memorial
Built to commemorate the death of seven young black activists from the Cape township Gugulethu (meaning our pride) on 3 March 1986, the Gugulethu...
Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve
Zeekoevlei is a huge freshwater lake in the middle of the Cape Flats. With the rather densely populated suburbs of Grassy Park, Lotus River and P...
Manyanani Peace Park
The Peace Park, known as the Manyanani Peace Park, which is Xhosa for 'to bring people together', lies in Khayelitsha. The development of the pea...
False Bay Ecology Park
False Bay Ecology Park, FBEP for short, lies in Cape Town and is 1200 hectares that includes Rondevlei Nature Reserve and Zeekoevlei Nature Reser...
Cape Care Route
The Cape Care Route, situated in and around Cape Town, offers those who take it a chance to experience the 'other' side of Cape Town, and the cre...
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