Cape Town East City: Hemp, Food & Sustainable Living
Discover Cape Town’s creative East City on a walking tour exploring hemp architecture, sustainable living, a family-run bagel business, conscious fashion and a café reborn from an old workshop.
R950.00 per person (Small-Group Tour) | R1,250.00 per person (Private Tour)
Experience Photography add-on: R600.00 per person (Private Tour)
Tour Description
Step beyond Cape Town’s best-known sights and explore the East City — a compact, creative neighbourhood where old streets meet new ideas.
On this walking tour, you’ll discover the stories behind some of the independent businesses and unusual spaces that have helped shape the neighbourhood’s contemporary identity.
You’ll see a 12-storey building constructed using hempcrete, discover how one Cape Town company has spent three decades finding new uses for hemp, hear the story of a family food business with roots going back to 1940, explore the idea behind one of Cape Town’s early package-free grocery stores, and discover how pre-loved fashion can support literacy and education.
The experience finishes at The Electric, a neighbourhood café created from the remains of a former auto-electrician’s workshop — a fitting final example of the East City’s spirit of reinvention.
This is not a conventional sightseeing tour. It’s a relaxed way to discover a part of Cape Town that many visitors overlook.
Tour highlights
- Explore Cape Town's creative East City on foot
- Support independent local businesses while exploring the neighbourhood
- Discover how hemp is used in construction, clothing, skincare and homeware
- Discover Cape Town's package-free grocery concept
- Hear the story of a family food business with roots going back to 1940
Know before you go
- Tour Duration: 2 hours
- The tour involves walking through city streets with some uneven pavements
- Suitable for all fitness levels
- Wear comfortable walking shoes
- A camera, hat, sunscreen, water bottle, light layer, and a small backpack for personal items are recommended
- Keep valuables secure and follow the guide’s safety instructions
- Not suitable for children under 10 years.
Included
- Qualified local tourist guide
- Local neighbourhood stories and context
Excluded
- Food and drinks
- Purchases at businesses visited
- Hotel pickup/drop-off