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Obs is anything but obvs. Have these questions never crossed your mind whilst chilling at Ferdinando's?
Why is Observatory?
Who is Lower Main Road?
How is Stones?
When is Bourgeois-Bohemia?
Where is dagga?
What is love?
We aspire to give you definitive answers to at least none of these questions this coming Sunday on our magical mystery ramble through the best suburb in the country.
Observatory is, in short, the wedge of Cape Town - the district that's never officially been one in the first place. It started by sucking in the loafers and flaneurs of the Imperial age and thrived through catching the hearts of every prospector hopelessly lost on their way to Jo'burg. It defied the apartheid-era by comprising the fringes of segregated worlds and bouncing most of the Commerce bros at the door.
Today, like a loveable cockroach, it's survived years of recession and the pandemic and come out fighting with more coffee-spots and daylight-robbery-based vintage stores than ever before. And we all have at least one favourite establishment where our lives were exemplified in a moment's notice. Think about yours, and I'll tell you its history.
So join me at the entrance to the actual Observatory just past the Two Rivers Urban Park and I'll blast you through a living past of decolonial raiding, Victorian astrophilia, saloon-jazz derangement and diasporic immortality.
RSVP for kicks, stack up your own half-true anecdotes and come wander along the first and oldest frontier of our nation opening your mind to the raw ore of creativity laid out under the Devil's peeking gaze.
P.S. If you've read this far I'm guessing you'll want even more of the specs, so here goes:
- We'll be starting by the entrance to the SAAO at the end of Station Road then finishing by Wrensch House on Lower Wrensch Road just over two hours later, so happily park in the lot before the Wild Fig Restaurant if you're coming by car.
- We used to be donation-based but to secure our future we're now doing a pre-booking system whereby you can guarantee your tickets beforehand at R120pp, or you can join the tour on the day for R150pp in cash or EFT et al. Simply WhatsApp or Message us via the buttons on our home page to secure your place.
- This is a consistently well-reviewed heritage-focused walking tour; which is to say that all you'll need to enjoy yourself is curiosity about Cape Town's past (and History in general) and enough stamina to walk just less than 2km in one afternoon (with stops and snacks) so WhatsApp us on 076 033 8164 or DM via the buttons on our homepage to book your places.
- If you're rejoining us, please please please please please please consider dropping us a short (or extensive) review on our Facebook Reviews or Google Reviews section as it will help spread our gospel of curiosity and playful appreciation across the internet and across the spectrum of all potential visitors to the Cape. It helps us more than you can believe!
- We've also introduced an optional R10 donation on your ticket which will go directly to the NGO Streetscapes as part of our mission to spread love, enthusiasm, mutual support and respect for all of Cape Town's people and histories. Just think how many people we could help and the difference we could make with a few hundred tours!
- Feel absolutely free to spread the word, invite friends who've been looking for this kind of experience and badger us with every imaginable heritage query. We live for it!
Can't wait to meet ya 🙂
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
