The Cape Flats has played a defining role in shaping Cape Town’s unique identity.
Locals share their passion for art, history, culture, food, and adventure. Beyond its bustling residential streets, the Cape Flats offers visitors the chance to connect with Khoisan heritage, explore scenic coastal landscapes, and discover the people and initiatives that help communities thrive.
Anita Hermanus, founder of the popular Aunty Nita’s Tours, leads tours across the Cape Flats every day.
“It’s a place where every corner tells a story,” she says.
Anita started her tour business to offer visitors a fresh perspective on the Cape Flats and to highlight the people, places and stories that make the area special.
“Aunty Nita’s Tours is about the people who live and work here, whose history is proudly rooted in the Cape Flats. Most importantly, it’s about the wonderful things that come from the Cape Flats,” she explains.
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Here are some of Anita’s favourite places to explore across the Cape Flats:
Princess Vlei Conservation Area
Princess Vlei is a scenic wetland of deep historical and ecological significance. According to local legend, the vlei is named after a Khoisan princess who wept after being abducted by Portuguese sailors, her tears filling the vlei. Today, it is a protected heritage site, a sanctuary for birds, and a community gathering spot for quiet walks, picnics, and braais.
“It’s just a fun place to connect with nature, and it’s lovely to see people enjoying this space,” says Anita.
Location: Off Prince George Drive (M5), Grassy Park, Cape Town
Price: Free
Website: www.princessvlei.org/
Strandfontein Pavilion
Situated along the False Bay coastline, the Strandfontein Pavilion features one of the largest tidal pools in the Southern Hemisphere. This seaside retreat is a place to cool off on hot summer days. The pavilion offers expansive ocean views, fresh sea air, and even fishing. Anita proudly notes that it was one of the filming locations for Free Willy.
“I remember coming here to swim as a child,” Anita says. “This place holds so many memories for me.”
Location: Strandfontein Coastal Road, Strandfontein / Mitchells Plain
Price: Free entry
Mitchells Plain
Mitchells Plain (also known as “Die Plein” by locals) comprises 20 distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own character. “Mitchells Plain dates back to the 1970s. It was a place where coloured people were settled during apartheid. Today, it has grown into a thriving, bustling community,” explains Anita.
One place you cannot miss is the large mural on Eisleben Road, honouring South African author, poet, and literacy activist Dr Athol Williams. Dr Williams, who grew up in Mitchells Plain, co-founded Read to Rise and launched the Cape Flats Book Festival to make reading accessible to all. His academic achievements include a doctorate from Oxford and five master’s degrees from leading universities worldwide.
“Many heroes are from here, including Athol Williams. This story tells you that the sky’s the limit. You must not let where you come from determine where you are going,” she adds.
Location: Mitchells Plain
Book Your Tour
To experience the Cape Flats through the eyes of someone who knows it best, we recommend booking a guided experience with Aunty Nita’s Tours. Call + 27 82 572 7377 or email Anita@auntynitas.co.za.
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