Listen, connect and sing along at church in Langa

Join a Sunday service with Camissa’s Gospel Tour + connect with culture

Every Sunday in Langa, church is the focus of the day. It’s a joyful celebration of gospel singing and anyone is welcome. Camissa tour company offers a 4-hour township tour in which you connect with the area’s church community and, afterwards, walk its streets and meet people. It’s a soulful, culture-rich experience.

Church is a joyful and energetic space in Langa, with music and dance. Image: Camissa Travel & Marketing

START AT DISTRICT 6, GO ON TO CHURCH

The tour starts with the pick up at 8.30 or 9am. The first stop is the famous District 6, where a whole community was shifted out of town due to the Group Areas Act. It’s one of Cape Town’s most important historical sites and makes a big impression, with Table Mountain in the background. And then it's on to church.

This is a wonderful way to spend a Sunday morning, especially if you love music. Image: Camissa Travel & Marketing

JOIN CAMISSA’S ROUSING GOSPEL TOUR 

You don’t have to be religious to attend this church – it’s an uplifting, uniquely South African spiritual experience with a young and dynamic congregation, from young couples to stylish gogos (old ladies). It’s also filled with music and a culture-rich experience that anyone – foreign and fellow South Africans – can connect with. As Konaye says, church is “where the spirit and energy of the community can be experienced at its fullest”.

This Langa church welcomes visitors and has a diverse (and stylish) congregation. Image: Camissa Travel & Marketing

WALK THE TOWN, MEET THE GUIDES’ NEIGHBOURS

After the church service, you’ll take a guided walk through the town. What’s great about Camissa’s non-voyeuristic tours is that they have the buy-in of the community, because the guides live in Langa: Godfrey Klass is a community leader and resident at Joe Slovo informal settlement, while 25-year-old walking guide, Simosakhe was raised in the old hostels. On the walk you’ll meet their friends and neighbours.

Zingisa Mbongo is one of the local guides that will show you around his hometown. Image: Camissa Travel & Marketing

EXPERIENCE LANGA OLD AND NEW

The walking tour starts opposite the Langa Heritage Museum, the old pass office which would have been the first stop for people coming off the trains to collect the dompasses (“dumbo passes”) imposed on black people to carry at all times to be considered legal residents in the city. You’ll also experience cramped hostels, and the newer government housing developments.

There is a robust small business industry in the area, and shopping is an engaging experience. Image: Camissa Travel & Marketing

The township has a busy industry – herbalists, traditional healers, meat markets, cell-phone repair stores, barber shops  – and you’ll have opportunity to try the street food, too. The tour ends with a visit to Joe Slovo informal settlement, and briefly goes to Bonteheuwel and Gugulethu, past the statues of local heroes, the Gugulethu 7, before heading back to the city.

WHEN + WHERE TO GO 

Camissa leads its tours: Sundays, 8.30/9am - 12.30/1pm

Cost: R770 per person, half price for under 12s. Ask about discounts for CapeTownMagazine.com readers.

Contact Camissa on: Camissa Travel & Marketing, 0786577788, ops@gocamissa.co.za, and find them on Instagram: @Camissa_Travel
Note: Please be respectful of the community, ask before you take pictures of people and the children.

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OTHER DAY OUTINGS IN AN AROUND THE CITY 

Drink an Oreoccino at this colourful coffee shop in Langa.

Be a tourist in your own town and join a free walking tour.

Read more about Camissa's township tours. 

Want to explore a bit further in a day? Here are trips you can do in one day.

Someone else does the driving for you in these day tours.

Plan for the week ahead with our 7 things to do.

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