Bicycle Township Tour

“AWOL’s Community-based Bicycle Tours in Cape Town – a responsible take on township tours – providing the tourist with many more opportunities to interact with the community than they would have from an air-conditioned bus. BEN facilitates the importation of discarded second hand bicycles to South Africa where they have helped to set up and provide ongoing support to locally owned bicycle workshops, training and employing members of the local community to renovate the bikes for the Community Bicycle Tours. As a result of this work, they have also been able to assist a local lady to set up a restaurant providing further income for the community”

In 2002 AWOL Tours initiated a bicycle tourism programme in the Masiphumelele community of Cape Town in conjunction with the Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN) a non-profit organisation.  BEN promotes the use of the bicycle in all of its forms to enhance low-cost, non-motorised, transport and health and access to opportunity, employment, skills and education. This programme evolved from BEN’s importation of second hand bikes and the establishment of Independent Bicycle Dealers (IBD) owned and operated by local residents.  AWOL’s guests hire bicycles from the BEN IBD’s and we then conduct a tour of Masiphumelele incorporating local businesses.

Since establishment more 3000 tourists have participated on this tour, spreading considerable financial benefit to the community.  Apart from the various donations from the visiting tourists, much needed income has been generated and put into circulation in local township as part of tourism services and fees paid to business owners such as Phumlani Dlongwana’s BEN IBD Bicycle shop, Nongolozi’s is a local small business which provides lunch; Traditional Healers/ Sangoma’s and the local Creche with approximately 100 children.

Other benefits have included an photography exhibition of the township held by German photographer Christoph Siegert in March 2004. All the proceeds of the sale of artwork went towards BEN Bicycle workshop and assisted Phumlani Dlongwana to purchase tools and 20 bicycles. The AWOL tourism project in Masiphumelele has generated significant, sustainable benefits and has proven to provide real, lasting benefits for local people and greater Cape Town.

All our tours are PRIVATE to ensure that you get the best experience and also to limit the impact on the host community.


To participate on a AWOL Bicycle Cultural experience the price 
is inclusive of the following:
  • half day tour is from R600 per person excluding transport; 
  • half day including transport is R1000 per person and
  • full –day tour price of R1300 per person all inclusive
(Please enquire about GROUP discounts for more than 3 guests travelling together)
- Transport to and from accommodation
- Guided experience with township guide
- Sangoma (traditional healer) dancing and drumming
- Donation and Visit to Peacock crèche (only available during the week)
- Visit crafters and local artists in community
- Lunch at Nongolozi’s Restaurant or tea in an African home
- Hire of Old fashioned Dutch Bicycles
All tours are PRIVATE basis and we guarantee departure with min 2 guests.