Khayelitsha

Khayelitsha is in South Africa.

Khayelitsha is situated next to the N2, which connects Cape Town with George. It's close to Cape Town International Airport.

Understand

Khayelitsha was created under the Apartheid's regime as a designated area for black laborers working in Cape Town. Since then it has been growing rapidly town that is one of the biggest townships of South Africa, today.

Get in

Metrorail runs commuter trains from central Cape Town every 30 minutes via its Central Line. Khayelitsha is at the eastern terminus of the line, journey time is just under one hour. Notice that trains along the Central Line suffers from extreme overcrowding, with commuters sometimes forced to sit on the roof or between carriages.

• 1 Nonkqubela railway station. (updated Dec 2020)
• 2 Khayelitsha railway station. (updated Dec 2020)
• 3 Kuyasa railway station. (updated Dec 2020)
• 4 Chris Hani railway station. (updated Dec 2020)

Get around

One way to get around in Khayetlisha are the taxi or mini buses. You can recognize them by the loud hooting. It's a cheap and fairly reliable way of transportation. Safety however is not always guaranteed as South Africa experiences many accidents on its roads caused by these taxis.

See

• The Lookout Hill is one of Khayelitsh's main tourist attractions. It is the highest point in Khayelitsha from which the townships Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain, as well as the shoreline of the False Bay, can be seen. The wooden platform, built on the largest dune on the Cape Flats, sometimes lacks some planks but this does not dismiss the great view. The adjoined Look Out Centre hosts an information office of Cape Town Tourism as well as several locally owned art and craft shops. The community venue also has an exhibition room and amphitheatre for cultural events. The Look Out Hill complex is an often visited place by township tours. The area is comparably safe and the site well secured by professionals.

Do

Do stuff like jogging along Khayelitsha or things like Cycling. Your safety in Khayelitsha's cannot be guaranteed due to a high number of criminal activity

Buy

Buy what is called in IsiXhosa "Amagwinya"(Vetkoek) even chicken feet to fulfill your hunger when travelling in Khayelitsha and quench your thirst by buying cold Coke. If not fulfilled you can visit Khayelitsha Mall to buy your designated food but be careful when walking through the mall

Eat

Amagwinya from the highly known DADASE fast foods located in Ilitha Park to eliminate hunger or buy your meals in Khayelitsha Mall

Drink

Drink Coca-Cola from the Khayelitsha Mall if not, buy what is Called Ibhompi(Sucker) in the Shops of Khayelitsha

Sleep

Several township bed & breakfasts started to pop up in Khayelitsha to offer tourists the chance to experience this side of South Africa. They mostly are redecorated shacks to fit the basic norms of tourists.

• 1 Kopanong, C329 Velani Crescent, Khayelitsha, ☏ +27 21 361-2084, kopanong@xsinet.co.za. 
• 2 Majoros B&B, 69 Helena Cresent, Graceland, Khayelitsha, ☏ +27 21 361-3412, sonke@telkomsa.net. Township B&B. 
• 3 Malebo's, 18 Mississipi Way, Graceland, Khayelitsha, ☏ +27 21 361 2391, +27 21 551-0162, info@cape-town-hotels.travel. Township B&Bs. 

Stay safe

Even though townships are often referred to as unsafe, people can visit the township of Khayelitsha without the risk of being violated. One should however evaluate the circumstances (night, day, in group) before planning a visit when uncommon with the area.

In Khayelitsha the streets are not mostly safe but they are promising the best visit on your trip

Go next

Go next to visit the streets of Ilitha Park