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Fondly known as 'Alex'
Alexandra Township of Rhythm Route
Selling delicious roasted 'mealies' in Alexandra Township.
© Chris Marais
Did you know?
Alexandra township is home to more than 400 000 people.
Abuzz with vivid social culture, you'll find it's impossible not to get caught up in the tumult that is Alexandra township life. So often we see sanitised versions in magazines and movies, images that don't capture the true camaraderie of sharing a braaied mielie (barbequed corn) around a smoky, tinny drum, or the real verve of a shebeen queen when she's in high spirits.
The Alexandra Township of Rhythm Route gives tourists a bona fide slice of township life, and Alex is where all the action goes down. A mere five-minute drive from swish Sandton - Jo'burg's frenzied financial hub - is the sprawling South African township of Alexandra, a gritty urban environ that couldn't be more different in veneer and character from its posh neighbour.
But what it lacks in elegance, it makes up for in street cred. A peek into the history of Alexandra reveals that Alex has been home to many luminaries including former President, and South Africa's favourite citizen, Nelson Mandela. Another icon who once called Alexandra home is world renowned jazz maestro, Hugh Masekela.
The tour includes a visit to some of Alex's best shebeens (informal bars) where you can slake your thirst on umqombothi, traditional African home-brewed beer, and fill your tummy with local delicacies.
Work off the kilos by bopping kwaito style -- a rousing, energetic, contemporary African dance -- that will leave you breathless from exertion, but mostly from its cheeky dance moves! Stock up on unique arts and crafts from the street vendors, who flog all manner of quirky curios, and finally, step into the colourful world of ethnic medicine, but be warned you'll need a strong stomach for some of the more exotic tonics. Sangomas (traditional healers) sell cures for every ailment imaginable.
The Alexandra Township of Rhythm Route is a unique, emotional and sensory experience, not easily forgotten.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Alexandra township of rhythm route Rachel Phasha Tel: +27 (0) 11 440 7816 Mobile: +27 (0) 76 385 4574 Email: khavho.tours@gmail.com Accredited Alex tour operators: Abby Sechoaro - Tel: +27 83 553 5688; Patrick Gumede - Tel: +27 83 424 3463.
How to get here
Take a tour with one of a pick of registered tour guides, who normally live in the area and know it well. You will be collected from your hotel or guesthouse.
Tours to do
Either a day tour or a night tour can be arranged through a township tour operator.
Get around
Your tour guide will take care of you.
What will it cost
Not more than R400 per person.
Length of stay
A township tour lasts approximately 3-4 hours, but it can be tailor-made to your requirements.
What to pack
Walking shoes and casual clothes. Don’t wear too much jewellery and carry your camera in a shoulder bag. Also don’t carry large sums of money with you.
Where to stay
Hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs in nearby Sandton are among the best in the country, so take your pick.
What to eat
Traditional township fare at a shebeen. If you're not so adventurous, Western cuisine is usually also on offer.