The V&A Waterfront is one of Africa’s most popular destinations, and more than 24 million people visit it every year. But just a few decades ago, South Africa’s oldest working harbour was an uninviting, industrial port. The place that sailors once called the Tavern of the Seas found itself cut off from Cape Town and its people.

How were the strong bonds between the city and its port broken? And how has the V&A Waterfront worked to rebuild them, creating new ways for everyone to rediscover Cape Town’s connection with the sea?

On this audio walking tour, you’ll find answers to these questions in unusual objects like shipping containers and unfinished highways. You'll learn about the humble beginnings of the V&A Waterfront, starting in 1989 with Ferryman's Tavern, and meet some of the characters who’ve helped shape its evolution.

Together, we'll navigate currents of history and culture into the present, and whether this is your first time at the V&A Waterfront, or your hundred and first, this walking tour will open your eyes to hidden traces of the past, the complex dance of daily operations, and the exciting opportunities of the future.