AfriCultural Tours tel 021 423 3321. A comprehensive look at Cape Town's "other side", not just the townships, but also a "Slave Route" tour, a visit to San rock art sites and visits to traditional music makers, dancers and artists. For a chance to experience the upbeat side of Cape Flats nightlife, join the "Vibey Jazz" tour. Half day R200, full day R280.

Grassroute Tours tel 021 706 1006, . An alternative take on the traditional tour packages includes a visit to African and coloured townships. They also do walking tours of the Bo-Kaap, including the kramats (Muslim shrines). Half day R220, full day R380.

Kukummi Travel tel 083 267 7330, . Day or overnight trips to rock art sites in the Western Cape, facilitated by archeology graduate and environmental educator Catherine Price. Day-trips around R600 per person, including transport and meals; minimum two people.

Muse-Art Journeys tel 021 919 9168 or 082 921 1126, muse-art@iafrica.com . Exciting cultural tours, including music outings (Wed & Fri eve; R350) that take in two or three nightclubs, and a craft route that visits township craftworkers; there are also special interest tours on request.

Our Pride tel 021 531 4291 or 082 446 7974, ourpride@mweb . Highly recommended interactive tours, where you get to meet the people of the Bo-Kaap and District Six as well as the African townships and squatter camps. They also do jazz outings in which you visit two clubs, and a "Township by Night" trip, which includes supper at a township restaurant and a visit to a shebeen . Half day R220.

Thuthuka Tours tel 021 439 2061 or 082 979 5831, . An outstanding range of scheduled township tours geared to individual interests, including Xhosa rituals, authentic consultations with a traditional healer and night-time music outings. Half-day trips Mon-Fri 9am-12.30pm & 1.30-4.30pm; R180. The full-day tour, which costs R360, runs Mon-Fri 1.30-10pm and incorporates some nightlife, such as a visit to a club or shebeen . On Saturday afternoons, half-day Xhosa Folklore tours allow you to witness traditional rituals still alive in the townships.

Western Cape Action Tours tel 021 461 1371, . Led by former Umkhonto weSizwe (ANC armed wing) activists from Cape Town, these tours focus on the fight against apartheid and the post-apartheid scene. Visitors go to the townships, see sites of political resistance, as well as visiting a traditional healer, housing projects and township markets, where they are encouraged to make face-to-face contact with residents. Half day R200, full day R400.