Location

Cape Town International Airport

Liziwes Guest House

Cape Town

The guest house is very convenient to the airport.  Great place to stay if catching an early flight.  The owners Donald and Liziwe couldn’t be more accommodating.  Very friendly and helpful.  Rooms basic but clean.  No food served at this time, but Donald suggested places near by to eat.  I would definitely stay here again.

Great guest house near the airport

Our family of 7 visited Liziwe's guest house for the second time; first in 2011. It has developed brilliantly, now offering many beautiful rooms, a dining room and limited wifi (due to load shedding). The township walk with lunch at Mzoli's was very impressive, the dinner and breakfast were good and most of all the company of Liziwe, Donald (Mzwandile) and Andrew was wonderful. It felt like being home in Gugulethu.

Feeling at home in Gugulethu

My girlfriend’s family, Moniek and I had a lovely time at the Liziwe’s guesthouse. From the start we had a warm welcome from Andrew, Donald and Liziwe.
The guesthouse is a safe place in the “townships” area in Guguletu and have a lot of rooms for all kinds of tourists.
We started our afternoon with a tour, guided by Andrew, through the area of Guguletu. He showed us the former house (Shek) of Donald and Liziwe for example. A lunch at the Mzoli’s restaurant is an experience on its own, it is a fantastic South African Braai.
After the walking tour we had a very nice dinner at Liziwe’s with Andrew, Donald and Liziwe. 
The whole evening we had an amazing time with them.

We really recommend this really good guesthouse!!
And thank you lovely people of the Liziwe’s guesthouse for the experience we will never forget!!



Lovely stay by this beautiful family

We only stayed one night at Liziwe's but are so grateful we did.  Andrew was insightful and kind, and answered all our questions. We took advantage of the opportunity to go on a short tour which took us through parts of Gugulethu and to the memorials. When visiting Cape Town spending time experiencing places like Liziwe's is essential! Plus, we got to visit Mzoli's for Sunday afternoon braii which was a highlight of our two week stay throughout Southern Africa.  Rooms were comfortable, breakfast was delicious, and I am so thankful for people like Liziwe for their welcome!! Liziwe was so kind that she even offered to change her own dinner arrangements to cook for us - we didn't let her, but could not ask for a nicer host or more positive experience!



Highly recommend! Excellent staff and insight!!

We were a group of 24 students from Copenhagen, who were in South Africa on a 2,5 week study trip both Johannesburg and Cape Town. As organizeres of the trip we wanted to give the group the experiences of staying in a township. Safety was a big concern for us organizeres but we took the chance beside what people told us about the township and we would do it all over again. It was a chance that was truely worth taking. No regrets

So the first night in Cape Town, included a stay at this amazing guest house. We were welcomed by the friendly family and was easy to find. The rooms were very nicely equiped with good blankets as it does get a bit chilli. The beds were also very good. Modern, well designed and def exceeded our expectations. 

After setteling in, Andrew took us to a local spot for eating Mzolis. Which was great. The group also went on a 2 hours tour of the township with Andrew and Donald (Who has an amazing story, ask for his book if you go there). They both had a lot to share and gave a good understanding of the township and the histroy. The tour is special because it is locals who take you around not the paid tour guides who learnt the history from the books. 

The family and staff have a lot to share, you honestly feel as if you are at your grand parents house. Many stories to hear from locals who have experienced a lot and are beautiful souls. They accommodated all our needs for example going out of their way to making sure all 24 of us could stay there (They have room for 19 people). Anytime the group needed something, the staff was always there to help. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left we felt safe, at home, welcomed and comfortable. 

We all loved the stay that and can highly recommend it many travelers. It can give a important experiance to truly understand a large population of South Africa

Enlightening expeirence staying here.

As part of a family trip to Cape Town I was keen to visit a township, for my own benefit but also for my children. This fulfilled my desire for the kids to see another side of the world but gave us all so much more.

Having looked at a few options I really didn't want a tour that was going to visit several places - that would have felt like a show - so I ensured I contact tours that had just one township and included a local. I was lucky enough to find Liziwe's in that search and called. I spoke with Andrew, one of only 3 white people in the 300,000 inhabitants, and the description sounded good.

We made our own way to Gugulethu where Andrew met us. We went inside the house, which is also a Guesthouse, and we met Donald, a local, who has an amazing story. I won't describe that, you can find out for yourself, but it's truly inspirational.

After a great history of Donald and some highly informative details of townships from Andrew, we were taken on a tour. We visited the formal settlement and the rather more harrowing informal settlement. Throughout, whenever we encountered locals we were welcomed and the kids we came across were all so very smiley.

We were then taken to see the local community centre and other facilities and then drove to 2 memorial sites that have some major significance. Again, I will leave that for you to find out for yourself. 

Donald has not finished with his aims in life and it was sad to hear of a setback to that. We also did not have the pleasure of Liziwe as she had been taken ill, however what we were given was so valuable to us as a family and individually. We did so much on our holiday to Cape Town and when I ask the kids what the highlight was this tour is on all of their lists. I cannot recommend this tour highly enough. We did not experience the over night experience or extra hospitality that comes with that - other reviews praise that. The "simple" tour we had was brilliant and my only criticism is that it is woefully under priced. I wish Andrew, Donald, Liziwe and the community all the best as they grow and develop their own opportunities. 

Unexpected insight into Gugulethu

Having visited Langa Township last year and felt I'd seen something authentic, I wanted to take it to another level this year with a visit to a township even less likely to be playing up to tourists.

I found out about tours from Liziwe's guest house with Andrew and harangued him for several months before we got to South Africa.  Even leading up to the tour I was doubtful that it was going to happen and then I found out why - Andrew had been ill in hospital and this was his first tour during his recovery.

This was clearly a more hostile environment than we had been in before and we discovered afterwards that it figured in the notorious Anni Dewani abduction case.  Andrew walked us up into the "shanty town" area and we saw an unrefined version of how people, who are very poor, live which was harrowing at times.  No running water, no toilets in the homes......some of the people smiled and acknowledged us but others did not make us feel so welcome.

Afterwards Andrew showed us the memorials to people who were murdered by the police and another to a white American community worker, Amy Biehl  who was murdered because she was white.  Her amazing family forgave her killers, shook their hands and supported their release under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.  Amazing people.

To be honest I am now done with Townships - I don't feel we should have been there although this does not detract from Andrew's professionalism which was second to none.

Fasinating Tour of Gugulethu from Andrew.....

Liziwe's was very very helpful in accommodating all of our needs, setting the pick-up time from the airport, transport to the city and the township tour. I was very grateful for how helpful and flexible they were! Andrew took care of us from the beginning to the end, and we felt safe throughout our stay. Interestingly, he said that Donald - the owner, builder, and reason why this place exists - had built the guesthouse to high standards so that visitors would feel enticed to come and experience life here. (Donald's story is an amazing one) When we saw our room, we were gobsmacked. It was well designed, comfortable, modern and completely surpassed our expectations! Although we only had a short time the next morning, we really wanted to see Gugulethu, and Andrew kindly put together a condensed version. We saw the shacks, the houses, the memorials, the goats..not many people were out and about that morning, but everyone we saw greeted us. There's really a nice sense of community here. Liziwe's is building a new wing - I'm excited for them!

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