November News
– from Gerald and Charlie at LocalPlaces
Remember, remember, it is November! The silly season is here.
At LocalPlaces, we had a busy October with a quieter November,
but we are looking forward to the mid-summer months of December, January and February,
while we are also ramping up to roll out some exciting new projects next year.
It is time to get ready for the festive season,
with us offering two irresistible propositions
for tours and for pre-orders on upcoming books
– both in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
December special: pre-order books
The story of Cape Town (and South Africa) is astonishing with so many plot twists, you would never imagine. No movie scriptwriter could come up with this storyline, says, Gerald Garner, who is busy writing two books, LocalPlaces – Cape town and LocalPlaces – Johannesburg. Combined these books will tell the full, concise history of South Africa through the stories of its two major cities.
The books will bring the stories Gerald and Charlie Moyo tell on LocalPlaces tours and at storytelling dinners, to a wider audience, making is accessible to read in print or ebook form, or to listening in audiobook format.
Writing in an excerpt from the first draft of the LocalPlaces – Cape Town book, Gerald states: “During the first half of the 1600s, Britain showed most interest in the Cape. In 1607, a British ship attempted to round the Cape of Good Hope, but the pilot read the map incorrectly, and turned left too early, ending up in Hout Bay. The captain was so upset at his pilot’s mistake, that he made him row ashore to fetch fresh water. Hence, the mountain peak next to Hout Bay became known as Chapman’s Peak (named after the ship pilot), indicated as such on maps ever since.
“In 1613, a British ship kidnapped the Khoe Chief, Xhore and took him to Britain, taught him some English and returned him a year later. This showed the intent of Britain to establish trade relations with the local Khoe. Whereas, in 1620 two ship captains, Humphrey Fitzherbert and Andrew Shilling came ashore in Table Bay and ran up what today is known as Signal Hill, where they planted the British flag. They named the hill King James Mount, but upon their return to Britain, the king showed little interest in the faraway African land, and did not act on the claim.
At the head of the Khoe trading post, next to the Camissa River, was Kx’aothumathub (Autshumato). The Dutch called him ‘Harry de Strandloper’, which would translate to ‘Harry the Beach Walker’. The shipmen would come to the mainland and trade goods for fresh water, salt, fruit, root vegetables and animals/meat.
By 1630, a British ship took Autshumato away to the East Indies (Bantam) where he stayed for a year and learned to speak English and Dutch, as well as British methods of trade. At that stage both Britain and the Netherlands had established trading stations in Java – what today is part of Indonesia. Britain dropped Autshumato off in the Cape in 1632 again, in a clear attempt to bolster communications and trade with the Khoe people.”
Gerald’s books will become available in print and ebook format in March 2026, soon to be followed by audiobook formats as well. We are offering a special pre-order Christmas gift special. Pre-order and pay before 23 December 2025 at a discounted price. Plus, we will provide you with a gift certificate and the text in pdf format of the first chapter to gift so long, until the recipient can receive the actual book by end of March 2026. For print books, collection will be at a designated point in Cape Town and Johannesburg. No postage or courier included.
Prices:
LocalPlaces Cape Town Printed Book (LPCTPB):
Special Pre-order price: R275
Standard price: R325 (for collection in Cape Town, delivery/postage not included)
LocalPlaces Johannesburg Printed Book (LPJBPB):
Special Pre-order price: R275
Standard price: R325 (for collection in Johannesburg, delivery/postage not included)
LocalPlaces Cape Town eBook (LPCTEB):
Special Pre-order price: R220
Standard price: R260
LocalPlaces Johannesburg eBook (LPJBEB):
Special Pre-order price: R220
Standard price: R260
LocalPlaces Cape Town Audiobook (LPCTAB):
Special Pre-order price: R300
Standard price: R360
LocalPlaces Johannesburg Audiobook (LPCJBAB):
Special Pre-order price: R300
Standard price: R360
ENTIRE JOHANNESBURG PACKAGE (EJP)
Special Pre-order price: R850
Standard price: R945
ENTIRE CAPE TOWN PACKAGE (ECP)
Special Pre-order price: R795
Standard price: R945
ENTIRE PACKAGE (LPEP)
Special Pre-order price: R1590
Standard price: R1890.
Order here!
Either email us on gerald@localplaces.co.za and we shall be in touch with you. Or you can pay here and order instantly:
Simply choose the product/s you want to order from the list above. Click on the following link to order and pay: https://pay.yoco.com/anchorco-ta-localplaces
Type in the total amount and the product codes as reference/s (the ones listed in the brackets above), as well as your name, surname and email address. We will be in touch to confirm the order and to make arrangements to get the books to you in March 2026.
- Note the prices DO NOT include mail delivery for physical books. An address will be given for each city where books can be collected
Daily morning walking tours in Johannesburg & Cape Town
This Summer season (20 November to 31 December 2025), LocalPlaces will be offering its most popular Understanding Cape Town and Understanding Johannesburg walking tours as daily public tours, at an attractive discounted rate. Since demand increases in this time, we can make these tours available at a more affordable price and on a public rather than private basis.
Perfect for a group of friends, families, work colleagues for a year-end event, or solo travelers to engage in a meaningful and most enjoyable activity. Make the most of the sunshine and good weather. Join our thought-provoking and inspiring tours and learn more about the astonishing stories, people, spaces and places of our cities. Let us change your perceptions along the way.
How does it work?
Book at a per person rate for any date available (we do have private full-day tour bookings here and there, so please check availability for the date you have in mind).
Rates
Special local rate (for anyone residing in South Africa): R300 per person.
Children (12-18): R150 per person.
Children under 12: Free
Special international rate: R500 per person.
Children (12-18): R250 per person.
Children under 12: Free
Tours run from 9am-1pm. Meet us at the dedicated starting points.
These special prices only apply to the morning Understanding Cape Town and Understanding Johannesburg walking tours. All other tours available at full rates on a private booking basis.
Starting points and guides
Understanding Cape Town walking tours start at Ginja Restaurant at the Victoria & Alfred Hotel in the V&A Waterfront and end at the Company’s Garden. Tours are guided by Gerald Garner
Understanding Johannesburg walking tours start and end at JSE Newtown (the old stock exchange corner of Diagonal & Pritchard Streets). Underground paid parking available. Tours are guided by Charlie Moyo.
Booking essential
To make a booking, send a Whatsapp to +27 82 894 5216 or email gerald@localplaces.co.za
We will confirm availability and provide payment details. A booking is only confirmed and secured with payment. No refunds or postponements once booked.
Read more on the Understanding Cape Town walking tour here: https://www.localplaces.co.za/understanding-cape-town/
Read more on the Understanding Johannesburg walking tour here:
https://www.localplaces.co.za/understanding-johannesburg/
That is if from us. Happy Festive Season folks! May you all be blessed with quality time to relax and fantastic experiences.
- From the LocalPlaces team, Gerald & Charlie.
