Wandering through the streets of the Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, is like stepping into a colouring book. Rows of houses, one block after the other, are painted a myriad of pinks, oranges, lime greens, yellows and turquoise.

Formerly known as the Malay Quarter, this multicultural area is tucked into the fold of signal hill and is well known for its steep cobblestone streets, beautiful mosques and lively community – and for the rows of brightly coloured houses, of course!

The Bo-Kaap is not just postcard-picture perfect, it’s also a treasure of cultural history with national monuments that date back to the 1750s. Inhabitants are descendants from Indonesia (Batavia), Sri Lanka, India and Malaysia who were captured in the 17th and 18th centuries and enslaved by the Dutch-East Indian Trading Company. Many were Muslims, and others were converted to Islam by the Cape Muslim community.

Today, the characters that live here are just as colourful as their homes. Each year on 2 January, the Bo-Kaap celebrates with their famous street party called the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, originally introduced by Muslim slaves in celebration of their one day off work during the whole year. Clad in colourful shiny suits, hats and brightly coloured sun umbrellas, men, women and children march from the Grand Parade to the Green Point Stadium all the while singing and dancing in celebration.

The local neighbourhood stretches from Buitengracht Street right up to Signal Hill and has in recent years become a hot new attraction for tourists. Some noteworthy hot spots include the Bo-Kaap Museum in Wale Street, one of the oldest buildings in the Malay Quarter as it dates back to 1768! There’s also Cape Town’s most famous spice shop, Atlas Trading Company, selling essential ingredients for Cape Malay dishes including bobotie, samoosas, curries and bredies.