South africa
A divided Past with a Hopeful Future
A journey of reconciliation
nine days learning from the history of South africa
with Michael McRay
september 5-14, 2027
$4,197/person
(subject to slight change as itinerary shifts)
Walk the landscape of apartheid & reconciliation
From the prison cell where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years to the museum built from a destroyed neighborhood, we will walk through the places where South Africa's story turned. We will visit the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, participate in a Healing of Memories workshop, and visit some of the places most affected by apartheid’s vice grip.
The reconciliation story you've read about — you'll now step inside it.
Sit with South African peacebuilders.
Meet the people working for a new nation from the ashes of apartheid. We will sit with reconciliation leaders, walk with township guides who lived this history, and hear firsthand stories of forgiveness, resistance, and the long road to healing.
(Pictured: A facilitated group conversation at the Corrymeela Peace and Reconciliation Center)
Taste the cultures of the cape.
Learn to cook Cape Malay cuisine with local women in the colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood. Taste world-class wines in the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek valleys. Share meals together after days that will give you a lot to talk about.
(Pictured: The Duke of York pub in Belfast)
And have fun!
You'll ride the cableway to the top of Table Mountain. Watch penguins waddle on Boulders Beach. Drive the stunning Chapman's Peak coastal road. Spot the Big Five on safari at Aquila Game Reserve. And enjoy free days to wander Cape Town at your own pace.
(Pictured: The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge on the north coast)
Tentative itinerary
Day 1 – Saturday, September 4: Departure
Travel day. Depart the US for Cape Town.
Day 2 – Sunday, September 5: Arrival in Cape Town
Afternoon: Arrive at Cape Town International Airport. Private transfer to our boutique hotel.
Evening: Welcome dinner together on vibrant Kloof Street.
Day 3 – Monday, September 6: Table Mountain + Bo-Kaap + Orientation
Morning: Aerial cableway to the summit of Table Mountain.
Afternoon: Walking tour of Bo-Kaap with Sipho, our local guide.
Evening: Group orientation led by Michael.
Day 4 – Tuesday, September 7: Robben Island + IJR
Morning: Ferry to Robben Island, guided tour led by a former political prisoner.
Afternoon: Private group conversation with the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation.
Evening: Dinner on your own.
Day 5 – Wednesday, September 8: Township Encounters — Langa + Gugulethu
Morning: Walking tour of Langa township and traditional dance performance.
Afternoon: Amy Biehl memorial in Gugulethu.
Evening: Cape Malay cooking class at Faeza's kitchen in Bo-Kaap.
Day 6 – Thursday, September 9: District Six + Healing of Memories
Morning: District Six Museum.
Afternoon: Healing of Memories workshop.
Evening: Storytelling circle facilitated by Michael.
Day 7 – Friday, September 10: Free Day
Explore Cape Town on your own — V&A Waterfront, Lion's Head, Zeitz MOCAA, or simply a long lunch with a view.
Day 8 – Saturday, September 11: Winelands
Morning: Drive to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek for tastings, a cellar tour, and lunch at a wine estate.
Afternoon: Continue exploring the winelands.
Evening: Return to Cape Town.
Day 9 – Sunday, September 12: Cape Peninsula
Morning: Chapman's Peak Drive, Boulders Beach penguins, Cape Point.
Afternoon: Continue along the peninsula.
Evening: Return to Cape Town.
Day 10 – Monday, September 13: Safari + Farewell
Morning: Early drive to Aquila Game Reserve for a Big Five safari.
Afternoon: Buffet lunch in the bush, return to Cape Town.
Evening: Farewell dinner together.
Day 11 – Tuesday, September 14: Departure
Morning: Leisure time or last-minute exploring.
Afternoon/Evening: Airport transfers for departure flights.
Where We’ll Stay
Ten Square Hotel*
Gorgeous spot in the heart of Belfast. Perfect for what we need.
*Subject to availability
Some of the organizations we will meet…
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The Corrymeela Community
Ireland's oldest peace and reconciliation center. Sits on the cliffs of the north coast. Hosts 11,000 people a year for its peace programs.
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Jo Berry and Pat Magee
Jo Berry's father was killed by an IRA bomb. Pat Magee is the IRA bomber who did it. You'll hear them in conversation with each other.
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Cultúrlann
Cultúrlann is a vibrant Irish language and cultural arts center, dedicated to promoting Irish heritage through arts, language, and community programs.
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The Wave Trauma Center
A leading organization in Northern Ireland that provides counseling, advocacy, and support to individuals affected by the Troubles and other conflicts. It plays a crucial role in promoting healing and reconciliation through inclusive services and community education.
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Clonard Unity Pilgrims
A group of Catholic parishioners who regularly attend Protestant churches on Sunday mornings to shorten the religious distance between each other.
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Tenx9 Storytelling
A long running community storytelling event where 9 people have up to ten minutes each to tell a true story from their lives.
MEET YOUR LEADER—MICHAEL
Michael McRay traveled to South Africa over a decade ago to research his book on peacebuilding and reconciliation. Now he's going back — and bringing you with him.
Michael is an experiential narrative coach, facilitator, and consultant specializing in storytelling and conflict transformation. He holds a master's in conflict resolution and reconciliation from Trinity College Dublin in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and a B.A. in History from Lipscomb University in Nashville. He has led group tours to Israel and Palestine and to Northern Ireland, bringing travelers face to face with the peacebuilders and former combatants who are rewriting their countries' stories.
He is the author of I Am Not Your Enemy: Stories to Transform a Divided World, which won the 2020 Best Book Award in Social Change from the American Book Fest. The book features the people and organizations on this itinerary — the same rooms you'll walk into, the same voices you'll hear.
Michael lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where he hosts Tenx9 — a live storytelling event — and runs Becoming Restoried, his experiential coaching practice.
South aFrica awaits.
$4,195
Per person
Included in price:
All ground expenses (hotel, transportation, breakfasts) except most meals and tips
Local Cape Town tour guide
Entry fees to all sites
Generous honorariums paid to all local organizations and individuals we meet
Recommended reading and film list to prepare
One online session
Disclaimers:
$500 per person deposit required for tour, including $100 non-refundable deposit. Remaining deposit is refundable until March 15, 2025. Balance due by March 15, 2025.
All cancellations must be submitted in writing. Cancellation between March 15-April 25, 2025 forfeits all $500 of deposit. Cancellation between April 25, 2025 and May 25, 2025 foreits 50% of tour cost. Cancellation after May 25, 2025 forfeits 100% of cost.
We highly recommendgetting travel insurance to cover the full cost of the trip.
Got questions before signing up?
Schedule a 15-minute phone call with Michael!
Will you join?
Reserve your place now.
Fill out the below form to secure a place on the 2025 tour. After submission, Michael will send you an email to pay the deposit.
Your registration will be completed once the deposit is processed.