Why Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Are Avoiding Tourist Towns During African Tour

You might not find Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s African tour stops in your travel book. The two are making some off-the-beaten-path stops, and they’re doing it for a very good reason.

Minister for Tourism Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane revealed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex specifically requested to see the townships in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa.

“The general perception is that there’s nothing interesting to see in the townships and that it’s not for tourists, when actually they are culturally very important to South Africa,” Kubayi-Ngubane told Vanity Fair. “For the Sussexes, it’s a way for them to connect with ordinary South Africans. Aides say this is high on the couple's agenda and that the couple want to meet as many people as possible.”

Their first stop was Nyanga where Meghan and Harry met with The Justice Desk, a human rights organization. The couple met with a number of survivors of rape and violence and gave speeches about the issues.

“Now I know it’s not easy and I know it must feel insurmountable at times,” Meghan told the organization, “but your commitment to what is right gives all of us hope, especially your brothers and sisters here in your community who need you to continue to shine your light brightly. Your commitment is inspiring, it is energizing and it is extraordinary. You must keep going, you must know that what you’re doing not only matters, it is vital because you are vital.”

They also visited the District 6 Museum in Cape Town to learn more about the history of apartheid. The museum’s director Bonita Bennett said the couple met with plenty of people who experienced it firsthand.

“It was quite emotional because it was very people centered,” Bennett told Vanity Fair. “We heard ex-residents talking about where they used to live, what the experience was like, and how they are still living with displacement, and how we are trying to move away from that. They spoke to people who had returned to the community.”

As previously reported, Meghan and Harry abandoned royal protocol for formal meetings. They’re hoping that an informal greeting will help them genuinely connect with the people.

Meghan and Harry will continue to spotlight other lesser-known townships in Africa as their tour goes on. Monday was the first of their 10-day trip.