Sights in Cape Town
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Robben Island & Nelson Mandela Gateway
Used as a prison from the early days of the VOC right up until 1996, this UN World Heritage Site is preserved as a memorial to those such as Nelson Mandela who spent many years incarcerated here.
While we heartily recommend going to Robben Island, a visit here is not without its drawbacks. The first hurdle is getting a ticket – in peak times these often sell out days in advance. Reserve well in advance via the web, or book a ticket in conjunction with a township tour – many tour operators have access to blocks of tickets not available to the public. The packed guided tour allows a maximum of two hours on the island (plus a 30-minute boat ride in both directions). One of…
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Bell-Roberts
South Africa’s leading art publishing company has been fostering emerging artistic talent since 2002 from both South African and abroad. Recent exhibitions range from the photography of Pulitzer prize–winning Greg Marinovich to the wood and clay creations of Venda sculptor Noria Mabas.
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Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
Eight kilometres southeast of town is this pretty reserve, with walking and mountain-biking trails and shady picnic spots. A map of the walk to the waterfall is available at the entrance.
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St Mary’s on the Braak Church
At the north end of the Braak, an open stretch of grass, you’ll find the neo-Gothic St Mary’s on the Braak Church, completed in 1852.
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VOC Kruithuis
The VOC Kruithuis was built in 1777 to store the town’s weapons and gunpowder and now houses a small military museum.
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Village Museum
A group of exquisitely restored and period-furnished houses dating from 1709 to 1850 make up this museum, which occupies the entire city block bounded by Ryneveld, Plein, Drostdy and Church Sts and is a must-see. Also included are charming gardens and, on the other side of Drostdy St, stately Grosvenor House.
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University of Stellenbosch Art Gallery
In an old Lutheran Church, the university’s art gallery focuses on contemporary works by South African artists and art students. It’s well worth a visit.
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Toy & Miniature Museum
This delightfully surprising museum features a remarkable collection of amazingly detailed toys ranging from railway sets to dollhouses – ask curator Philip Kleynhans to point out some of the more interesting pieces.
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Sasol Art Museum
Featuring one of the country’s best selections of local art, both famous and emerging, this museum also contains an irreplaceable collection of African anthropological treasures.
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Fick House
On the northwest corner is Fick House, also known as the Burgerhuis, a fine example of Cape Dutch style from the late 18th century. Most of this building is now occupied by Historical Homes of South Africa, established to preserve important architecture.
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The Braak
At the north end of the Braak, an open stretch of grass, you’ll find the neo-Gothic St Mary’s on the Braak Church, completed in 1852. To the west of the church is the VOC Kruithuis, which was built in 1777 to store the town’s weapons and gunpowder and now houses a small military museum. On the northwest corner of the square is Fick House, also known as the Burgerhuis, a fine example of Cape Dutch style from the late 18th century. Most of this building is now occupied by Historical Homes of South Africa, which was established to preserve the country’s important architecture.
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Joan St Leger Lindbergh Arts Centre
The great-granddaughter of the founder of the Cape Times, Joan St Leger was an artist and poet. She bequeathed her Sir Herbert Baker–designed home and adjoining properties to make this excellent arts and cultural centre. There are changing art displays, a wonderful library, a gallery of evocative photos of how Muizenberg once looked, and a café. Concerts are generally held on the Thursday morning at the start of the month (R50) and Wednesday evening at the end of the month (R105).
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University of Cape Town
For the non-academic there’s no pressing reason to visit the University of Cape Town, but it’s nonetheless an impressive place to walk around. UCT presents a fairly cohesive architectural front, with ivy-covered neoclassical facades, and a fine set of stone steps leading to the temple-like Jameson building. Visitors can usually get parking permits at the university – call in at the information office on the entry road, near the bottom of the steps.
As you’re following the M3 from the city, just after the open paddocks on Devil’s Peak you’ll pass the old Mostert’s Mill, a real Dutch windmill dating from 1796, on the left. Just past the old windmill, also on the left,…
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IZiko South African Museum
Although there has been some reorganisation in recent years, and a few new exhibits, in general South Africa’s oldest museum is showing its age. Despite not being a must-see, it does contain a wide and often intriguing series of exhibitions, many on the country’s natural history. The best galleries are the newest, showcasing the art and culture of the area’s first peoples, the Khoekhoen (Khoikhoi) and San, and including the famous Linton Panel, an amazing example of San rock art. There’s an extraordinary delicacy to the paintings, particularly the ones of graceful elands. Also worth looking out for are the startlingly lifelike displays in the African Cultures Gallery of…
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Two Oceans Aquarium
Always a hit with the kids, this excellent aquarium features denizens of the deep from the cold and the warm oceans that border the Cape Peninsula, including ragged-tooth sharks. There are seals, penguins, turtles, an astounding kelp forest open to the sky, and pools in which kids can touch sea creatures. Qualified divers can get in the water for a closer look. Get your hand stamped on entry and you can return any time during the same day for free.
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Bo-Kaap Museum
This small museum provides some insight into the lifestyle of a prosperous 19th-century Cape Muslim family, and a somewhat idealised view of Islamic practice in Cape Town. The most interesting exhibit, although it lacks decent captions, is the selection of black-and-white photos of local life displayed in the upstairs room, across the courtyard. The house itself, which was built between 1763 and 1768, is the oldest in the area.
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