Non Refundable
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Cancellation Policy
Non Refundable
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Please select a travel date and travelers to show booking options.
Inclusions / Exclusions
Mobile ticket
Offered in: Portuguese, English, French
Robben Island Ticket
Bottled Water
Hotel Pick Up & Drop Off
Zeitz Museum Ticket
Castle ticket
Meals, Drinks and Gratuities (optional)
Overview
Discover all cape Town Essentials Museums on this 8 Hour Tour including Robben Island Ticket.
Discover the Zeitz Museum, African biggest Art contemporary museum and learn the transformation which the building which used to be a grain silo, went through to become a 5 star hotel and home to Zeitz museum. Discover the Cape of Good Hope Castle, a very remarkable and historical building in Cape Town, South Africa. Discover the district six and the forced removal of its people by the apartheid regime in 1965. Take some photos in the colourful houses district of Bo- Kaap
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
2 Inn 1 Kensington21 Kensington Crescent, Oranjezicht / Gardens, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
605 The Icon Building Hotel24 Hans Strijdom Street, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA
9 On Barrack9 Barrack Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
AC Hotel Cape Town WaterfrontDockrail Road, Foreshore, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Adderley Hotel31 Adderley Street, , Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Adventure Pad at The Bay Hotel69 Victoria Road Camps Bay, Camps Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8005
African Elite de Waterkant47 Napier Street, , Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8000
Alta Bay12 Invermark Crescent, Higgovale, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
An African Villa19 Carstens Street, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Annex Lodge5 Annex Road, South Africa, ZA, 07405
Antrim Villa by Antrim Collection12 Antrim Road, Three Anchor Bay, Three Anchor Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Apartments In Mandela Rhodes PlaceWale Street, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Arambrook Boutique Hotel15 Kirstenbosch Drive, South Africa, ZA, 7708
Atico Of PenthousesClifford Street, Bay View, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA
Atlantic Bay Lodge Lake Front19 Cardita Circle Sunset Beach, Sunset Beach, South Africa, ZA, 7441
Atlantic Spa Boutique Hotel3 Hastula Way, Sunset Beach, Milnerton, South Africa, ZA, 7441
Atlanticview Cape Town Boutique Hotel31 Francolin Road, Camps Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Banksia Boutique14 Banksia Road, Rosebank, South Africa, ZA, 7100
Blackheath Lodge6 Blackheath Road, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Bliss Boutique Hotel25 Albus Drive, Bloubergstrand, South Africa, ZA, 7441
Camissa House28 Bridle Road, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Camps Bay Retreat7 Chilworth Road, Near the Glen Apartments, Camps Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8040
Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel5 Upper Union Street, Gardens, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Cape Diamond Boutique Hotel117 Longmarket Street, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Cape Grace - A Fairmont Managed HotelWest Quay Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Cape Heritage Hotel90 Bree Street, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8000
Cape Town Hollow88 Queen Victoria Street, Gardens, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Cape Town Intl AirportCape Town Central, South Africa, ZA
Cape Town Lodge Hotel101 Buitengracht Street, , Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal TowersCorner Of Century Boulevard And Rialto Road, Century City, South Africa, ZA, 7441
Casa Grace Villa, Camps Bay47 Camps Bay Drive, Camps Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Centurion All Suite HotelRhine Road, Corner Main & Frere Road, Sea Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8050
Century City Hotel Urban Square3 Energy Lane, Bridgeways Precinct, Century City, South Africa, ZA, 7441
Check InnNo. 155 Main Road, P.O Box 4, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
City Lodge Hotel PinelandsGolf Park Road, Pinelands, South Africa, ZA, 7700
City Lodge Hotel Victoria & Alfred WaterfrontCorner Dock and Alfred Roads, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8000
Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa12 Kloof Nek Road, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Colosseum Luxury HotelRatanga Rd, Corner of Century Way and Century Boulevard, Century City, South Africa, ZA, 7441
Compass House Boutique Hotel154 Kloof Road, Bantry Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Cresta Grande Cape Town37 Loop St, Corner of Strand, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Daddy Long Legs Art Hotel134 Long Street, , Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Derwent House Boutique Hotel14 Derwent Road, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Dock House Boutique Hotel And Spa By NewmarkMoorings 5 & Portswood Ridge, 5 Portswood Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Dorp Hotel273 Longmarket Street, Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Doubletree By Hilton Cape Town Upper Eastside31 Brickfield Road, Woodstock, South Africa, ZA, 7935
Dysart Boutique Hotel17 Dysart Road, Green Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Ellerman House180 Kloof Road, Bantry Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Fountains Hotel1 Saint Georges Mall Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Four Rosmead4 Rosmead Avenue, Oranjezicht, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Garden Court Nelson Mandela BoulevardCnr. Melbourne & Coronation Roads, Woodstock, South Africa, ZA, 8000
Garden Court Victoria JunctionCorner Somerset Road And Ebenezer Road, , Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8002
Glen Boutique Hotel & Spa3 The Glen Road, Sea Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Gorgeous George118 St George's Mall, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Grand Daddy Boutique Hotel38 Long Street, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Happy Rhino Hotel179 Loop Street, 7th Floor, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Highlands Country House36 Tennant Road, Kenilworth, South Africa, ZA, 7708
Hippo Boutique Hotel5-9 Park Road Gardens, Gardens, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Holiday Inn Express Cape Town City Centre, an IHG hotel101 St. George's Mall, Cnr Church Str. & St George's Mall, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Hollow On The Square Cape Town City Hotel9 Hans Strijdom Avenue, , Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Hotel Du Parc19 Park Road, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Hotel on St GeorgesSt Georges Mall, cnr Riebeek St, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8000
Hotel on the Promenade11 Arthurs Road, Atlantic Seaboard, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Hyatt Regency Cape Town126 Buitengracht Street, , Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8000
Ikhaya LodgeWandel Street, Dunkley Square, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Innscape Classic9 Ryk Tulbagh Square, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Island Club Hotel & ApartmentsNorthbank Lane, Century Boulevard, Century City, South Africa, ZA, 7441
Kensington Place38 Kensington Crescent, Higgovale, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 7405
Kimberley Hotel48 Roeland Street, Cnr Roeland & Buitenkant Sts, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Kloof Street Hotel8 Rheede Street, Gardens, South Africa, ZA, 8001
La Splendida121 Beach Road, Mouille Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Labotessa Luxury Boutique Hotel5 Church Square, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Lady Hamilton Hotel10 Union Street, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Lagoon Beach Hotel & Spa1 Lagoon Gate Drive, South Africa, ZA, 7441
Latitude Aparthotel4 Kings Road, Sea Point, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Long Street Boutique Hotel230 Long Street, , Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
LuxuryStay, The Docklands70 Prestwich Street, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Mojo Hotel30 Regent Road, Sea Point, South Africa, ZA, 8060
More Quarters Neighbourhood Hotel2 Nicol Street, Gardens, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town76 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Mountain Marina7 West Quay Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Mulu LodgeMiddle Street 36, Belville, South Africa, ZA, 7530
Newkings Boutique Hotel94 Regent Road, 2nd Floor, Piazza Da Luz, Sea Point, South Africa, ZA, 8005
O on Kloof Boutique Hotel & Spa92 Kloof Road, , Bantry Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8005
O'Two Hotel3 Surrey Place, Mouille Point, South Africa, ZA, 8005
ONOMO Hotel Cape Town - Inn On The Square10 Greenmarket Square, , Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Oak Manor1 Mariendahl Avenue, Newlands, South Africa, ZA, 7700
Old Bank Hotel85 St George's Mall, South Africa, ZA, 8000
One&Only Cape TownDock Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Onomo Cape Town Waterfront24 Alfred Street, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Onomo Cape Town, Foreshore31A Heerengracht Street, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Pepperclub HotelCnr Loop and Pepper Street, , Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Pineapple House Boutique Hotel8 Irwinton Road, Sea Point, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Pod Camps Bay Boutique Hotel3 Argyle Street, Camps Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Premier Hotel Cape Town1 Marais Road, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Primi Seacastle Hotel, Camps Bay, Cape Town15 Victoria Road, Camps Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Protea Hotel Cape Town MowbrayLiesbeek Avenue Off Liesbeek Parkway, off Liesbeek Parkway, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 7925
Protea Hotel Cape Town North Wharf1 Lower Bree Street, Foreshore, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8002
Protea Hotel Cape Town Sea PointArthur's Road, Sea Point, Sea Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Protea Hotel Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater LodgePortswood Road, V & A Waterfront, V & A Waterfront, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Cape Town64 New Church Street, Tamboerskloof, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8018
Pullman Cape Town City Centre*****22 Riebeek St, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8000
Queen Victoria Hotel & Manor HouseMoorings 5 & Portswood Ridge 5 Portswood Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Radisson Blu Le Vendome Hotel, Cape Town20 London Road, Sea Point, Sea Point, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Radisson Collection Hotel, Waterfront Cape Town100 Beach Road, Granger Bay Blvd, Granger Bay Waterfront, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8002
Radisson Hotel Cape Town Foreshore29 Heerengracht Street, Foreshore, Foreshore, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8000
Radisson RED V&A Waterfront, Cape TownNo. 6 Silo, Silo Square, V&A Waterfront, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Riviera Suites273 Beach Road, Sea Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Romney ParkCorner of Hill & Romney Roads, Green Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
SUN1 MilnertonCnr. Koeberg Road and Freedom Way, , Milnerton, South Africa, ZA, 7435
Salama Lodge14 Ashton Road, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 7405
Sapphire Boutique Guest House1 Weymouth Road, South Africa, ZA, 7925
Sea Point Inn82 Regent Road, Sea Point, South Africa, ZA
South Beach Camps Bay Boutique Hotel6 Link Road, Camps Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Southern Sun Cape Sun23 Strand Street, , Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8000
Southern Sun Newlands7 Main Road, , Newlands, South Africa, ZA, 7700
Southern Sun The Cullinan1 Cullinan Street, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Southern Sun Waterfront Cape Town1 Lower Buitengracht Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Spring Tide Inn8 Oliver Road, , Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
St Martini Gardens74 Queen Victoria Street, St Martini Gardens, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
StayEasy Century CityCentury Boulevard, Milnerton, South Africa, ZA, 7446
Stayeasy Cape Town City Bowl54 Bree Street, Corner Bree St. & Strand St., Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8000
Strand Beach by Totalstay243 High Level Road, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Sugar Hotel & Spa1 Main Road, Corner Main & Boundary Roads, Green Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Sun1 ForeshoreJan Smuts and Martin Hammerschlag Way, Foreshore, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8002
SunSquare Cape Town City Bowl23 Buitengracht Street, Corner Buitengracht & Strand Street, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8000
SunSquare Cape Town Gardens10 Mill Street Gardens, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Sweet Ocean View Guesthouse9 Barkly Road, Sea Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Taj Cape Town1 Waal Straat, Corner St Georges Mall, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8000
The Amalfi Boutique Hotel90 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
The Ambassador Hotel34 Victoria Road, Bantry Bay, South Africa, ZA, .
The Andros Boutique HotelCorner Newlands & Phyllis Road, , Claremont, South Africa, ZA, 7708
The Bantry Aparthotel by Totalstay8 Alexander Road, Bantry Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8060
The Bay Hotel69 Victoria Road, , Camps Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8001
The Brooklyn Guesthouse26 Diep Street, South Africa, ZA, 7405
The Cape Cove11 Deauville Avenue, , Fresnaye, South Africa, ZA, 8005
The Cape Milner2 A Milner Road, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
The Cape Royale47 Main Road, Green Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
The CapetonianHeerengracht Street, Pier Place, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
The Capital 15 on Orange15 Orange St, Shop 3, Corner Of Orange Street & Grey's Pass, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
The Cellars-Hohenort93 Brommersvlei Road, Constantia, South Africa, ZA, 7806
The Clarendon Bantry Bay158 Kloof Road, , Bantry Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8005
The CommodorePortwood Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8002
The Hyde All-Suite Hotel13 London Road, Sea Point, South Africa, ZA, 8005
The Marly Boutique Hotel & Spa201 The Promenade, 75 Victoria Road, Camps Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8005
The Oceana & Camps Bay Luxury Suites13 Ingleside Road, , Camps Bay, South Africa, ZA
The Old Foundry Hotel16 Ebenezer Road, South Africa, ZA, 8001
The One 8 Hotel18 Antrim Road, Three Anchor Bay, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
The Onyx Hotel57 Heerengracht Street, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
The Peninsula All-Suite Hotel313 Beach Road, Sea Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
The Penthouse Collection22 Riebeek Street, The Triangle House, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8000
The Pinnacle1011 Manhattan Place, 130 Bree Street, , Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
The PortsWoodPortswood Road, PortsWood Square, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
The President Hotel4 Alexander Road, Bantry Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8001
The Ritz Cape TownCorner Main & Camberwell Roads Sea Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8050
The Rockwell Luxury Suites32 Prestwich Street, Cnr Prestwich Street & Alfred Street, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
The Silo HotelSilo Square, V & A Waterfront, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
The Table BayQuay 6, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
The Three Boutique Hotel3 Flower Street, Oranjezicht, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
The Tree House Boutique Hotel28 Vesperdene Road, Green Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
The Twelve Apostles Hotel and SpaVictoria Road, Cape Town, Camps Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8005
The Verge Aparthotel by TotalstayHolmfirth Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8005
The Village Lodge49 Napier Street, de Waterkant, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
The Westin Cape TownConvention Square, Lower Long Street, Lower Long St, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8000
The Winchester Hotel221 Beach Road, Sea Point, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Thirty KeysPier Place 31 Heerengracht Street, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
TranquilityCamps Bay 8005 South Afica, , Camps Bay, South Africa, ZA, 8005
Tudor HotelTudor Hotel, 153 Longmarket Street, GreenMarket Square, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Upperbloem8 Upper Bloem Street, , Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Urban Chic Boutique Hotel172 Long Street, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Urban Hip Icon HotelCorner of Lower Long Street and Hans Strydom, Foreshore, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Urban Oasis Aparthotel91 Plein Street, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Victoria & Alfred HotelDock Rd, PierHead, V&A Complex, Cape Town Central, South Africa, ZA, 8001
Vineyard Hotel60 Colinton Road, , Newlands, South Africa, ZA, 7700
We will collect you from your hotel or any address provided in cape Town ...Read more ▼
Itinerary
Robben Island Museum
Soon after we have collected you from your hotel or accomodation in Cape Town and surrounding areas, we will proceed to the clock tower at the waterfront, (Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island) where you will take a ferry to Rooben Island museum maximum security prison where our former President and Father of our Nation the late President Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his life in prison. You will be with other people in the ferry. Upon arrival at the Island, an ex prisoner will take you on the tour of the prison including Nelson Mandela cell. This will be followed by a bus tour of the Island. Your tour guide will not join you. Please keep your ticket safe, as you will need to present it upon return. Since the end of the 17th century, Robben Island has been used for the isolation of mainly political prisoners. The Dutch settlers were the first to use Robben Island as a prison. Its first prisoner was probably Autshumato in the mid-17th century.From 1961, Robben Island was used by the South African government as a prison for political prisoners and convicted criminals. In 1969 the Moturu Kramat, which is now a sacred site for Muslim pilgrimage on Robben Island, was built to commemorate Sayed Abdurahman Moturu, the Prince of Madura. You will learn more from the site tour guide. The entire boat trip and museum tour will last 3 to 4 hours.
4 hours
Zeitz MOCAA
Upon return from the Island, your tour guide will allow time to have a bite at a restaurant nearby (at own account) before we can explore the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA). This is a contemporary art museum located at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa. It is the largest museum of contemporary African art in the world.The public not-for-profit museum was commissioned through a public/private partnership between the V&A Waterfront and German businessman, Jochen Zeitz. The Waterfront invested over R500-million towards its construction and infrastructure development, and although not a shareholder, Zeitz has loaned his extensive art collection for his lifetime. Considered by many to be one of the world's leading collections of contemporary art from Africa and its Diaspora, Zeitz's collection includes works by such eminent artists as Chris Ofili, Kudzanai Chiurai, Kehinde Wiley, Glenn Ligon, Marlene Dumas, Wangechi Mutu, and Julie Mehretu.
The Waterfront had been investigating a number of proposals regarding what to do with the historic Grain Silo since it was decommissioned in 2001.[3] According to their CEO, David Green, the decision to transform and renovate the building for the new museum would "breathe life into the Silo district and act as a draw card to a venture that is non-commercial in nature ... specifically for the enjoyment of all the continent’s citizens".[4] While others have noted that the strategic partnership with Zeitz also serves to connect the existing properties of the Waterfronts's owners (Growthpoint Properties and the Government Employees Pension Fund) with the developing financial district in Cape Town's lower CBD.[3] The conversion of the Silo building began in 2014 under the direction of London-based architect, Thomas Heatherwick.[3]
1 hour
Castle of Good Hope
From here, we will drive to the Cape Castle, one of the oldest building in South Africa, and a must do on your Cape Town Tours Museums bucket list.Obviously space will not allow us to delve into the rich, difficult history of this world-famous building. Save to say that the story of his Castle is a story of our young country. It is a story of joy, pain, tears, laughter, disappointment, fear, hope – and all the other human emotions that characterize us as a nation…
Built between 1666 and 1679, the Castle is known as the oldest surviving building in South Africa and has been the centre of civilian, political and military life at the Cape from approximately 1679.
In its current state, the Castle arguably represents one of the best preserved 17th century DEIC architecture on the entire globe. The 2015 – 2016 renovation of the Castle – the first in 20 years – will further enhance its appeal and position it well to become South Africa’s next UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This historical building now houses, among others, the William Fehr Collection managed by Iziko Museums of South Africa, an permanent ceramic exhibition (FIRED) and the Castle Military Museum.
The Castle was, however, not the first fort to be built at the Cape. A quadrangular (four-pointed) fort was built after the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 where the Grand Parade and the main Post Office are situated today. This fort was completed towards the end of 1653 and its inner structures in 1656. However, constant problems were experienced: The walls of the fort, which were constructed mainly of clay, collapsed and required constant repairs. A model of this original fort can be seen in the Castle Military Museum.Jan van Riebeeck left the Cape in 1662, and was succeeded by Zacharias Wagenaer. In 1664 there were renewed rumours of war between Britain and the Netherlands. Fearing a British attack on the Cape, the Lords Seventeen instructed Wagenaer to build a five-pointed stone Castle similar to other such fortifications in Europe and the East. The Castle was planned around a central point – a water-well under the “Boog” – with five bulwarks known as bastions.
The site of the new Castle was chosen in 1665 by the Commissioner and later first Governor of the Cape, Isbrand Goske. The engineer, Pieter Dombaer, was responsible for the construction of the Castle which was built by slaves, Khoikhoi, burghers, and company workers. (Anna Ras, die Kasteel en Ander Vestingswerke, p56, 57)
The foundations were dug in 1665 and the cornerstones of the first bastion, later known as the Leerdam Bastion, were laid on the 2nd January 1666, after which building started in all earnest. Three hundred sailors, commandeered from passing ships, soldiers, local Khoikhoi, women and slaves were used as workforce, breaking stone and collecting shells which were burned in lime ovens. One often wonder what was the real human cost of building this European fortress on African soil.
Clinker bricks, also known as “Ijsel-stene”, which were brought as ballasts in Dutch ships, were offloaded at the Cape and were used as decorative features in certain parts of the Castle.
In 1667 peace returned to Europe, which caused building on the Castle to be delayed. The first bastion, Leerdam, was completed on the 5 November 1670. Buuren, Catzenellenbogen, Nassau and Oranje followed.
In 1672 the outbreak of war in Europe caused the building of the Castle to be resumed with new vigour. In 1679 the Castle was completed. It was called a Castle because, as in the case of other Castles in Europe, in addition to being a defensive structure, it comprised a small community or town on its own.
Inside the Castle walls there were among others a church, bakery, workshops, living quarters, offices, cells and numerous other facilities.
The slate used as paving in the Castle came from quarries on Robben Island. Wood was brought from Hout Bay. The cement used to build the Castle was obtained by burning shells in lime kilns at Robben Island until they formed lime. This lime was mixed with shells and sand to form extremely strong cement. (Historical Buildings in South Africa, p. 8) This means that the Castle is intrinsically linked to two of South Africa’s icons and UNESCO World Heritage sites – Table Mountain and Robben Island.
The yellow paint on the walls was chosen because it reduces the glare from the sunlight, and reflects less heat. You may recall that former president Nelson Mandela damaged his eyes whilst working in the lime quarries of Robben Island during his long imprisonment there. (Historical society of Cape Town, Newsletter 3, December 1986)
In 1982, a comprehensive restoration process was started to restore the Castle to its former glory. The process was completed early in 1993. Another exciting restoration and renovation is planned to proceed towards the end of 2014.The Castle is entered through the Main Gateway from the Grand Parade and City Hall side. This entrance was built between 1682 and 1684 to replace the original entrance which was situated between the Buuren and Catzenellenbogen bastions. There are also two smaller entrances to the Castle.
This gateway offers a window on the past. The pediment above the entrance bears the coat-of-arms of the United Netherlands, portraying the crowned lion rampant with the seven arrows of unity in its paw. On the architrave below are carved the arms of the cities of Hoorn, Delft, Amsterdam, Middelburg, Rotterdam and Enkhuizen. These were the Dutch cities in which the United East India Company had chambers. The company’s monogram, VOC, flanks the carvings on either side.
The two pilasters, the entablature and pediment above are built of a grey-blue slate from Robben Island. Built of small yellow bricks, called “Ijsselstein”, the entrance is a unique example of 17th century Dutch classicism in South Africa.
Looking at the Main Gateway from the courtyard, a baroque gable is seen above the entrance. The gable is typically Cape-Dutch and dates back to the early eighteenth century. A painting of the gable by Lady Anne Barnard (painted between 1797 and 1803) was traced to Britain and the colours scheme of the gable was chosen accordingly. The correctness of this bright colour scheme has been confirmed by the Netherlandse Monumenten Zorg. (Dutch Monument Care) (Ref: Mr Green, Restoration Architect, Dept. of Public Works). The relief work is a replica consisting of four basic military elements, which are unusual features in gable decoration namely a flag, a regimental banner, drum, mortar and a pyramid of cannonballs. It is crowned by the helmet of a knight and various weapons of a knight are also shown. On either side of the entrance are the statues of Mercury, the god of commerce and Neptune, the sea god (with the trident)......
1 hour
City Hall
From the Castle of Good Hope, we will stop at the City Hall building in town, where Nelson Mandela delivered his first speech to the the public on the 11th of February 1990, as he was released from jail. We will take some memorable photos at this location before heading to our last museum, the famous district six.
15 minutes
District Six Museum
Our last stop will be here at this museum known as the district six museum.About District Six Museum. When the apartheid government swooped on District Six, Cape Town in 1965, forcibly removing its occupants and declaring the area a "whites-only" zone, the rich fabric of an impoverished but vibrant community was torn to shreds. After learning about the injustices which the people of district six suffered during the forced removal, we will stop lastly at Bo Kaap for photos opportunities.
45 minutes
Bo-kaap
Photos opportunities will be on offer in this colourful houses location.The Malay Quarter, known by some as “Bo-Kaap” and built largely by and for the artisans of Cape Town between 1790 and 1825, was subsequently occupied by people of the Moslem faith. These included political exiles from Java and Ceylon, who moved into the area around 1820. Liberated slaves moved into the area after 1834 and with them Malay people who had been living in the town. Over the years the area has come to be identified as the heart of the cultural life of the Malay people. Major influences of their life in the Cape have been their religion, the culture of their forebears, visits to Mecca and the Dutch and English colonists.
The Quarter extends over 34 ha (85 acres) bounded by Buitengracht, Rose Street, Carisbrook Street, Strand Street and the slopes of Signal Hill. The housing is made up of long continuous rows of small, mostly single-storeyed, flat roofed houses; staggered to step down the slopes. All the houses face on to the street, with access to the front door immediately off the pavement via the narrow stoeps which have low brick walls and stoep-seats at each end. The straight parapets are decorated with mouldings.The houses have stone foundations and walls of sun-dried bricks laid in mud mortar protected by lime plaster, and lime washed in various colours. Yellow-wood beams and boarding hold the roof, made up of bricks laid in clay and covered with lime plaster and kept watertight with whale-oil molasses and more recently covered with tar or bitumen. For reasons of economy the roofs of the restoration houses are of corrugated aluminium.
Two basic styles predominate the Malay Quarter - Cape Dutch and Cape Georgian - the character of the styles being very similar. The unifying elements are the windows, fanlights and doors and parapets. The design and proportions of these were Cape Dutch, and later, with the British occupations, came the Georgian style and Adam proportions.
The Cape Dutch style continued to be used in the Georgian era and these two styles became assimilated into their distinctive formThe mosques seem, both physically and metaphysically, to integrate all the elements of the area. The corner shops, a Regency (late Georgian) innovation, generate activity. The scale of the street is of the pedestrian; it is a social space, where people gather and talk and children play, reminiscent of old cities in Europe.
A part of the Malay Quarter, that is the streets Wale, Church, Shortmarket and Rose and Chiapinni Streets, was declared a National Monument [Provincial Heritage Site under current legislation] in 1966 and in 1971 the City Council began the first phase of restoration. Care is being taken that the existing beauty and unity be preserved as an example of traditional, Cape, domestic architecture. It is intended that that the cobbled streets will be restored and lamps will replace electricity poles and cables.
Restoration is proceeding apace with 48 of the 52 dwellings completed. It is planned that further dwellings are to be declared National Monuments and restored. From here , we will drop you off at your accomodation
15 minutes
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Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
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