Heritage Museum

Simon's Town boasts a wonderfully rich and diverse history for visitors to explore. Photo courtesy ifijay/Flickr

The Heritage Museum in Simon’s Town pays tribute to the region’s rich Cape Malay history and cultural influence, tracing it from 1743, when Simon’s Town became an anchorage for the Dutch East India Company and there was a steady influx of people of Dutch Batavian descent into the area, well into the last century and apartheid-era rule.

The museum was originally the home of the Amlay family, who were forcibly removed in 1975 after the town was declared a whites-only area under apartheid law. At the time, more than 7 000 people from the region were pushed from their homes following the Group Areas Act, which dictated that people of different races might not live together. The Amlay family were the first to return to Simon’s Town after the advent of democracy, and family member Zainab “Patty” Davidson established the museum and curates its exhibitions today.

Visitors can expect to learn more about the early residents of Simon’s Town and the intricacies of Muslim culture and Cape Malay heritage. The displays include photographs, traditional attire and ceremonial artefacts. There are also a number of walking tours from the museum on offer.

Contact Zainab Davidson on +27 (0)21 786 2302 for more information. The Heritage Museum is open from Tuesdays on Fridays from 11h00 to 16h00, on Saturdays between 11h00 and 13h00, and on Sundays by appointment.

Walking in Cape Town

Many visitors want to explore nature on higher ground as soon as they arrive in Cape Town and with Lion’s Head and Table Mountain beckoning, many do get to experience the local flora and fauna on foot. However, the entire peninsula can be enjoyed by avid walkers. From Blouberg Beach, with its picture perfect views from its sandy shores, to the more adventurous guided Hoerikwaggo Trails along the spine of Table Mountain, visitors have an expanse of ground to cover.

Castle Military Museum

The Castle Military Museum is housed in the oldest building in South Africa, the Castle of Good Hope, which was declared a national monument in 1936.

The Castle Military Museum is a tribute to the brave regiments of the past, providing an insight into the political history of the country and celebrating the rich military history of the Cape. Then Minister of Defence Joe Modise officially opened the Castle Military Museum on August 1, 1995.

South African Rugby Museum

Cape Town sport enthusiasts are lucky enough to live in the city that is home to the South African Rugby Museum. Located just a drop kick away from the Newlands Rugby Stadium in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, home of the Stormers, the South African Rugby Museum is a full of tokens, collector’s items, memorabilia and history of one of the country’s most watched sports.

Historic buildings and architecture in Cape Town

As the oldest city in South Africa, Cape Town boasts a number of historical buildings, many of which are still in use today and open to visitors. The city’s architecture is a testament to the many varying influences in South Africa’s unique history.

Art galleries in Cape Town

More than 100 art galleries – as diverse as the colours daubed on an artist’s palette – await discovery in and around Cape Town.

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