3 Historical Landmarks You Need to Visit:
South Africa is known for its long journey towards freedom from the oppression caused by the apartheid system. And now that it is a democratic nation it holds 8 official UNESCO Worlds Heritage Sites.
The mother city is filled with beauty and is geographically abundant in its history. Cape Town hosts many historical museums, churches, parks and sites that date far back, that show the richness of its people’s culture. Here are 3 historical landmarks you need to see once everything is back to normal and you are lucky enough to be in Cape Town:
The Castle of Good hope
The Castle of Good Hope was built in the 17th century on the coast of Table Bay, Cape Town. It is the oldest existing colonial building in South Africa dating back to 1666, by the Dutch East Island Company. The bell still hangs and rings in the castle’s tower as it did over a century ago. Its main purpose was to announce the time and to alert people of incoming danger since as it could be heard from kilometres away. The South African army used it as their headquarters and it also housed a church, a bakery, shops and was once used as a prison.
Now, it’s currently the oldest remaining colonial building in South Africa. You can visit this site for a tour of the gorgeous design and learn more about this fascinating heritage site.
Visiting hours: 11h00, 12h00, 14h00 from Mon-Sat
Where: Darling St and Buiterkant St, Cape Town
Cape Point Lighthouse
The Cape Point Lighthouse is a magnificent World Heritage Site, surrounded by gorgeous valleys, bays and beaches. The first lighthouse was completed in 1859 and is located within the nature reserve, within Table Mountain. It was a significant navigational tool for ships sailing through the night and fog, until the introduction of radars.
The older lighthouse was replaced by the New Cape Point Lighthouse in 1914. This wonderful attraction was treated with respect by sailors for centuries and is definitely worth visiting, the pathway is trailed with flora and fauna on your way down to the Cape.
Visiting hours: October to March 06h00-18h00; September to April 07h00- 17h00
Where: Cape Point Nature Reserve, Cape Town
Robben Island
Robben Island
Take a ferry to visit one of the most historically dense heritage sites in Cape Town. Robbin Island was a brutal prison used by the apartheid government in the 19th century. Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president, was imprisoned in Robben Island for fighting for the freedom of the nation.
Take a tour of the prison to learn more about the struggles faced by black freedom fighters and people of colour during their oppression. The island is also home to a colony of African penguins and over 132 fascinating species of birds. You can expect that each tour to be about 3 and a half hours and packed full of information about our country’s journey towards democracy.
Visiting hours: 11am and 1pm daily from Nelson Mandela Gateway, V&A Waterfront
Where: Table Bay, Robben Island
Did you learn something new in this blog post? We are part of a very culturally diverse background and if you are lucky enough to live or visit Cape Town you get to experience a bit of the history that made us who we are. So while we are in lockdown, start planning that adventure for when this is all over we will do everything we have always wanted to do because we now know what it means to live for every day. Check out our Instagram page for more amazing places to explore.