South African Museum, Cape Town
The oldest museum in sub-Saharan Africa, the South African Museum (SAM) has been adding to their collections for nearly 200 years and was established in 1825.
Collections here range from fossils to insects and fish found as recently as a week ago; there are Stone Age tools, over 120 000 years old, side by side with displays of traditional clothes from last century. The South African Museum offers a diverse range of exhibitions and visitors have not failed to leave the Museum without a better understanding of the earth and its biological and cultural diversity - both past and present. It lies in Company Gardens, at the opposite end to the Houses of Parliament, with its entrance on Queen Victoria Street.
The South African Museum also traces the material cultural heritage of our indigenous populations back to their earliest origins, and the research collections are studied by scientists and students world-wide. The South African Museum is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Cape Town and over 400 000 people visit the museum each year.
Accommodation nearby
For accommodation nearby see:
• Cape Town Central Accommodation • Devils Peak Accommodation • Foreshore Accommodation
• Gardens Accommodation • Granger Bay Accommodation • Higgovale Accommodation
• Highlands Estate Accommodation • Kloof Nek Accommodation • Oranjezicht Accommodation
• V&A Waterfront Accommodation • Vredehoek Accommodation • Woodstock Accommodation
Or to see all accommodation in this region at once, visit Cape Town City Bowl Accommodation.
Attractions / Activities nearby

Company Gardens
Company Gardens is a large public park and botanical garden set in the heart of Cape Town, home to a rose garden, Japanese garden, fish pond and aviary. Roaming Company Gardens, past the back of Parliament and Tuynhuys, the President’s official residence when in the mother city, is part of every visitor’s ... more information

Houses of Parliament
The city of Cape Town, despite not being the capital of South Africa, is home to South Africa’s Parliament - Cape Town is the legislative capital, whilst the seat of government is in Pretoria, the administrative capital - which is one of the biggest draw cards to the city under the mountain. Lying in the ... more information

South African National Gallery
Lying in the Company Gardens, opposite the South African Museum on Government Avenue, the South African National Gallery houses some of the most beautiful collections of South African, African, British, French, Dutch and Flemish art in South Africa. The South African National Gallery’s permanent ... more information

De Tuynhuys
Tuynhuys, the office of the state President and closed to the public, witnessed one of the most important turning points in South African history when FW de Klerk announced from its steps, on 18 March 1992, that South Africa had ‘closed the book on apartheid’. This beautiful building, built originally in 1700 as ... more information
Visiting the South African Museum?
Also see Things To Do in Cape Town City Bowl or check out Things To Do in Cape Town to view activities by category, including watersports, sightseeing activities, arts & crafts and many, many more.








