Situated right in the city center of Cape Town, you cannot miss a visit to The Company´s Garden. It is a beautiful public park that holds a botanical garden, rose garden, an aviary, a restaurant and other beautiful sites.
It is the oldest garden in the country and connects the city centre with the suburb of Gardens. Its origins go back to the time when Jan van Riebeeck grew a vegetable garden to feed the original colony in 1652.
The Company’s Garden is also a cultural hotspot holding an art gallery and being the venue of several festivals such as the Human Rights Concert and the Youth Festival.
1. The oldest cultivated pear tree in South Africa (circa 1652)
This tree was planted during the time of Jan van Riebeeck, the Dutchman who founded the city. To keep it upright the tree is supported by braces and poles.
Read more about the pear tree here.
2. A rose garden
Designed and built in 1929, this garden, it holds many different species of cultivated roses and it has breathtaking views with Table Mountain in the background.
Read more about the Rose Garden here.
3. Delville Wood Memorial Garden
The park holds one memorial dedicated to commemorate the World War I Battle of Delville Wood in France. In this battle a predominantly South African force of more than 3,000 soldiers was reduced to 755 survivors by German forces.
Read more about the Delville Wood Memorial Garden here.
4. An aviary
There is an aviary, in where you can spot many bird types ranging from Reed Cormorants, European Starlings, Speckled Pigeons, Egyptian Geese, Cape Canaries and Olive Thrush.
Read more about the Aviary here.
5. The Company’s Garden Restaurant
The Company’s Garden Restaurant is a decades-old establishment. There’s a nice breakfast menu and the lunch menu is delicious. They serve traditional Capetonian fare, along with standard food—burgers, sandwiches, and fish and chips.
Opening times:
- Monday – Saturday 7:00 AM – 17:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AMP – 17:00 PM
Read more about The Company’s Garden Restaurant here.
6. Fauna
All over the park you can spot amazing animals, the most famous ones are squirrels, who you can purchase bags of nuts to feed. There are also pigeons, Egyptian geese, herons, and rodents, and there is the aviary (mentioned above).
Read more about the fauna in The Company’s Garden here.
7. The VOC Vegetable Garden
The VOC Vegetable Garden was completed in June 2014. But, what is VOC? The Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie – VOC) established a refreshment station at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652 to supply fresh produce to its ships.
The VOC Vegetable Garden project recreates elements of the original garden. Today, it is not only a touristics attraction, but also a resource to teach urban-agriculture skills to those interested in growing food in an urban context.
Read more about The VOC Vegetable Garden here.
8. National Library of South Africa, Iziko South African Museum and Iziko National Gallery
National Library of South Africa
The National Library of South Africa maintains a national library of all published materials relating to the country.
- Operating hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 to 18:00 hrs.
Read more about the National Library of South Africa here.
Iziko South African Museum
The South African Museum was founded by Lord Charles Somerset in 1825 as a general museum comprising natural history and culture.
- Operating hours: daily from 10:00 to 17:00 hrs.
- Prices: Adults $30 ZAR, 6-18 years: $15 ZAR, SA Students and pensioners $15 ZAR.
Read more about the South African Museum here.
Iziko South African National Gallery
The gallery houses an impressive permanent collection of South African, African, British, French, Dutch and Flemish art. It includes some of South Africa’s most seminal works, such as Judith Butler’s The Butcher Boys.
- Operating hours: Daily from 10:00 to 17:00 hrs.
- Prices: Adults $30 ZAR, 6-18 years: $15 ZAR, SA Students and pensioners $15 ZAR.
Read more about the Iziko South African National Gallery here.
9. Local arts and crafts along the avenue
The park holds the Government Avenue, a long avenue lined with oak trees (exactly 1 km long), which holds a craft market. There are many stalls selling various local goods, which are perfect for souvenirs for family and/or friends. A definite must see.
Read more about The Government Avenue here.
10. The Rutherford Fountain as well as other statues along the park
The Rutherford Fountain still stands on the original spot where it was erected in 1864. And also you can find several historic statues and a sundial dated 1781 in the centre of the garden.
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Wow this place looks amazing! So much history there too!
South Africa is on my Bucket List. I would easily do everything you have listed here. I love a great open air restaurant, exploring local markets, and admiring the flora and fauna!
Oh man, South Africa is absolutely a place I want to visit at some point in my life. I have never been to any place on that side of the world!
I never knew about the pear tree. I definitely have to go back to Cape Town
This looks absolutely beautiful!! I need to add this to my list of places I want to go!!