About
The Iziko South African Museum sits at 25 Queen Victoria Street in central Cape Town, in the Western Cape. It is the oldest museum in South Africa, and it is known by the name South African Museum as well. For a visitor, it offers a clear look at the country's natural and human past under one roof.
What you will see
The museum holds three main kinds of collection:
- Natural history, covering the living and fossil world of the region
- Archaeology, tracing the long human presence in southern Africa
- Ethnology, showing the cultures and everyday lives of the peoples of the area
Among its highlights are its Bushman rock art holdings, which give a direct sense of the painting traditions of the San people. Visitors interested in early southern African history will find this part of the collection especially worthwhile.
Planning your visit
The museum is a comfortable choice for a few hours of browsing, whether you are visiting Cape Town for the first time or returning with a particular interest in its history. Because it is in the city centre, it is easy to combine with other stops nearby. If you need current opening times, admission details or group information, call the museum on +27 21 481 3800 before you set out.
Going to the museum makes a good counterpart to time spent on Cape Town's streets and waterfront. It gives context to the landscape and peoples you see around you, and it is a sound way to begin understanding the region.
