Iziko Bo Kaap Museum
Iziko Bo Kaap Museum
3.5
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The Bo-Kaap Museum, situated in the historic area that became home to many Muslims and freed slaves after the abolition of slavery, showcases local Islamic culture and heritage.
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Neighbourhood: Schotsche Kloof
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3.5
98 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
35
Average
33
Poor
12
Terrible
2
GeneralShamu
New York City, NY1,174 contributions
Nov 2022
This museum takes 30-60 minutes at most, depending on how much you want to read into the information provided. It provides a backdrop to life in the district in prior times. Restrooms are clean and in the back. Entry fee is minimal and cash only (bring small bills).
Street parking exists but not really.
Street parking exists but not really.
Written 12 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
laficabella
montreal154 contributions
Feb 2020
This is a little musum in Bo-Kaap, but the video is well worth watching to give you an idea about the Malay population in Capetown. The area is also quite colorful, and gives a unique view of Capetown. It is not far up the hill from the Hilton, so just keep walking up the street and you will see it.
Written 29 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert O
Rotterdam, The Netherlands5,844 contributions
Nov 2021
In stark contrast to the community run museum in District Six, this government museum is small and not very informative. Still one can get some idea about how the Effendi family lived, before they were evicted to make room for this museum.
Effendi was an Islamic scholar sent by the Turkish Sultan during the 19th century to Cape Town. He translated the Quran from Arabic into Afrikaans and played a prominent role in bringing Muslims from different backgrounds among them Malays together. During the 1960s the Bo-Kaap area was ethnically cleansed by the Apartheid government. Only people of Malay origin were allowed to stay.
Video presentation was not working during my visit today.
Effendi was an Islamic scholar sent by the Turkish Sultan during the 19th century to Cape Town. He translated the Quran from Arabic into Afrikaans and played a prominent role in bringing Muslims from different backgrounds among them Malays together. During the 1960s the Bo-Kaap area was ethnically cleansed by the Apartheid government. Only people of Malay origin were allowed to stay.
Video presentation was not working during my visit today.
Written 19 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colwynveggie
Oswestry47 contributions
Dec 2022 • Friends
Fantastic staff explain about the district and its history. The staff made the story come alive, and talked us through the exhibits. They were very knowledgeable and took time to answer our nany questions. Its well worth a visit.
Written 10 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
M1115
Knysna, South Africa35 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Very dissatisfying, can you please make this more informative. Its not well run at all. A lot of staff though.
Written 7 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rebecca T
Huddersfield, UK195 contributions
Aug 2019
If you're going to Bo-Kaap then you need to visit this museum and if you do, then spend 20 minutes watching the excellent video to get a handle on what this place means to the people that live/lived there.
Written 1 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dominic
East London, South Africa31 contributions
July 2019 • Solo
I came hoping to learn more about this interesting area and its history. I couldn’t watch the video because the people working there were talking so loud. The displays were incoherent and when I asked questions to try to find out more about the area the people working there were unhelpful and uninterested. It is such a shame that an important and vibrant area like this is so poorly represented by the displays and the people working there.
Written 25 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan A
162 contributions
June 2018 • Couples
A small but thorough museum documenting the mix of lives in the lively Bo Kaap section of Cape Town. Most interesting part are the documentaries of personal lives and how the people have changed and adapted over the years.
Written 23 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave_Cowley_Road
Oxford, UK895 contributions
May 2018 • Solo
When in Bo-Kaap is definitey worth visiting the museum. It is small, and does not have many exhibits, but the information helps make sense of the local community and how it has developed. Cape Town'a social history is so complex and at times tragic, any information for the visitor should be welcomed.
The museum is set in a 150 year old house, and you can sit in the living room and watch 20 minute film, interviews with Bo-Kaap residents. This includes the sad story of the forcible closure of District 6 and the relocation of some residents to Bo-Kaap. If you walk around Bo-Kaap, you will enjoy the colourful houses, and this film shows you the true colours of the people as well.
The museum is set in a 150 year old house, and you can sit in the living room and watch 20 minute film, interviews with Bo-Kaap residents. This includes the sad story of the forcible closure of District 6 and the relocation of some residents to Bo-Kaap. If you walk around Bo-Kaap, you will enjoy the colourful houses, and this film shows you the true colours of the people as well.
Written 25 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark C
London, UK13 contributions
Sept 2017
Often frequented by school tours, the Iziko museum is a treasure trove of historical information about the most wonderful Cape of Good Hope. While the history isn't always pleasant, it has all played its part in creating the melting pot of culture that Cape Town is today.
Written 2 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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