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The Company Garden

The Company Garden, refers to a beautiful public park right in the centre of Cape Town.

The main purpose of starting a Dutch settlement in the Cape was to serve as a halfway refreshment station for ships travelling to the East.
The garden was laid out in 1652 to provide much needed fresh fruit and vegetables for these visiting ships.

Company Garden, Cape town Culture, Cape Town

The Dellville Wood Memorial with the SA National Museum in the background

Adjacent to the garden, is Government Avenue, an almost 1km cobblestone path, connecting the suburb of Gardens to the centre of the city.

Government Avenue, Company Garden, Cape town Culture, Cape Town

Government Avenue

Walking up Government Avenue from Adderly Street's side, you get to see St George's Cathedral on your Right.

The buildings on your left, are the South African Parliament and Tuynhuys.
Tuynhuys, is the Cape Town residence of the President of South Africa.

Tuynhuis, Company Garden, Cape town Culture, Cape Town

Tuynhuis as seen from Government Avenue

A walk in the garden gives you the opportunity to see:

The oldest cultivated pear tree in South Africa
A rose garden designed and built in 1929
Dellville Wood Memorial Garden, which commemorates the World War 1 battle at Delville Wood in France
An aviary - a great favourite with children
Historic statues

Saffraan Pear, Company Garden, Cape town Culture, Cape Town

This Saffraan Pear tree is believed to have been planted in the time of Jan van Riebeeck and is the oldest cultivated tree in South africa

Rose Garden, Company Garden, Cape town Culture, Cape Town

The Rose Garden

The highlight for any child, however, is a visit to the Company Garden Tea Room. They serve really nice scones and hamburgers.

A visit to the garden is a whole day trip, as you have access to:

The South African Museum

The S.A. National Gallery

The S.A. Jewish Museum

Benches, Company Garden, Cape town Culture, Cape Town

Take a break and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Garden

Accommodation near The Company Garden

Top Tip 1
Puchase a small bag of peanuts from the informal traders and feed the pigeons and squirrels.
(See if you can find "Whitey" a ...... yes you've guessed it, a white squirrel.

Top Tip 2
Avoid Government Avenue after dark or when it is quiet. This is just a common sense safety principle

Squirrel, Company Garden, Cape town Culture, Cape Town