By the time you read this message, I hope that students have successfully completed their exams, Mom and Dad finished work and that you all are ready to join your loved ones on a well-deserved year-end break. To you and all our international visitors, welcome and thanks for your ongoing support. We in the tourism industry, is 110% ready to make the long holiday of 2019/20 a festive and ultra-memorable one.

Instead of our usual festive message (wear flat shoes, responsible enjoyment, safety tips, no-drinking and driving, etc.), we would rather share with you the hundreds of interesting things to gaze at, experience and enjoy at South Africa’s oldest operating colonial building – the 353-year-old Castle of Good Hope. 

We strongly recommend that you spend at least half a day to reflect and get a sense of where we come from, where we are and where we are going to in this beautiful land of ours. Here we go:

1. Check out and feed the millions of Fish in the Moat (water mass around the Castle).
2. Look and listen to the Indigenous Birds on the Moat.
3. Swim - yes take a swim (by permission only) in the Moat!
4. Take a picture at the Canons at the entrance or others scattered all over the Castle grounds.
5. Take a picture of the two Lions at the Main Entrance.
6. Then go into the stunning Ceramics Museum and appreciate the original lions.
7. Take a selfie at the oldest post box (PO Box 1).
8. Admire our Pyramid (ammunition store) at the main entrance.
9. Visit the WW1 & WW2 memorials.
10. Enjoy our excellent guides on one of the Free Site Tours.
11. Check out and take a picture at the massive Ship’s Anchor left of the main entrance.
12. Visit the Waterblommetjie Gardens.
13. If Dutch, check out your Regional Emblem on top of the main gate.
14. Touch (ouch, the spikes) a real Armoured Door.
15. Bump into a world-famous Film Star (if filming happens).
16. If not, visit the film sets.
17. Chomp on a Castle Burger.
18. Peek into a 21^st Century Conference room in the 353-year Adam Tas Hall.
19. Take a picture on the only spot where not a single sign of the City is visible.
20. Hunt your Ghosts.
21. Get married in a 350-year old chapel.
22. Participate in a local Khoi ceremony.
23. Listen to local Ghoema Music.
24. Take selfies with the Warrior Kings of the Castle.
25. Embrace the Lady of Good Hope.
26. Visit the original gravesite of Krotoa (Eva).
27. Or reflect at Krotoa’s Memorial.
28. Gaze at the oldest brand (VOC) in the world.
29. Enter the first, original Parliamentary Chamber in colonial/modern South Africa.
30. Reflect on life in a Restitution Garden.
31. Gaze at a deconstructed colonial exhibition.
32. Have a Picnic on the Lawn (water-restrictions permitting).
33. Hear a real Canon Firing.
34. Observe the only Key-Ceremony on the country.
35. Visit the William Fehr Museum.
36. Sleepover in a real Jail.
37. Visit the Military Museum.
38. Enjoy a bite at the Castle Five-Star (named after the five bastions) Restaurant.
39. Then visit the Leerdam, Buuren, Katzenellenbogen, Oranje and Nassau Bastions.
40. Admire the view of Table Mountain like nowhere else.
41. Be amazed by the original Sea-ward Entrance of the Castle.
42. Visit the jail of Zulu King Cetswayo.
43. Imagine seeing Lady Anne Barnard in the Dolphin Pool.
44. Check out Simon Van der Stel’s Cellar.
45. Dare to enter the Torture Chamber.
46. Experience the horrors of real Instruments of Torture.
47. Locate the real “Dark Hole/Donker Gat.”
48. Lock yourself up (joke) in an Old Ammunition Room.
49. Pick up a memento at the Castle Gift Shop.
50. Enjoy this time-capsule of southern African history and heritage.

I thank you for your continued support and wish you a safe, healthy, happy and blessed holiday season.

Yours in heritage for development

CEO - Castle Control Board