Groote Schuur Zoo, Cape Town

Name: Groote Schuur Zoo
Address: Cape Town, South Africa

#109 among attractions in Cape Town

Zoo

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Facts and practical information

The Groote Schuur Zoo was a 2-hectare zoo in Cape Town, South Africa. Established in 1931 at the request of deceased Cecil Rhodes, it was free of charge and a very popular attraction in Cape Town until its closure sometime between 1975 and 1985. The zoo shut down due to a combination of the financial burden that the Apartheid government faced and an increase in animal welfare standards. During its operation, it housed many animals including lions, emus, crocodiles and tahrs. The zoo can still be visited today, as it has been abandoned and left open to the public. The most prominent feature of the zoo is the Lion's Den, both when it was open and today where it still stands, full of overgrown vegetation. ()

Opened: 1931 (93 years ago)Coordinates: 33°57'43"S, 18°27'32"E

Address

Table MountainCape Town South Africa

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Day trips

Groote Schuur Zoo – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Newlands Stadium, Newlands Cricket Ground, Rhodes Memorial, Baxter Theatre.

0.8 miSE
Sport venue, Sport, Arenas and stadiums
Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
21 min walk • Newlands Stadium, a historic sports venue nestled in the picturesque suburb of Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa, stands as a monument to the nation's rich sporting heritage. Known as the home of rugby in South Africa, this iconic stadium has been a hallowed ground...
1 miSE
Sport venue, Sport, Sport complex
Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
25 min walk • Nestled at the foot of the majestic Table Mountain, Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, South Africa, is not only a premier sporting venue but also a picturesque location that captures the essence of the nation's love for cricket.
0.7 miN
Historical place, Memorial
Rhodes Memorial, Table Mountain National Park
17 min walk • Rhodes Memorial on Devil's Peak in Cape Town, South Africa, is a memorial to English-born, South African politician Cecil John Rhodes. The memorial was designed by the renowned architect, Sir Herbert Baker.
0.7 miNE
Theater, Concerts and shows, Concert hall
Baxter Theatre, Cape Town
19 min walk • The Baxter Theatre Centre is a performing arts complex in Rondebosch, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. The Baxter, as it is often known, is part of the University of Cape Town; it is also the second largest performing arts complex in Cape Town, after the Artscape Theatre Centre.
~1630 ftE
Museum, History museum
Groote Schuur, Cape Town
8 min walk • Groote Schuur is an estate in Cape Town, South Africa. In 1657, the estate was owned by the Dutch East India Company which used it partly as a granary. Later, the farm and farmhouse was sold into private hands.
0.8 miNE
Museum, Windmill
Mostert's Mill, Cape Town
21 min walk • Mostert's Mill is a historic windmill in Mowbray, Cape Town, South Africa. It was built in 1796 and was the oldest surviving complete windmill in South Africa. It was gutted in a wildfire on 18 April 2021. The fire had started on Table Mountain and spread, severely damaging a number of buildings.
1.2 miSW
Nature, Natural attraction, Forest
Newlands Forest, Cape Town
30 min walk • Newlands Forest is a conservancy area on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, beside the suburb of Newlands, Cape Town. It is owned and maintained by the Table Mountain National Parks Board, along with the City Parks Department of Cape Town, and includes a Fire Station, Nursery and Reservoir.
1.3 miSE
Park, Playground
Keurboom Park, Cape Town
34 min walk • Keurboom Park is a park in Rondebosch, Cape Town, in South Africa. It borders the Western Province Sports Club and Rondebosch Boys' High School. It is named after the original Keurboom estate. The keurboom is an indigenous tree. The park hosted the 2012 African Cross Country Championships with races ranging from 6 to 12 km.
~1860 ftN
Universities and schools
University of Cape Town, Cape Town
9 min walk • The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College making it the oldest higher education institute in South Africa.
1.1 miE
Neighbourhood
Rondebosch Fountain, Cape Town
29 min walk • Rondebosch Fountain is an ornamental Victorian drinking trough for horses, standing on a traffic island on the intersection between Belmont Road and Main Road in the centre of Rondebosch in Cape Town, South Africa. It was declared a National Monument on 10 April 1964.
0.7 miE
Library
Rondebosch Library, Cape Town
19 min walk • Rondebosch Library is a public library in Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa. It was ranked 18th in the City of Cape Town's top circulating libraries in 2013. The library's holdings can be searched online via the City of Cape Town's Open Public Access Catalogue.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Groote Schuur Zoo?

Nearby attractions include Groote Schuur, Cape Town (8 min walk), University of Cape Town Libraries, Cape Town (9 min walk), University of Cape Town, Cape Town (9 min walk), Rhodes Memorial, Table Mountain National Park (17 min walk).

How to get to Groote Schuur Zoo by public transport?

The nearest stations to Groote Schuur Zoo:

Bus

UCT South • Lines: 1, 4, Upper Campus - Hiddingh Campus (3 min walk)
UCT North • Lines: 1, 4, Upper Campus - Hiddingh Campus (13 min walk)

Train

Rondebosch (20 min walk)
Rosebank (25 min walk)