The Best Sight in Cape Town, South Africa

Background Illustration for Sights

Cape Town has grown as a city in a way that few others in the world have. Take a good look at the street names. Strand and Waterkant streets (meaning "beach" and "waterside," respectively) are now far from the sea. However, when they were named, they were right on the beach. An enormous program of dumping rubble into the ocean extended the city by a good few square miles (thanks to the Dutch obsession with reclaiming land from the sea). Almost all the city on the seaward side of Strand and Waterkant is part of the reclaimed area of the city known as the Foreshore. If you look at old paintings of the city, you will see that originally waves lapped at the very walls of the castle, now more than half a mile from the ocean.

Museum of Dogs

Cape Town Central

Perhaps the most innovative museum in Cape Town, this space tells stories about our relationship with our canine companions, and not always in obvious ways. Aside from the dog portraits, the brief histories of significant South African celebrity dogs, and a chance to listen to songs recorded by famous artists that happen to be about special dogs in their lives, the section upstairs includes an exhibition of artifacts and brief stories about intimate relationships between dogs and their humans—these are tales submitted by members of the public and range from ridiculously funny to absolutely heartbreaking. There's also a small screening room showing dog documentaries and short films, and a section downstairs displays pet paraphernalia and artworks for purchase. There's also a curious display of photographs of U.S. presidents with their dogs, accompanied by the stories behind America's First Dogs, which does hint at the personality biases of certain political figures. Regular events are hosted to raise funds for charitable canine causes; these might include dog-themed wine tastings, dog adoption days, and classical music concerts.