Company's Garden, Historical garden in central Cape Town, South Africa.
Company's Garden is a large public park in Cape Town's central business district, the oldest garden in South Africa and a national heritage site. It contains a rose garden built in 1929, a fish pond, an aviary, a herb and succulent garden, and the Dellville Wood Memorial Garden. The grounds hold the oldest cultivated pear tree in South Africa, dating from around 1652, and many botanically and historically valuable trees.
The Dutch East India Company established this garden in 1652 under gardener Hendrik Boom to supply fresh vegetables to passing ships. What began as a practical supply depot evolved over time into a public gathering space.
The garden's name comes from the Dutch East India Company, which founded it in 1652. It is a popular spot for wedding photographs and hosts the annual Cape Town Festival. Local arts and crafts are sold along the avenue, and the Dellville Wood Memorial Garden commemorates South African soldiers who died in France during World War I.
The garden lies in the Cape Town CBD, with Parliament and Tuynhuys directly adjacent and the Iziko South African Museum and National Gallery on the grounds. It is watered from the Molteno Dam, fed by springs on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. Benches and lawns under large trees give places to rest along the paths.
A pear tree growing on the grounds dates back to around 1652 and ranks among South Africa's oldest cultivated trees. The garden also maintains a permanent craft market where local artisans display and sell their work.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,914 contributors worldwide.