This unique museum entices visitors to experience through state-of-the-art visuals and artistic displays, the ancient commercial, sometimes mystical relationship that exists between gold and the African continent.
The Gold of Africa Museum is one of the most exciting tourist attractions to open its doors in Cape Town in recent years.
The museum is home to a world-renowned collection of West African gold artefacts as well as objects from the ancient gold civilisations of southern Africa. Alongside its permanent collection the museum showcases temporary exhibitions from countries as diverse as India, Brazil, Mali and Egypt.
The purpose of the museum is to preserve the art of African goldsmithing while inspiring contemporary design.
The setting for the collection is in itself noteworthy. Painstakingly restored in 2000, Martin Melck House built in 1783, is believed to be one of the finest remaining examples of old Cape Town domestic architecture. Its beginnings also coincide with the rise of the Akan Kingdoms that created many of the objects in the museum's collection.
Apart from guided or audio-guided tours, the more adventurous can track down the elusive pangolin (or scaly anteater) by torchlight while sipping wine sprinkled with real gold leaf; or might prefer to discover historic Cape Town as they follow in the paw prints of the Cape Mountain Lion along an entertaining and informative route that reveals a unique side of a magical city.
The museum experience offers several activities surrounding the viewing of its collection.
A special feature of Martin Melck House is its two hundred-year-old wine cellar that offers quality wines to visitors who can order a bite to eat at the coffee shop and relax in a tranquil garden courtyard.
A state-of-the-art gold jewellery workshop is the scene of courses and demonstrations where visitors can see local goldsmiths using South African gold to design and manufacture exquisite pieces of jewellery. Some of these pieces are sold in the museum shop that offers a variety of exclusive gifts crafted by local workers.
Martin Melck House has some 200 years of history as a social venue. A full catering and event management service is offered to corporate and private clients who hire our venue to help create a one-of-a-kind function. Any of our museum tours or themed interactive goldsmith demonstrations can be built into your function; as can wine tastings and light meals.
Museum times: 09h30 to 17h00 everyday except Sundays, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday. Rates: Adults R20, Pensioners and Students R16, Children R10, School Tours R5 per learner Free parking corner Strand and Buitengraght streets
