A lesser-known Cape Town attraction, the Zeitz MOCAA Museum of Contemporary African Art, is a world-class museum that is sometimes overlooked during a quick visit to the Cape. We’d urge you to set aside some time to visit this epic attraction during your stay with us.
The Silo at the V&A Waterfront Precinct
A visit to Zeitz MOCAA is a visual treat for the senses. When driving towards Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront Precinct, The Silo, the building within which the Zeitz MOCAA is located, can be spotted from some distance away. This is one of Cape Town’s most iconic architectural buildings, which at 57m, towers over the shoreline, windows glinting in the light.
At first glance, The Silo has the appearance of a sleek, modern building but it is actually one of Cape Town’s historical landmarks. The building initially opened in 1924 and was the tallest structure in Sub-Saharan Africa for many years. It was initially used as a grain silo, strategically situated near the harbour to facilitate agricultural exports. Then, during an extensive renovation project between 2014 and 2017, it was transformed into its current form, featuring prismoid metallic windows reminiscent of a steam-punk fantasy.
Inside the Zeitz MOCAA
Stepping inside the Silo building, visitors are awed by an enormous concrete atrium carved out in the shape of a grain of corn. Light pours into the building’s distinctive “pillow” windows, highlighting the atrium’s curved concrete lines, spiral staircase and glass elevator.
Nestled within this space the Zeitz MOCAA’s impressive art displays can be viewed. The 9-floor multistorey galley covers 6 000 meters and houses the world’s largest showcased collection of art from Africa and its diaspora.
Walking through these galleries one is transported away from mundane day-to-day life. The museum houses a massive array of permanent and temporary displays. Visitors experience the museum through sight, sound, and touch, as they explore its galleries. There are traditional oil paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and tapestries to observe. These are interspersed with immersive floor-to-ceiling moving picture projections, where the beat of an African drum or the crashing ocean can be heard as you crunch over floors covered in beach sand or sawdust. All in all, this is one of Africa’s most impressive cultural attractions.
Getting there from POD Camps Bay
The Zeitz MOCAA Museum is easy to reach from POD Camps Bay – only a 20-minute drive from the hotel. Tickets can be booked at the museum door or online. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 6pm.
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