Iziko Slave Lodge

It's the same mucked up history every country you visit. Horrific and emotionally draining, but important to know the history. Cost R60.

Poignant, detailed descriptions of the atrocities of slavery. This is a must-see museum in Cape Town. It will break your heart but at the same time change your mind and adjust your attitude toward your fellow man.

I wish this museum wasn't necessary as what was done to the original inhabitants was awful. That said, it was very educational and moving.

Very informative, nice museum to vist but it gets tiring, there is just too much to read. The museum does not have much interactive exhibits, very few videos and the headphones are disconnected so you will have to just stand there and read, read, read. I fairly enjoyed the tour, I got really tired of reading and almost left the museum within 20 minutes. However, I decided to drag myself along, I am glad I didn't give up in between because there were lots of artifacts to look at. It takes approximately 2hours 30min to thoroughly tour the museum (this is if you read everything). If you are only browsing then it will take about 45min to 1hour (without reading). If you dont like reading then this museum tour is not for you.

Amazing museum. The best quote from the museum which I think is absolutely true which is the idea the outside the walls of the lodge you forget slavery even existed but inside these walls you are reminded of the impact that slavery has on the people and how devastating it was and how serious of an impact it had on human history

I was so moved by this museum. It is curated very well and is full of information. We learned so much from the early days of enslavement, brutality of it and the rights that were continually stripped from enslaved people. The upstairs has a lot of information on the Black consciousness movement, youth protests and the Soweto uprisings. It profiles many anti-apartheid activists with details. I highly recommend this museum.

I have visited five museums in Cape Town and this one is the largest and most informative. Its MASSIVE! Theres soooooo much and I do wish to return for a longer visit. They cover South African and African slave history and also highlights the important tragic reality that slavery still exists in various forms. They have a couple of rooms devoted to the amazing Nelson Mandela- which left me inspired and with tears in my eyes as always… he's just such an incredible human being and I’m always left hoping and wondering whether I possess even a bit of his courage, humility, love and compassion- He really is my favorite person 💜 They have this fabulous timeline that traces Cape Town history, South African slave history and Slave history around the world simultaneously yet color-coded for better understanding- BRILLIANT! They have an interesting guns collection which I didn’t spend too much time in. They also highlight violence against women and talk about this epidemic which is necessary… violence towards women is merely another form of subjugation and suppression so Im glad for this section. What I truly loved more than the other aspects I loved are the voices given to living descendants. People today are able to speak about their experiences and growing up the descendant of an enslaved person. Its fascinating and reminds us that consequences of slavery which ended in the 1800’s is palpable and affecting to this day. In this way the museum is a living museum, an institution not just focusing on the past but inquiring and seeking ways to help those in the present and the future. It’s trying to be the change we want in this world. Truly magnificent exhibitions ✊🏽💜🌍 They also cover the role of music as an outlet for repressed peoples and talk about the lovely anthem for a beautiful new South Africa and its significance. Finally, of course they do cover apartheid which was also tremendously interesting and devastating but also inspiring because sooooooo many unknown people fought the good fight and died for the rights of all peoples. They feature lists of names of these heroes- a wonderful tribute and a humbling experience. There are many sections I haven’t mentioned such as an Egyptian section but I was a bit pressed for time. I left feeling deep profound complex thoughts about our species and these thoughts and questions are still fresh in my mind. In that sense this museum did a phenomenal job in educating and enlightening a horrible terrible part of who we are whilst reminding us that we are loving and strong and beautiful and incredible as a species nonetheless. That hope always reigns supreme.

OMG the most underrated museum ever, I personally felt like if you have to choose between district 6 museum and here due to time constraints, I’d choose the slave lodge. I wandered into here because I spent way less time than I expected at district 6 and didn’t want to go back that early. The first floor is a very comprehensive history about slave trade in Cape Town. It’s not only history it also provides different perspectives and discussions around the historical research. I can get why some people feel it’s too text based, it’s definitely like academic research but I love it that way. The second floor is the art around fight against apartheid. Posters, clothes and clippings. Amazingly curated. I spent 2 hours just on first floor and was too exhausted to look at second floor in detail. You can definitely spend 4 hours here. And there’s literally no one else here other than me. I personally liked this museum the most after visiting district 6 museum, South African National gallery and Zeitz MOCAA.