GROOTE SCHUUR ESTATE

The estate is located in the inner foothills of the Twelve Apostles mountain range, towards Devil's Peak, within Table Mountain National Park. It is home to the Rhodes Memorial and Colonial Building, built in 1866 for the VOC. The estate was bought by Cecil John Rhodes, who made his fortune in diamonds with the De Beers Company and later became Prime Minister of the Cape Colony. From 1911 to 1994, the estate was the official residence of 11 South African prime ministers (under the apartheid regime).

Rhodes Memorial. Also built by Sir Herbert Baker after Rhodes' death, on the spot where he loved to admire the landscape of roses, hydrangeas, sugar canes, bougainvilleas and fuchsias. In the distance, on Devil Peak, he could see antelopes, zebras, elands and ostriches passing by. The U-shaped monument stands on 38 columns, in the style of the Greek temple at Segesta. The businessman had wanted to build a far more impressive monument in his honor, which he would have called "The Colossus of Rhodes", as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world! But he fell out of favor before his death, in Paul Kruger's time, and was removed from power.

Activities. Today, there are no more animals, but the panoramic view from the top of the monumental staircase, watched over by eight bronze lions, is as sublime as ever. You can stroll under the hundred-year-old trees, have a picnic, go jogging or take a coffee break in the very pleasant tea garden (open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.).