Muizenberg

• Province; Western Cape
• Coordinates: 34°06.3′S 18°28.3′E
• Municipality: City of Cape Town
• Area: 15.14 km2

Muizenberg is a coastal suburb on the False Bay shoreline in Cape Town’s southern suburbs. It lies between Lakeside and St James, about 25 km south-east of the Cape Town city centre. The area stretches along a long sandy beach at the edge of the Cape Flats and sits just below the Muizenberg mountain, with the M4 coastal road and railway line linking it directly to Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek and the city.

History of Muizenberg

This village has been a holiday destination since the late 1880s

Muizenberg literally means mice mountain” in Afrikaans; however, the name goes back to the time of Willem Adriaan van der Stel, when aGerman soldier named Sergeant Wynand Muys  (sometimes spelt Muijs or Muys) manned a military post in the area during the late 1600s, when the route between Cape Town and the False Bay coast was guarded. The place became known as “Muys se Berg”, essentially Muys’s hill. Over time, the spelling changed to Muizenberg.

, is a suburb at the 20-kilometre-long beach on the False Bay coast. It was named after Wynand Willem Muijs, sergeant in charge of the post in 1844, and later commander of the Cape garrison.  It has been a popular holiday destination since about 1886 when holiday homes were built there by the rich who visited after the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand. .

The British and the Battle of Muizenberg

The Battle of Muizenberg was a small but significant military affair that began in 1795 and ended three months later with the (first) British occupation of the Cape.
This began the period (briefly interrupted from 1804 to 1806) of British control of the Cape, and subsequently much of Southern Africa. Cannons from this time can be seen at “Het Posthuis” and on the station platform.
In 1882, the railway, which up to that point only reached Wynberg, was extended to Muizenberg. Many of the buildings in the area are in the Art Deco style of the town’s heyday. The pavilion was built of wood in 1905 and was replaced with the present structure in 1928, which harks back to this elegant era. This village is considered the birthplace of surfing in Cape Town.

‍The Battle of Muizenberg Fort above Bailey’s cottage is an open stretch of lawn where the Dutch made a stand against the invading British forces in 1795. The battle lasted only 30 minutes, but the Dutch lost a key replenishment station on the sea route to the East.

Read more on the history of the suburb here

The postal codes for Muizenberg are 7945 (streets) and 7950 (boxes)

Things to see and do in Muizenberg

• Muizenberg festival held in October or November  072 214 5091
• The Beach has Blue Flag status.
• Battle of Muizenberg Monument
• Take a guided walk through the village with Voice Map
• The colourful bathing boxes are available to rent during the season. Make a booking at the beach office at 1 Beach Road or contact: 021 709 6076 or harald.ross@capetown.gov.za
• The Zandvlei footbridge
• Muizenberg Heritage Facebook page

Resources

Practical information for the Western Cape: regulations, permits, and helpful tips. See the Colourdots coastal and nature use guide

Useful Numbers

Residents and visitors can find important local contact numbers below, including police, medical services, utilities, and community facilities

• Emergency Services

• Police: 021 787 9000
• Fire: Lakeside 021 480 7700
• Ambulance: 10177

• Medical

• Closest hospital / Clinic 021 444 3914
• Pharmacy; Rustenberg pharmacy 021 788 1278

• Municipal & Utilities

• Water: 0860 103089
• Electricity: 0860 125002  Beach Road

• Transport & Roads

• Traffic department: Fishhoek: 021 784 2160

• Community & Safety

• NSRI 087 094 9774
• SPCA: 021 700 4140

• Local Contacts and Community Resources 

• Tourism 021 787 9140
• Post office; 021 788 2675
• Museums  SAPS museum;    : Rhodes Cottage,      Het Posthuys

• Schools in Muizenberg

• Junior school  021 788 4118
•  High school  021 788 1424

• Find a comprehensive list of Cape Town Emergency numbers HERE

• The City of Cape Town Public Emergency Communication Centre is available 24/7 For all life or property-threatening emergencies. Call 021 480 7700 from any phone or 107 from a landline or report online at https://bit.ly/3o4Ji3K

• Own a local business? Add your free listing now  HERE

• Adjacent suburbs are  Marina da Gama, St. James, and Strandfontein