4 spooky stories about Cape Town’s haunted landmarks
Cape Town is not only one of South Africa’s most historically significant cities but also the oldest city in South Africa, discovered in 1652. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that our beloved Mother City is also home to many haunted locations and stories of ghost sightings. Here are four of Cape Town’s most haunted locations: 1. Castle of... Read more → The post 4 spooky stories about Cape Town’s haunted landmarks appeared first on CapeTown ETC.
Cape Town is not only one of South Africa’s most historically significant cities but also the oldest city in South Africa, discovered in 1652. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that our beloved Mother City is also home to many haunted locations and stories of ghost sightings.
Here are four of Cape Town’s most haunted locations:
1. Castle of Good Hope:
Picture: Castle of Good Hope / Facebook
The Castle is believed to be the most haunted site in Cape Town, built between 1666 and 1679 by slaves, and standing for 355 years. It’s known to be the oldest surviving building in South Africa and has been the centre of civilian, political and military life at the Cape since approximately 1679.
Staff at the Castle insists there is more to the hauntings at the Castle than just “ghost stories” – Shouts for help can still be heard coming from the Donker Gat by workers and visitors alike, coupled with voices, shadows and footsteps of soldiers pacing the battlements. A harrowing reminder of the ghastly events and perhaps a curse over the castle.
The castle was used as a prison during The Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902 and even had a torture chamber called the Donker Gat (The Dark Hole) which was, as you can imagine, a dark, cold and damp windowless dungeon where prisoners were held and tortured. Often escorted out of the dungeon blindfolded and made to look directly into the sun once the blindfold was removed which resulted in instant blindness.
The resident ghosts reportedly include the ghost of the first lady and socialite, Lady Anne Barnard, who lived at the castle between 1797 to 1802 and is known for once entertaining as the official hostess to important visitors. Her ghost is often seen at functions held in the large Kat Balcony Hall that she had turned into a ballroom.
The bell in the bell tower can often be heard ringing by the ghost of a soldier who hanged himself in the bell tower 300 years ago.
Governor Pieter Gysbert van Noodt was cursed by a soldier who he had condemned for desertion, the governor was found dead in his office chair on the very same day as the soldier’s execution. The ghost of van Noodt still haunts the castle with reports of an angry two-metre-tall spirit cursing through the halls of the castle.
2. Groote Schuur Hospital:
Picture: Department of Medicine, UCT / Groote Schuur Hospital
Tucked away in the shadows of Devil’s Peak, the large 20th-century building that is Groote Schuur Hospital gives off an eerie feeling even when cruising past it on the highway. While spooky occurrences are not uncommon at a hospital, Groote Schuur is plagued by a couple of restless souls who wonder about its hallways.
Patients have tales of being tended to by nurses that no one has ever heard of, while a sister who’s been described as having ‘white eyes’ and who apparently committed suicide has also been sighted on numerous occasions.
There is also the friendly ‘Sister Fatima’ who reportedly tries to help hospital staff on their rounds by giving drinks to patients from trolleys that are standing unattended, and the troubled soul of a patient who fell to his death while trying to escape is still stuck in limbo.
3. Greenpoint Lighthouse:
Picture: Allan Watt / Getaway
Arguably one of the most recognizable landmarks in Cape Town, the red-and-white striped Green Point lighthouse dates back to the 1800s, and with its historical significance comes hearsay of ghost stories and paranormal activity that’s swirled around for generations.
The story goes that the lighthouse was once guarded by a lighthouse keeper named W.S West who disappeared for reasons unknown. However, his spirit still roams around the tower as a one-legged figure called ‘Daddy West’ – it said that his voice can be heard echoing along the tower walls late at night.
In 2014, the Cape Town Paranormal Investigations Unit (yes that’s a thing) went on an expedition to the lighthouse and came back with this recording of a demonic voice, which supposedly provides some concrete evidence to the rumours.
4. Table Mountain:
Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery
The list wouldn’t be complete without an ominous Table Mountain tale. According to mythology, a governor of Cape Town once made enemies with a citizen, who took vengeance through the governor’s son by giving him a beautiful yet tainted flute as a gift.
The flute once belonged to a leper, causing the boy to contract leprosy disease. He was then banished to live in exile in the lonely forests of Platteklip Gorge on Table Mountain, and to this day, the melancholy sounds of his flute can be heard trailing down the upper reaches of this lonely gorge.
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Picture: Castle of Good Hope / Facebook
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