the Old abandoned Cape Town Zoo is part of Cape Town .

Location is derived from the great work of WikiMapia
Check this place on Socialmapia

Top photos chosen by u all:

Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - Lions den wall
Made by mallix
Looking out from the lions den enclosure at the impressive moat layout, which enabled people to view the lions at eye level without the need for fencing or bars. A small fence running around the circumference of this wall kept people at a safe distance from the stone wall. I still cannot figure out what the bowl section is for, although it does have rungs running down it to a gate in the bars, so I presume it was another way of access, or maybe it had something to do with water/ flooding, or maybe so that people could see down to the bottom of the moat from a central viewpoint. I recall the lions used to pace up and down the bottom of the moat, looking up at us..


Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - Old bird cage
Made by mallix
Standing on one of three gabled structures which I assume is what is left of a large Victorian style bird cage. I recall seeing the top of three white cages when driving past the site on the M3 freeway. I think that all three cages were connected and you could walk around inside them. This one featured a large water feature (with a bridge in the middle?). The bird cages were the last remaining attractions of the zoo before it was closed down, due to the neglect and poor housing conditions (cage size was a main factor) of the animals. Urbex :: SA


Lion's Den, Disused Old Zoo, Groote Schuur Estate, Cape Town
Made by DanieVDM
On the slopes just above the land presently occupied by the University of Cape Town, a cage like structure was built in 1897 to house lions, opposite the tarred access road. In 1930 this structure was demolished and replaced by a new lion enclosure which was know as Groote Schuur Zoo. It has been vacant since 1975. It is believed that Rhodes had a fondness for the lion as ‘King of Beasts’ and symbolising the dreams and aspirations of the British Empire.


Lions at the Rhodes Zoo
Made by mallix
Some pics my mom took at the old next to UCT in Cape Town. This pic was taken around the back of the den. Have some strange memories of this place - I recall that the animals were not looked after properly which led to the closure of the zoo. It now stands abandoned with all but the lion cages demolished. More information, pictures and links I have gathered of the Zoo.


Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - The Lions Den
Made by mallix
Quick panoramic of the old den - this is currently being used for theater productions and is filled with old chairs, lights etc. Have some pretty vivid memories of two old lions sitting on the embankment here. A favorite story about the lions here is that they could be heard all over Rondebosch and Mowbray, roaring at the moon. The zoo has stood empty for around 25 years now, and most of the structures have been demolished.


Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - Gabled structure
Made by mallix
Approaching what I assume was once part of the old Victorian style bird cages, which were the last remaining attractions of the Zoo. I recall all the cages and buildings having a coat of light turquoise blue paint, which created a surreal ambiance in the area. Come to think of it, all my memories here are quite dark and spooky, unlike those of the zoo in Tygerberg.


Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - Lion mosaic detail
Made by mallix
A close up of two meticulously laid out lion mosaics which form part of a flight of cobbled steps leading up to the lions cage. The zoo seems to have been designed in a way which leads you up to this flight of stairs. I remember as a kid patiently browsing all the lesser exhibits and finally running up these stairs to gawk at the impressive lions in their den.


Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - Lion Mosaic
Made by mallix
One of two meticulously laid out lion mosaics which form part of a flight of cobbled steps leading up to the lions cage. The zoo seems to have been designed in a way which leads you up to this flight of stairs. I'm going to be first in line to save these for my garden if they ever decide to reclaim and bulldoze this site..


Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - Detail of gabled structure
Made by mallix
Close up on one of 3 remaining gabled structures which I assume to be what is left of a large Victorian style bird cage. I placed two separate images, together to give a better feel of the design, the image to the left is the back of the structure and the one on the right is the side. Plants seem to be thriving here.


Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - looking out of the lions den
Made by mallix
The last pic I took at the site, looking south out of a window from inside the lions den. Altogether the den was dark, damp and breezy, hopefully not a condition that the lions had to endure back in the 1970's. Most of the site has been overgrown and this den is the only complete structure that remains at the zoo.


Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - Pathway
Made by mallix
A path leading around the site, slowly disappearing under grass and bushes. We came across two rabbits here, possibly unwanted pets. Or maybe they could be descendants, in the same way the Tars that graze around the Peninsula are descendants from the original two that had escaped from this zoo.


Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - looking south towards the Lions Den
Made by mallix
Standing on one of three gabled structures, looking south towards Devils Peak. On the bottom right you can see a pedestal which once featured a sun dial, and then a meticulously decorated and cobbled flight of steps which lead up through a grove of trees to the grand lions den on the right.


Disused Old Zoo, Groote Schuur Estate, Cape Town - Pathway up to Lion's Den - HDR
Made by DanieVDM
Just a few remaining structures left.... I remember visiting this zoo in the early 1970's. The sun dial in the foreground is close to the lower part of the old zoo - the pathway leads up to to Lion's Den. An attempt at HDR has removed all the shadow that obliterated the detail on the pathway.


Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - Open area
Made by mallix
An open area, just to the left of the lavatories, which could have been the site of animal cages or maybe a parking lot? The sloped wall to the right of the image looks a lot like , from an old photograph taken here in 1974. Urbex :: SA


Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - Lions den enclosure
Made by mallix
One of the enclosures at the back of the den. I like this rock in the middle as a feature... The small doorway at the back was activated by a series of pulleys that let the cats into the various areas. The den was mercilessly small (one of the reasons that the zoo was shut down).


Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - old bird cage area
Made by mallix
The site of what I believe to be an old, Victorian style bird cage. These were the last attractions at the zoo to be closed down, and were visible from the M3 when driving past. I think that the blocked-up areas inside these structures could have been used for storage.


Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - Back of the lions den
Made by mallix
Walking around the den to the right, a pile of wood and iron bars, presumably removed by the theater company that has been using the den as a stage. The bright orange box in the background is a temporary power supply. The back cages can be seen on the right.


Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - Bird cages
Made by mallix
Another view of what is left of a birdcage. These were the last attractions at the zoo to be closed down, and were visible from the M3 when driving past. I think that the blocked-up areas inside these structures could have been used for storage.


Abandoned Rhodes Zoo - Lions den bars
Made by mallix
These enclosures behind the lions den are all what is left of the cages at the zoo. These are slowly rotting away on what is the wet side of Table Mountain. The cages have been crudely covered with tennis nets but there are holes everywhere.



Made by warrenski
Found this mosaic at the old abandoned Groote Schuur Zoo. Bumped into an elderly man who has lived in Rondebosch for many years and he claims that on some nights, while lying in bed, he could hear the lions roaring over all that distance!