Riverlands Precinct: A Cape Town Nature and Heritage Walk
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Riverlands Precinct sits at the confluence of Cape Town’s natural and colonial history, where the Liesbeek River flows with the memories of the peoples who have called this land home.
On this walking tour, you’ll trace the river’s restoration from neglected canal to thriving urban ecosystem. You’ll hear how indigenous heritage, ecological recovery, and modern design are being woven back together on this historically significant site.
The tour starts on the Piazza outside the Riverlands Mall, heading north along the rehabilitated Liesbeek River. You’ll pass viewing decks where Egyptian Geese, Little Egrets, and Common Moorhens inhabit the riverbanks. You’ll make your way around to the canal – where Devil’s Peak dominates the view and Table Mountain peers out behind it – before looping back through the precinct’s gardens and wetlands.
The tour ends at the First Nations Heritage Center, a museum gifted in perpetuity to the First Nations Collective. There, a sweeping mural by Mexican muralist Diego Rivera traces the full arc of indigenous Cape history from ancestor to activist.
On this 35-minute tour, you’ll also have a chance to:
- Observe artificial burrows that have created habitats for the Pied Kingfisher and Malachite Kingfisher
- Learn about the indigenous and introduced fish which are found in the Liesbeeck River
- Explore a medicinal garden where wild garlic and Cape Aloe reflect centuries of Khoisan botanical knowledge
- Reflect on the tragic story of Sarah Baartman, whose face appears on the Heritage Center mural
- See the South African Astronomical Observatory, a National Heritage site offering night tours to the public
- Look up at the King’s Blockhouse and Rhodes Memorial on the slopes of Devil’s Peak
- View Groote Schuur Hospital, the site of the world’s first successful heart transplant in 1967
This tour connects the ecological and the human in a precinct that’s still finding its shape – making it one of Cape Town’s most quietly compelling walks.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Pamela Russell
I am a long-time Cape Town resident and avid hiker. I love to talk about and share my experience of Cape Town with friends and family from elsewhere. VoiceMap gives me a platform to extend that hospitality - and those "local" experiences - more widely.
I've known about VoiceMap for a while now and have used it internationally in several countries. Since it's a South African product, I've always toyed with the idea of publishing a tour or two here.
Since retiring and turning 60, I've finally acted on this impulse. I'm starting with an exploration of the gardens at the new Riverlands Mall and precinct, an easy and informative walk suitable for all ages.
I would like my portfolio to include a few similar semi-urban or park walks. I also plan to head off the beaten track with some easy and moderate hikes. These will include a smattering of history and some information on the flora and fauna along the way.
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 14
The Kingfisher Wall
To our right is the brand new Kingfisher residential development.
Turning to the river, you may notice the small round holes in the opposite embankment. This is an artificial nesting wall for Kingfisher birds which typically nest ... Read More
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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First Nations Heritage Centre
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Two Rivers Urban Park
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Heart of Cape Town Museum
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Oude Molen Eco Village
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Mostert's Mill
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Rhodes Memorial
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Total distance1km
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Distance back to start location35.22m
Directions to Starting Point
Once you arrive at Riverlands Mall (NOT the nearby Riverside Mall) follow the signs into the underground parking. Park in the ORANGE section (numbered section 2). There you will find Lift Lobby B. Take the lift to G, or Ground Floor. This will bring you up outside Woolworths. Turn right from the lifts and go outside onto the Piazza. There is a feature fountain ahead of you. This is where the tour starts. Settle down on the seating that edges the fountain and press Play when you are ready.
If you do come up at the opposite end of the mall, it'll be very obvious as you will see the entrance to Checkers. Just turn to put Checkers behind you and walk the full length of the mall and out onto the piazza. It's a small mall, and you're here for a walk, so it's all good.
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Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
The Piazza at the mall has a wide selection of restaurants. For small and personal, the Bee-Stro is owner-operated and has a wide range of options. It's family friendly with a focus on local produce. They are fully licensed, if you are interested in a cocktail or a South African wine. At the opposite end of the scale is multinational - but South African-born chain, Nandos. The branch at Riverlands is Halaal, reflecting the cultural make-up of the surrounding suburbs.
Best time of day
It's best to do this tour during daylight hours, but avoiding the heat of the day in midsummer. Wear a sunhat and sunscreen if it's sunny. It can be done in poor weather if you dress for it, but it is most pleasant on a fine day with little wind.
This tour cannot be completed while the Liesbeek River is in flood. That said, if you do attempt it on the one day per year (on average) when that occurs, you could undertake the first half of the walk and then admire the flood mitigation aspects of the landscaping first hand. It'd be pretty spectacular.
The tour is conducted entirely on flat paths – paved, bricked or wooden decking. There are gradual slopes and a few stairs. These can easily be avoided for a wheelchair friendly option. The total distance is about 1.5kms, and duration is generally around 35 minutes. The pace is gentle, with longer stops at the beginning. Thereafter descriptions are shorter and the walker can set their own pace.
Precautions
Since the precinct is designed to facilitate an outdoor lifestyle for residents and visitors alike, safety and security are good. There are alert buttons at various points along the paths. If you should choose to repeat the walk in the evening, the entire route will be well-lit.
The paths are shared with joggers and cyclists. If you are a larger group, be sure to leave space for them to pass.
The route is wheelchair accessible with one minor accommodation - the very first stroll along the river would need to be conducted by travelling parallel to the route on the level at the top of the stairs, and then using the ramp outside Vida to join the main route for the balance of the tour. In fact, the views might be better if you do the tour that way, and the tour instructions do describe that option as you go.
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