Experience maritime heritage through guided tours and hands-on programmes
Whether you seek a brief introduction to South African naval history or an immersive multi-day experience, our range of services caters to diverse interests and schedules. Each programme is designed to engage visitors meaningfully with our maritime past, blending scholarly insight with accessible storytelling.
Select a service to explore in detail
A comprehensive exploration of our permanent collection, spanning navigation instruments, ship models, maritime art, and recovered artifacts. Our historians contextualise each exhibit within broader themes of trade, exploration, and cultural exchange.
Duration: 2 hours | Available daily at 10:00 and 14:00
Venture beyond museum walls on this half-day excursion along the historic waterfront. Visit functioning lighthouses, explore decommissioned dry docks, and discover markers indicating significant shipwreck sites visible from shore.
Duration: 4 hours | Saturdays and Sundays at 09:00
Work alongside master craftspeople learning traditional boat-building techniques. Participants shape timber using hand tools, apply copper sheathing, and understand the engineering principles behind historic vessel construction.
Duration: Full day | First Saturday monthly
Access our extensive document collection under archivist supervision. Ideal for genealogists tracing seafaring ancestors, researchers investigating specific vessels, or historians exploring maritime themes.
Duration: 3 hours | Weekdays by appointment
Curriculum-aligned educational experiences for primary and secondary learners. Interactive activities reinforce concepts from history, geography, and science while engaging young minds with tangible artifacts and stories.
Duration: 2.5 hours | Weekdays term-time
Host corporate functions, private celebrations, or film productions within our unique heritage spaces. Venues range from intimate gallery rooms to the restored deck of a historic vessel.
Duration: Varies | Subject to availability
Advance booking is recommended for all services, particularly during school holidays and peak tourist season from October through March. Group discounts apply for parties of ten or more. Concession rates available for seniors, students, and South African Heritage Association members upon presentation of valid identification.
Payment is accepted via electronic funds transfer, credit card, or cash. Full payment secures your booking; cancellations made more than 48 hours in advance receive a full refund. Accessibility accommodations can be arranged with prior notice.
"The ship restoration workshop exceeded all expectations. Learning from craftspeople who have dedicated their lives to preserving these techniques was truly special. I came away with new skills and a profound appreciation for the labour that built these vessels."David Chen, Johannesburg
Complete our enquiry form to check availability for your preferred service and dates. Our team responds within 24 business hours with booking options tailored to your requirements.
For immediate assistance or complex booking arrangements, reach us directly through our contact page.
Make an Enquiry
Notice: Service pricing and availability are subject to change. Prices displayed exclude additional costs such as transportation, refreshments, or specialist materials unless explicitly stated. Weather conditions may affect outdoor programmes; alternative arrangements or rescheduling will be offered where necessary. Minimum participant numbers apply to certain programmes. Please confirm all details at time of booking.