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Graaff's Pool is a public bathing area,
tidal pool A tide pool or rock pool is a shallow pool of seawater that forms on the rocky intertidal shore. Many of these pools exist as separate bodies of water only at low tide. Many tide pool habitats are home to especially adaptable animals that ...
and notable landmark in the
Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...
neighbourhood of
Sea Point Sea Point (Afrikaans: ''Seepunt'') is one of Cape Town's most affluent and densely populated suburbs, situated between Signal Hill and the Atlantic Ocean, a few kilometres to the west of Cape Town's Central Business District (CBD). Moving from ...
,
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
. The pool was built by Pieter Marais in 1910. Marais, a businessman in the wine trade, built the pool for his paralysed wife who was bathed in the ocean daily. A tunnel was built from Marais' manner house, Bordeaux, under the public road to the pool so that his wife might be brought to the pool unseen by the public. The pool got its name when it was acquired by the business man and politician
Jacobus Arnoldus Graaff Sir Jacobus Arnoldus Combrinck Graaff (4 March 1863 – 5 April 1927), also known as 'Sir James', was a South African cabinet minister, Senator, businessman, and South African Party whip. Jacobus Graaff, younger brother of Sir David Graaff, w ...
who bequeathed the pool to the City of Cape Town. For most of its history it was a men's only nude swimming pool. In the late 1980s through to the early 2000s the pool was known as a popular hangout for the city's gay community. Due to concerns with the location becoming a crime hot spot in the 1990s it was closed at sunset every night. Prior to 2005, although publicly accessible the pool was walled off with only is western side open to the ocean thereby allowing bathers to swim in the nude. The high walls were demolished due to public concerns with the site being frequently used by prostitutes and their clients as well as for the sale of illicit street drugs.


References

{{reflist Tourist attractions in Cape Town