Antonies Gat - Cave of the Tuan

About Antonies Gat - Cave of the Tuan

Antonies Gat (also known as Antonie's Gat) is a significant sea cave and spiritual site located along the rugged coastline of the Cape Point Nature Reserve in Cape Town. It is deeply tied to the history of the Cape Muslim community and is revered as the hideaway of a holy man known as the Tuan. The cave is associated with Tuan Ismail Dea Malela (also referred to as Tuan Antonie or Abdul De Koasa), an Indonesian sultan or holy man captured by the Dutch in the 1700s. The Escape: According to local legend, he and several others escaped from imprisonment (often cited as the dungeons in Simon’s Town) by rowing a boat to Cape Point. The Hideaway: He hid in this coastal cave, which was only accessible at low tide, and was never recaptured. He reportedly lived the remainder of his life there, aided by a local farmer.