A DATE AT THE MUSEUM

Museums around the world hold some of the most valuable artifacts in existence. But with the Cradle of Humankind and a wealth of heritage sites on our doorstep, there’s no reason to look beyond our own borders. Delve into South Africa’s intricate cultural

1 Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg

The Apartheid Museum illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid and is the first of its kind. The museum stunningly exemplifies the vision of several leading architectural firms. From design to space and landscape, it offers the international community a unique South African experience. The exhibits have been assembled and organised by a multidisciplinary team of curators, filmmakers, historians and designers. They include provocative film footage, photographs, text panels and artifacts illustrating the events and human stories of that time. A series of 22 individual exhibition areas takes the visitor through a dramatic emotional journey that tells a story of a statesanctioned system based on racial discrimination and the struggle of the majority to overthrow this tyranny. For anyone wanting to understand and experience what apartheid South Africa was really like, a visit to the Apartheid Museum is fundamental.

District Six Museum, 2 Cape Town

Memories of both destruction and triumph are displayed at the District Six Museum, established in December 1994. Guided tours held by former residents provide visitors insight into their lives as they journey back in time to one of the biggest historical events in Cape Town. A portion of the tour is dedicated to answering questions and raising sensitive topics. Over the decades, the Museum has produced many diverse exhibitions involving a multitude of talented individuals. Visual and conceptual artists, sculptors, painters, musicians, curators, teachers, academics, youth and writers have all contributed toward the message of the museum.

4 Natural Science Museum, Durban

In the heart of Durban, surrounded by the buzz of a bustling metropolis, is City Hall, home to the Natural Science Museum. Attracting nearly 300 000 visitors annually, it’s been referred to as one of the most utilised natural science museums in the country. The exhibits feature life-like dioramas, which depict an unrivalled collection of small and large mammals, a diverse collection of African birds, including a fossilised egg of an Elephant Bird, the largest bird ever to have graced the planet, the “Kwanunu Insect Arcade” – where you can inspect some of the 750 000 identified species of insects on earth today, and a variety of reptiles and amphibians in their natural habitats. The museum is also renowned for the close-to-life-size Tyrannosaurus rex model and the 100 year old Dodo skeleton.

5 Phansi Museum, Durban

The Phansi Museum in Glenwood operates from a fully restored, Victorian national monument. The exhibits at the three-storey mansion showcases Zulu beadwork, earplugs, wire baskets, beerpots, fertility dolls, Ndebele blankets and ceremonial items, and artifacts from the eastern Cape, Namibia and Kenya. The most popular exhibit is the life-size marionette room, where 30 life-size puppets are adorned with ceremonial dress from all over Southern Africa.

3 Origins Centre, Johannesburg

Combining natural history, archaeology, anthropology and art the Origins Centre provides visitors with a glimpse into Africa’s rich and complex heritage. Their hands-on tours through human evolution are brought to life with ancient artifacts ranging from stone tools to fossils and beautiful rock art, dating back to South Africa’s Stone Age. Exhibits are immersive, and visitors are encouraged to engage by opening drawers and exploring the specimen collections.