South African museums: KwaZulu-Natal
The Bergtheil Museum, housed in a 19th century farmhouse, holds an interesting collection of photographs, documents and artefacts relating to the 1848 German settlers and the development of surrounding
communities.
Website: www.durban.gov.za/…
Address: 16 Queens Avenue, Westville.
Tel: 203 7107
The Campbell Collections at the University of KwaZulu-Natal concentrates on the history of southeast Africa. It includes 18th and 19th century Cape furniture, 19th century topographical paintings, 20th century African art works and vast collections of the material cultural artefacts from the indigenous African cultures of southern Africa, such as costume, woodcarving and pottery.
Website: http://campbell.ukzn.ac.za/
Address: 220 Glydys Mazibuko (formerly Marriott) Road, 4001
Tel: (031) 207-3711
Mon-Fri: 08:00-16:30
The Durban Natural Science Museum features displays on the Earth and its history and on life on earth both past and present, with special emphasis on the unique fauna and
flora of South Africa.
Website: durban.kzn.org.za/…
Email: hilaryv@crsu.durban.gov.za
Address: City Hall, Smith Str.
Tel: (031) 300-6211
Mon-Sat: 8:30-16:00
Sun: 11:00-17:00
Public Holidays: 11:00-16:00
The Geology Education Museum focuses on an introduction to minerals, rocks and fossils, as well as structural and economic geology, and the geology of KwaZulu-Natal.
Website: www.geology.ukzn.ac.za/…
E-mail: gem@geology.und.ac.za
Address: George Campbell Building, Dept of Geology, University of Natal King George Ave, Durban, 4041
Tel: (031) 260-2524
Mon-Fri: 09:00-12:00; 14:00-16:00 - preferably by appointment
The KwaMuhle Museum offers an exciting programme
of exhibitions, workshops, cultural events, videos and educational tours portraying the vibrant history and culture of 20th century Durban and KwaZulu-Natal.
Website: www.durban.gov.za/…
Address: 130 Ordnance Rd
Tel: (031) 311-2223
Mon-Sat: 8:30-16:00
Sun: 11:00-16:00
The Museum of Classical Archaeology at the Durban campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal houses original artefacts from ancient Italy, Greece, Egypt, Petra, Boeotia, Persia and Jerusalem. These include ceramic ware, sculpture, lamps and bronze medical instruments. The museum is open for public viewing during the academic year.
Website: www.classics.und.ac.za/…
Email: hilton@ukzn.ac.za
Address: Department of Classics, ground floor, Memorial Tower
Building, Howard Collage Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, King George V Avenue, Glenwood
Tel: (031) 260-2312
The Pinetown Museum houses a multicultural display on Pinetown settlers from the Stone Age to today, including artefacts, a model of a Zulu warrior and a collection of historical photographs.
Website: www.durban.gov.za/…
Address: Corner Crompton Street and Old Main Road (in Library building), Pinetown.
Tel: (013) 719 2160
Mon - Fri: 09:00 - 17:00
Sat: 09:00 - 12:00
The Old Court House Museum portrays the rich history of early Durban and KwaZulu- Natal through fascinating replicas of Durban's early settlements.
Website: www.durban.gov.za/…
Address: Aliwal Street
Tel: (031) 311-2233
Mon-Sat:
8:30-16:00
Sun: 11:00-16:00
The Old House Museum, a typical veranda house with notable architecture and fascinating articles of old furniture and fittings, depicts the lifestyle of Durban's Victorian settlers.
Website: www.durban.gov.za/…
Address: St Andrews Street
Tel: (031) 311-2261
Mon-Sat: 8:30-16:00
Sun: 11:00-16:00
The Port Natal Maritime Museum portrays aspects of the maritime history of Durban and KwaZulu-Natal. Highlights are three large multi-ton vessels and smaller craft and the Brittania room, with its interactive and creative displays and videos.
Website: www.durban.gov.za/…
Address: Aliwal Street Pier
Tel: (031) 300-6313
Mon-Sat: 8:30-16:00
Sun: 11:00-16:00
Sea World at uShaka Marine World, run
by the South African Association for Marine Biological Research, incorporates a unique shipwreck-themed aquarium, one of the five largest in the world, a 1 200-seater dolphin stadium (the largest dolphinarium in Africa), a seal pool and penguin rookery, as well as interactive activities in the dive tank, snorkel reef and touch pool. There is also a first-class education centre with extensive marine environmental education programmes.
Website: www.seaworld.org.za or www.ushakamarineworld.co.za
Email: info@seaworld.org.za
Address: uShaka Marine World, 1 King Shaka Avenue
Tel: (031) 328-8222
Website: www.moth.org.za
Email: may@hixnet.co.za
Address: 1 NMR Avenue, Old Fort Rd
Tel: (031) 307-3337
Tues-Fri: 11:00-15:00
Sat: 10:00-12:00
Sun: 11:00-15:00
The unique Comrades Marathon Museum depicts the history of this legendary race and celebrates the great athletes who have enhanced its international reputation.
Website: www.comrades.org.za
Address: 18 Connaught Road, Scottsville
Tel: (0331) 94-3510
Mon-Fri: 8:30-13:00
The Macrorie House Museum contains a comprehensive collection of Victoriana and Ecclesiastica housed in Bishop Macrorie's original double-story home. Within the house is a miniature chapel (complete with ghosts).
Address: 11 Loop St, Pietermaritzburg
Tel: (0331) 94-2161
Tues-Fri: 9:00-13:00
Sat: closed
Sun: 11:00-16:00
The Natal Museum is home to one of South Africa's great national collections. A popular tourist and educational amenity and an acclaimed centre of scholarly research, it offers a feast of attractive, user-friendly displays. Exhibitions feature a wealth of animal life, bushman rock art, a marine gallery, African cultural products, settler history and much more.
Website: www.nmsa.org.za
Email: vfrank@nmsa.org.za
Address: 237 Loop Street
Tel: (0331) 45-1404
Mon-Fri: 9:00-16:30
The Voortrekker Museum consists of the Church of the Vow and Andries Pretorius House. Exhibitions feature the Great Trek and the interaction between the Trekkers and the people with whom
they came in contact.
Website: www.voortrekkermuseum.co.za
Email: voortmus@iafrica.com
Address: Corner Longmarket & Boshoff Streets
Tel: (0331) 94-6834/5
Mon-Fri: 08:00-16:00
Sat: 08:00-12:00
The Colenso (RE Stevenson) Museum, situated in the old Tollkeeper's House (1879), has many historical exhibits including a model of the Battle of Colenso. Obtain the key from the police station next door.
Website: www.battlefields.kzn.org.za/…
Address: Toll Road
Tel: (08642) 2111
The Blood River Battlefield features a replica laager of 64 wagons on the site where the Voortrekkers defeated a Zulu army on 16 December 1838 and
a hall with museum displays.
Website: www.voortrekkermon.org.za/Bloedrivier/…
Email: marketing@voortrekkermon.org.za
Address: Off the Dundee-Vryheid road (R33), 48km from Dundee
Tel: (034) 632-1695
Open daily
The Ncome Museum and Monument Complex across the river opposite the Blood River Battlefield wagons is a memorial to the Zulu army.
Address: Off the Dundee-Vryheid road (R33)
Open daily
The Rorke's Drift Museum is in a rural setting about 45km from Dundee. It is designed to give visitors a thorough introduction to the Zulu wars, while focusing specifically on the defence of Rorke's Drift.
Website: www.battlefields.co.za/…
Tel: (03425) 687
Every day (incl public holidays):
8:00-17:00
The Talana Museum is on the only battlefield in SA where buildings from the battle still exist. It comprises 17 buildings, dedicated to subjects as diverse as war and agriculture, mining, industry and domestic life, including an international glass museum and a national coal museum on a 20-acre heritage park.
Website: www.talana.co.za
Email: info@talana.co.za
Address: Talana Hill, Vryheid Rd
Tel: (0341) 22654
Mon-Fri: 8:00-16:00
Sat: 10:00-16:00
Sun: 12:00-16:00
The Vukani Museum exhibits a collection of Zulu arts and crafts collected from the region over a long period.
Address: Post Office Building, Osborn Road
Tel: (0354) 75274
Kwabhekithunga is the umuzi (traditional Zulu village) of Mbhangcuza Fakude and his family and friends, who enlighten visitors
on their age-old traditions and customs, as well as accommodation and facilities for a real African cultural visit.
Website: www.places.co.za/…
Stewarts Farm Road, off the R34
Tel: (035) 460-0644
The Zululand Historical Museum, set in an old fort, displays Zulu cultural items and information on the early Norwegian missionaries
Address: Nongqai Road
Tel: (0354) 41141
Mon-Fri: 07:30-16:00
Weekends: 09:00-16:00
Fort Durnford, housed in a beautiful and imposing military fort designed by Colonel Anthony Durnford and built by Jeromia Faulds in 1874, contains exhibits on military history, fossils, bird eggs, the Moorleigh mission station and an Amangwe homestead.
Address: Kemps Road
Tel: (0363) 23000
Mon-Fri: 09:00-12:00; 13:00 - 16:00
Sat-Sun: by appointment
Public Holidays:
closed
The Greytown Museum, a historical monument, with a giant fig tree planted by former Prime Minister General Louis Botha' s sister, is crammed with items from a variety of cultures. It specialises in the Bambatha Rebellion.
Address: Scott/Durban Streets
Tel: (0334) 31171 ext 128
Mon-Fri: 8:00-16:00
The thematic displays at the Mission House Museum depict the arrival of the first missionaries and tradesmen in Natal (1854) sent out by the Hermannsburg Mission Society in Germany, and of German settlers who followed soon after.
Address: School building, Deutsche Schule
Tel: (03344) 50405
Mon-Fri: 9:00-12:00
Weekends and public holidays by appointment
The Himeville Museum is in a fort that was originally built
for the protection of local settlers and was subsequently a prison for 70 years. The rich history of the district is reflected in the buildings and artefacts on display
Arbuckle Str.
Tel: (033) 702-1184
Wed: 10:00-12:00
Fri-Sun: 10:00-12:00
Dumazulu Traditional Village is a living museum where manufacturing traditions and Zulu dancing are demonstrated.
Address: Near Hluhluwe village
Tel: (031) 337-4222
The East Griqualand Museum has exhibitions on Griqua history, concentrating on the Griqua trek from Phillipolis to Kokstad and the establishment of the town of Kokstad.
Website: eastgriqualand.kzn.org.za/…
Address: Main Street
Tel: (037) 727-3133
Mon-Fri: 9:00-13:00; 14:00-16:00
Sat-Sun: by
appointment
The world-renowned Ladysmith Siege Museum depicts the events leading up to the siege and the siege itself through photographs, relics and a diorama.
Website: www.ecotravel.co.za/…
Address: Murchison Street, between Post Office and Town Hall
Tel: (0361) 22231 Ext 318
Mon-Fri: 8:00-16:00
Sat: 9:00-13:00
The Matatiele Museum has exhibits on local prehistory and on the history and cultures of the town and district from the Stone Age to the present.
Tel: (0373) 737-3287
Mon-Fri: 09:00-12:00; 14:00-16:00
Weekends by appointment
The Mgungundlovu Museum is on the site of King Dingane's
headquarters. Extensive archaeological research has been carried out and huts reconstructed.
Website: www.places.co.za/…
Address: Off the Melmoth-Vryheid Road
Tel: (03545) 74902
Mon-Sun & Public Holidays: 08:00-17:00
The evocative Isandlwana Historic Reserve and Battlefield depicts the most famous battle of the Anglo-Zulu Wars.
Website: http://battlefields.kzn.org.za/…
Address: Off the Nqutu-Babanango Road
Tel: (0358) 79-1223
Mon-Sun: 09:00-16:00
The Port Shepstone Maritime Museum focuses on the early years of Port Shepstone, when the harbour played an integral part in the development of Southern Natal and East Griqualand. There is a
shipwreck display and a map of shipwreck sites.
Address: Athlone Drive
Tel: (039) 682-1507
Mon-Fri: 09:00-16:00
The KwaZulu Cultural Museum houses displays on archaeology and Zulu culture. A site museum focuses on Ondini, King Cetshwayo's residence, and on the history of the Anglo-Zulu War.
Address: King Cetshwayo Highway
Tel: (0358) 79-1223
Mon-Sun & public holidays: 08:00-16:00
The Vryheid Museum consists of the Nieuwe Republiek Museum (council chambers with fort and jail), the old Carnegie Library (local history), and Lukas Meijer House (a period house museum with exhibits).
Address: Landdrost Street
Tel: (0381) 81-2133 Ext 287
Mon-Fri: 7:30-16:00
Weekends by appointment
The Weenen Museum, a Voortrekker museum in
a Voortrekker town, houses a display of old Voortrekker utensils, dresses, and so on in a building dating back to the 1840s.
Address: Andries Pretorius Street
Tel: (0363) 41855
Mon-Fri: 10:00-12:00; 14:00-16:00
Sat: 8:00-10:00
The Winterton Museum, which has an excellent library on the Anglo-Boer War, also features local history and an Amazizi replica homestead and agricultural implements.
Address: Church Street
Tel: (036) 488-1885
Mon-Thur: 09:00-15:00
Sat: 09:00-12:00
South African museum listings
