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South African museums: KwaZulu-Natal

• Durban
• Pietermaritzburg
• Colenso
• Dundee
• Eshowe
• Estcourt
• Greytown
• Hermannsburg
• Himeville
• Hluhluwe
• Kokstad
• Ladysmith
• Matatiele
• Melmoth
• Nqutu
• Port Shepstone
• Ulundi
• Vryheid
• Weenen
• Winterton

Durban

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.
16 Queens Avenue, Westville
Tel: 203 7107
Website

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.
220 Glydys Mazibuko (formerly Marriott) Road, 4001
Tel: (031) 207-3711
Mon-Fri: 08:00-16:30
Website

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.
City Hall, Smith Street
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.
George Campbell Building, Dept of Geology, University of Natal King George Ave, Durban
Tel: (031) 260-2524
Mon-Fri: 09:00-12:00; 14:00-16:00 - preferably by appointment
Website

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.
130 Ordnance Rd
Tel: (031) 311-2223
Mon-Sat: 8:30-16:00
Sun: 11:00-16:00
Website

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.
Department of Classics, ground floor, Memorial Tower Building, Howard Collage Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, King George V Avenue, Glenwood
Tel: (031) 260-2312
Website

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.
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
Website

The Old Court House Museum portrays the rich history of early Durban and KwaZulu- Natal through fascinating replicas of Durban's early settlements.
Aliwal Street
Tel: (031) 311-2233
Mon-Sat: 8:30-16:00
Sun: 11:00-16:00
Website

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.
St Andrews Street
Tel: (031) 311-2261
Mon-Sat: 8:30-16:00
Sun: 11:00-16:00
Website

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.
Aliwal Street Pier
Tel: (031) 300-6313
Mon-Sat: 8:30-16:00
Sun: 11:00-16:00
Website

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.
uShaka Marine World, 1 King Shaka Avenue
Tel: (031) 328-8222
Website or Website

The Warrior's Gate Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTH) Museum is a rich collection of militaria focusing on South African involvement in the two World Wars.
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
Website

Pietermaritzburg

The unique Comrades Marathon Museum depicts the history of this legendary race and celebrates the great athletes who have enhanced its international reputation.
18 Connaught Road, Scottsville
Tel: (0331) 94-3510
Mon-Fri: 8:30-13:00
Website

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).
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.
237 Loop Street
Tel: (0331) 45-1404
Mon-Fri: 9:00-16:30
Website

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.
Corner Longmarket & Boshoff Streets
Tel: (0331) 94-6834/5
Mon-Fri: 08:00-16:00
Sat: 08:00-12:00
Website

Colenso

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.
Toll Road
Tel: (08642) 2111

Dundee

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.
Off the Dundee-Vryheid road (R33), 48km from Dundee
Tel: (034) 632-1695
Open daily
Website

The Ncome Museum and Monument Complex across the river opposite the Blood River Battlefield wagons is a memorial to the Zulu army.
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.
Tel: (03425) 687
Every day (incl public holidays): 8:00-17:00
Website

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.
Talana Hill, Vryheid Rd
Tel: (0341) 22654
Mon-Fri: 8:00-16:00
Sat: 10:00-16:00
Sun: 12:00-16:00
Website

Eshowe

All the museums in Eshowe, but for one, are housed at the Fort Nongqayi Museum Village, around the beautiful and impressive Fort Nongqayi, originally home of the Zululand Police a hundred years ago. Today it houses the local history, natural history and ethnological collections of the Zululand Historical Museum.

Nearby is the Mission Chapel Museum, which commemorates the sterling work done by missionaries in this area of Zululand, particularly the Norwegians.

On the other side of the wide lawn and indigenous garden is the Vukani Zulu Cultural Museum, which houses an internationally recognised collection of Zulu craft and art and traces its development from functional to decorative.

Also on the property are the Phoenix Prison Art Gallery, the KZN Papermakers, Adams' Outpost Restaurant, and the Crafts of Africa Curio Shop.

Planned for 2011 are a new building for a joint ethnographic collection, traditional medicine garden, a weaving and dyeing garden, a bird hide for the neighbouring wetlands, and a butterfly house.
Website

The only other museum in Eshowe is a private Medical Museum, which is only open by appointment. Contact Dr Brits on 035-474-2126.

Estcourt

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.
Kemps Road
Tel: (0363) 23000
Mon-Fri: 09:00-12:00; 13:00 - 16:00
Sat-Sun: by appointment
Public Holidays: closed

Greytown

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.
Scott/Durban Streets
Tel: (0334) 31171 ext 128
Mon-Fri: 8:00-16:00

Hermannsburg

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.
School building, Deutsche Schule
Tel: (03344) 50405
Mon-Fri: 9:00-12:00
Weekends and public holidays by appointment

Himeville

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 Street
Tel: (033) 702-1184
Tues-Sat: 9:00-15:00
Sun: 9:00-12:30
E-mail

Hluhluwe

Dumazulu Traditional Village is a living museum where manufacturing traditions and Zulu dancing are demonstrated.
Near Hluhluwe village
Tel: (031) 337-4222

Kokstad

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.
Main Street
Tel: (037) 727-3133
Mon-Fri: 9:00-13:00; 14:00-16:00
Sat-Sun: by appointment
Website

Ladysmith

The world-renowned Ladysmith Siege Museum depicts the events leading up to the siege and the siege itself through photographs, relics and a diorama.
Murchison Street, between Post Office and Town Hall
Tel: (0361) 22231 Ext 318
Mon-Fri: 8:00-16:00
Sat: 9:00-13:00
Website

Matatiele

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

Melmoth

The Mgungundlovu Museum is on the site of King Dingane's headquarters. Extensive archaeological research has been carried out and huts reconstructed. Off the Melmoth-Vryheid Road
Tel: (03545) 74902
Mon-Sun & Public Holidays: 08:00-17:00
Website

Nqutu

The evocative Isandlwana Historic Reserve and Battlefield depicts the most famous battle of the Anglo-Zulu Wars.
Off the Nqutu-Babanango Road
Tel: (0358) 79-1223
Mon-Sun: 09:00-16:00

Port Shepstone

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.
Athlone Drive
Tel: (039) 682-1507
Mon-Fri: 09:00-16:00

Ulundi

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.
King Cetshwayo Highway
Tel: (0358) 79-1223
Mon-Sun & public holidays: 08:00-16:00

Vryheid

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).
Landdrost Street
Tel: (0381) 81-2133 Ext 287
Mon-Fri: 7:30-16:00
Weekends by appointment

Weenen

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.
Andries Pretorius Street
Tel: (0363) 41855
Mon-Fri: 10:00-12:00; 14:00-16:00
Sat: 8:00-10:00

Winterton

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.
Church Street
Tel: (036) 488-1885
Mon-Thur: 09:00-15:00
Sat: 09:00-12:00

SAinfo reporter