MZANZI TRAVEL - ISSUE 2

NELSON MANDELA
MUSEUM
In the Eastern Cape heartland, there
lies a small village town of Mthatha, a
hometown to Nelson Mandela Museum,
located at an ancient building that stood
the test of time, from the colonial times,
homeland state to a democratic country.
The four year closure of Nelson Mandela
Museum’s Bhunga building paved way for a
complete refurbishment that would see this
historic building meeting international museum and heritage
standards; on the 18 of July 2016, Nelson Mandela Museum
Bhunga building will be reopened to the public.
Nelson Mandela Museum’s Bhunga Building has become
a national and international symbol for viewing incredible
collection of gems bestowed upon the first democratically
elected president of the republic of South Africa Mr Nelson
Mandela by institutions, families, statesman, King and queens,
and ordinary people from the world over.
The renovated Nelson Mandela Museum will consists of cubicles
showcasing gifts donated to Nelson Mandela, a reference
library, multi media Centre, children’s room, amphitheatre,
exhibition halls (upbringing, activists, guerilla, political prisoner,
negotiator, president, retirement), orientation centre and
administration block.
The Bhunga Building is the main site of the Nelson Mandela
Museum. It celebrates the life of an extraordinary man, Nelson
Mandela, who made a significant contribution to the liberation
of the people of South Africa, and who also advocated for peace
and human rights in the whole world. Through his sacrifice,
South Africa narrates an emotional but triumphed story of the
road to democracy is told.
The Nelson Mandela Museum was established on 11 February
2000 on three sites; Mvezo which is the birth site, The Nelson
Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre in Qunu which is an
interactive educational centre that runs structured youth
programmes, which embed Nelson Mandela’s values, and the
Bhunga Building in town.
Nelson Mandela Museum offers various
guided tour options that are customized to
suite visitor’s needs. Visitors can enjoy a one
and a half hour tour through interactive guided
tours at the Bhunga Building, follow Nelson
Mandela’s footprints in Qunu for a half day
through guided interactive tours of various
sites that are associated to Nelson Mandela
around the village such as; the ruins of the
school where Rholihlahla Mandela was named Nelson, the
sliding stone where he enjoyed one of his favourate games with
his friend, the old family cemetery where his parents and sister
are buried, the church where he was first christened etc. The
gravesite where Nelson Mandela is buried is not yet accessible
to the public. Visitors can view the gravesite and the residence
from a distance.
A full day tour covers the museum three sites and Mqhekezweni
where Nelson Mandela was raised by his Uncle Regent
Jongintaba Mtirara, after Madiba’s father had passed on. The
full day tour end at the University of Forthare, having covered
all other core sites such as Clarkbury, Healdtown.
The Nelson Mandela Museum is situated along N2 that joins
major cities Durban and Cape Town. Direct flights between
O.R.Tambo in Johannesburg and Mthatha Airport are available
twice daily. Flights from Cape Town via East London are available
five times daily. Major car hire companies are available at the
Mthatha and East London Airport.
Mthatha is 235 km from East London.
The museum is a gate - way to various tourism destinations
within the wild coast with only 80km from major popular
resorts and attractions such as Port St Johns, Coffee Bay and
the Drakensburg.
It will open daily between 8h30 and 4h30. After hours tours will
be accepted if made two weeks or more in advance.
MZANZI TRAVEL| www.mzanzitravel.co.za|ISSUE 2 | 35