South Africa, home to the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site, has a rich social and cultural history dating back to the word’s earliest human settlements.
More than 300 museums all over the country reflect this heritage in a range of places – from elegant 18th century homes to caves in majestic mountain ranges, cultural villages in rural settings to state-of-the-art buildings in major cities.
Visitors can find exhibits both conventional and eccentric on every conceivable topic – from beer to beadwork, from fashion to food.
New additions are those reflecting the apartheid era, and commemorating those who fought and died in the cause of establishing a democratic country.
The flagships of these cultural sites are the country’s national museums:
- South African Museum – Cape Town
- Robben Island Museum – Cape Town
- National Museum – Bloemfontein
- Anglo-Boer War Museum – Bloemfontein
- Ditsong National National Museum of Culutural History – Pretoria
- Ditsong Museum of Natural History – Pretoria
- Ditsong National Museum of Military History – Johannesburg
Here’s a taste of what’s available in each of South Africa’s nine provinces:
South African museum listings
- For more information on the country’s museums, go to Museums Online South Africa
- Also useful is the Iziko Museums of Cape Town
https://brandsouthafrica.com/museums/