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Visit the scenes of Mandela’s youth
The Nelson Mandela National Museum
Bhunga building, Nelson Mandela National Museum
© Nelson Mandela National Museum
Did you know?
Two manuscripts of Long Walk to Freedom were written on Robben Island. One was confiscated, the other smuggled to the UK.
The Nelson Mandela National Museum is located in the Eastern Cape, the birthplace of the man who would become South Africa's first democratic leader, after over a quarter of a century of imprisonment.
The museum is a dispersed institution, and the circuit begins in Mthatha at the Bhunga building, from where the Transkei was once ruled as an ‘independent homeland' under apartheid's ‘separate development' policy. The Bhunga houses an exhibition based on Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, and will soon feature a display on Mandela and Albert Luthuli (also a former President of the African National Congress and Nobel Peace Prize winner). An exhibit in conjunction with the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg is also planned. This venue further showcases the gifts and awards bestowed on Mandela over the years.
Another stop on the Nelson Mandela Museum trail is Mvezo, a peaceful, rural village on the Mbhashe River where the ruins of the Mandela homestead are located, along with the humble hut in which the great leader was born. Mandela's grandson, traditional leader of the Mvezo Traditional Council, has built a home here.
When Mandela's father was deposed as chief of this village, the family moved to Qunu. Museum points here include the Presbyterian Church where he attended primary school, the church in which he was baptised, the sliding rock on which he played as a boy and the Mandela family graves. The former President also has a retirement home in Qunu, and has built the Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre here, which offers educational camps for young people.
Another museum associated with this great South African is the Mandela House Museum located at the former State President's matchbox home in Orlando West, Soweto. Recently renovated, it is one of the attractions on a Soweto tour.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
How to get here
Mthatha is reachable by direct air services on Airlink from Johannesburg. If you are holidaying on the Wild Coast, Mthatha is 70 km drive from Port St Johns.
Around the area
This stretch of coastline aptly name the Wild Coast is spectacular. Not too far off is Coffee Bay with a geographical feature known as the Hole-in-the-Wall.
Tours to do
If you are visiting with a sizeable group, enquire about entertainment by local communities, consisting of cultural dance, story telling and traditional food. The museum will arrange this for you.
Get around
At present the museum offers tours of the Bhunga building and the Qunu site, 34 km from Mthatha. These must be booked in advance, and a guide will be allocated to you on arrival at the Bhunga building. Visitors will need to have their own transport to travel the distance between the two sites. Visitors who want to go on to Mvezo will be given directions.
What will it cost
Currently the museum does not charge an entrance fee, but encourages a voluntary donation to this non-profit institution.
Length of stay
Set aside a full day to tour this circuit.
Where to stay
There is a range of accommodation in Mthatha, while self-catering accommodation in Qunu at R137 pp per night can be booked through the museum.
What's happening
Special events are usually held on July 18, Nelson Mandela's birthday