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4. Kwazulu-Natal museums

The following is an overview of most of the KwaZulu-Natal museums in South Africa by location, including descriptions, contact details and website addresses, where available.

KwaZulu-Natal province's sheer physical beauty combined with a diversity of natural resources and an all-year round sunny climate make this a region well worth visiting.

The warm Indian Ocean washing along the beaches makes it the winter-holiday province of the country.

Museums in the KwaZulu-Natal province by location,...





Bushmans Cave Museum at the Game Pass Shelter in the Kamberg Nature Reserve near Giants castle in the Drakensberg - Museums in South Africa
KwaZulu-Natal Museums in South Africa, copyright © South African tourism

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.
KwaZulu-Natal Museums in South Africa
Toll Road
Tel: (08642) 2111
Fax: (08642) 2227

The Talana Museum is on the only battlefield in SA where buildings from the battle still exist. It incorporates an international glass museum and a national coal museum in park-like grounds.
Vryheid Rd
Tel: (0341) 22654
Fax: (0341) 22376
Mon-Fri: 8:00-16:00
Sat: 10:00-16:00
Sun: 12:00-16:00
Closed: Good Friday, 25/26 Dec.

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
KwaZulu-Natal Museums in South Africa
Off the Dundee-Vryheid road (R33) 48 km 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.
Off the Dundee-Vryheid road (R33)
Open daily

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Durban

The Campbell Collection, University of Natal, is a university linked library and museums collection concentrating on the history of South East Africa. It includes 18th to 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 (costume, woodcarving, pottery, etc.)
KwaZulu-Natal Museums in South Africa
220 Marriott Rd, Durban, 4001
Tel: (031) 207-3711
Fax: (031) 29-1622
Mon-Fri: 08:00-16:30

The Durban Natural Science Museum features displays of the Earth and its history and of life on earth both past and present, with special emphasis on the unique fauna and flora of South Africa.
City Hall, Smith Str.
Tel: (031) 300-6211
Fax: (031) 300-6302
Mon-Ssat: 8:30-16:00
Sun: 11:00-17:00
Public Holidays: 11:00-16:00
Closed: Good Friday and 25 December

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.
KwaZulu-Natal Museums in South Africa
George Campbell Building, Dept of Geology, University of Natal King George Ave, Durban, 4041
Web: http://www.und.ac.za/und/geology/gem1.html
Tel: (031) 260-2524
Fax: (031) 260-2280
E-mail: gem@geology.und.ac.za
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.
130 Ordnance Rd
Tel: (031) 300-6313
Fax: (031) 3006312
Mon-Sat: 8:30-16:00
Sun: 11:00-16:00
Closed: Good Friday and Christmas Day

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) 300-6313
Fax: (031) 300-6312
Mon-Sat: 8:30-16:00
Sun: 11:00-16:00
Closed: Good Friday and Christmas Day

The Old House Museum, a typical veranda house, with its notable architecture and fascinating articles of old furniture and fittings, depicts the life-style of Durban's Victorian settlers.
St Andrews Street
Tel: (031) 300-6313
Fax: (031) 300-6312
Mon-Sat: 8:30-16:00
Sun: 11:00-16:00
Closed: Good Friday and Christmas Day

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
Fax: (031) 300-6312
Mon-Sat: 8:30-16:00
Sun: 11:00-16:00
Closed: Good Friday and Christmas Day

The Warrior's Gate MOTH Museum is a rich collection of militaria focusing on South African involvement in the two World Wars.
Old Fort Rd
Tel: (031) 307-3337
Tues-Fri: 11:00-15:00
Sat: 10:00-12:00
Sun: 11:00-15:00

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Eshowe

The Vukani Museum exhibits a collection of Zulu arts and crafts collected from the region over a period of time.
Osborn Road
Tel: (0354) 75274

Kwabhekithunga is a traditional Zulu uMuzi (village).
Stewarts Farm
Tel: (035) 460-0644
Fax: (035) 460-0867

The Zululand Historical Museum, set in an old fort, displays Zulu cultural items and information on the early Norwegian missionaries.
Nongqai Road
Tel: (0354) 41141
Fax: (0354) 74733
Mon-Fri: 07:30-16:00
Weekends: 09:00-16:00

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Estcourt

Fort Durnford, housed in the beautiful imposing, military fort designed by Colonel Anthony Durnford and built by Mr Jeromia Faulds (1874), contains exhibits on military history, fossils, bird eggs, the Moorleigh mission station and an Amangwe homestead.
Kemps Rd
Tel: (0363) 23000
Fax: (0363) 33-5829
Mon-Fri: 09:00-12:00; 13:00 - 16:00
Sat-Sun: by appointment
Public Holidays: closed

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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 Str
Tel: (0334) 31171 ext 128
Fax: (0334) 71393
Mon-Fri: 8:00-16:00
Sat and Sun: closed

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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
Fax: (03344) 50706
Mon-Fri: 9:00-12:00
Weekends and public holidays by appointment

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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.
KwaZulu-Natal Museums in South Africa
Arbuckle Str.
Tel: (033) 702-1184
Fax: (033) 702-1060
Wed: 10:00-12:00
Fri-Sun: 10:00-12:00

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Hluhluwe

Dumazulu Traditional Village is a living museum where manufacturing traditions and Zulu dancing are demonstrated.
Near Hluhluwe village
Tel: (031) 337-4222
Fax: (035) 562-0205

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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

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.
KwaZulu-Natal Museums in South Africa
Main Street - Kokstad
Tel: (037) 727-3133
Fax: (037) 727-3676
Mon-Fri: 9:00-13:00; 14:00-16:00
Sat-Sun: by appointment
Public Holidays: closed

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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
Fax: (0361) 22992
Mon-Fri: 8:00-16:00
Sat: 9:00-13:00

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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
Fax: (0373) 737-3611
Mon-Fri: 09:00-12:00; 14:00-16:00
Weekends by appointment

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Mgungundlovo

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 and Public Holidays: 08:00-17:00

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Pinetown

The Pinetown Museum is a multi-cultural local history collection representing all the country's cultures. The arrangement is chronological, depicting local history from 100,000 years ago to the present.
KwaZulu-Natal Museums in South Africa
Old Main Rd/Crompton Street
Tel: (031) 718-2730
Fax: (031) 718-2732
Mon-Thurs: 9:00-17:00
Fri: 9:00-16:00
Sat: 9:00-12:00
Closed Sundays and public holidays

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Pietermaritzburg

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
Web: http://www.nmsa.org.za
Tel: (0331) 45-1404
Fax: (0331) 45-0561
E-mail: jvanheer@nmsa.org.za
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.
cnr Longmarket and Boshoff Streets
Tel: (0331) 94-6834/5
Fax: (0331) 42-4100
Mon-Fri: 08:00-16:00
Sat: 08:00-12:00

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Port Shepstone

The largely maritime exhibit at the Port Shepstone 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.
KwaZulu-Natal Museums in South Africa
Athlone Drive
Tel: (039) 682-1507
Fax: (039) 682-5003
Mon-Fri: 09:00-16:00

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Rorke's Drift

The Rorke's Drift Museum is in a rural setting about 45km from the nearest town (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

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Scottsville

The unique Comrades Marathon Museum depicts the history of this legendary race and celebrates the great athletes who have enhanced its international reputation.
KwaZulu-Natal Museums in South Africa
18 Connaught Rd.
Tel: (0331) 94-3510
Fax: (0331) 42-7548
Mon-Fri: 8:30-13:00
Sat-Sun and public holidays: closed

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Ulundi

The KwaZulu Cultural Museum houses displays of 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
Fax: (0358) 79-1386
Mon-Sun and public holidays: 08:00-16:00
Closed: Good Friday and Christmas Day

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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).
KwaZulu-Natal Museums in South Africa
Landdrost Street
Tel: (0381) 81-2133 Ext 287
Fax: (0381) 80-9637
Mon-Fri: 7:30-16:00
Weekends by appointment
Public holidays: closed

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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
Fax: (0363) 41901
Mon-Fri: 10:00-12:00; 14:00-16:00
Sat: 8:00-10:00
Sun and public holidays: closed

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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.
KwaZulu-Natal Museums in South Africa
Church Street
Tel: (036) 488-1885
Fax: (036) 488-1194
Mon-Th: 09:00-15:00
Sat: 09:00-12:00






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