City: KwaZulu-Natal
Top Things to do in KwaZulu-Natal
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Top 10 History Museums in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
KwaZulu-Natal (/kwɑːˌzuːluː nəˈtɑːl/; also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is located in the southeast of the country, enjoying a long shoreline beside the Indian Ocean and sharing borders with three other provinces and the countries of Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho. Its capital is Pietermaritzburg and its largest city is Durban. It is the 2nd most populous province in South Africa, with slightly fewer residents than Gauteng.
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1. The Campbell Collections
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 18 reviews
The furniture, household items, clothing and art in this eclectic collection are housed in the 1914 home of sugar baron Sir Marshall Campbell.
2. Durban Holocaust and Genocide Centre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
The Durban Holocaust and Genocide Centre is a place of remembrance for the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust and for other victims of Nazism. The display includes sections on pseudoscience of ‘race’; the roots of antisemitism; and the institutionalized racism of Apartheid. There is also a beautiful Garden of Remembrance, gift shop and The Circle Cafe on site.
Reviewed By JHunter1977
A must see for anyone interested in learning more about a very dark time in human history. The displays are very well presented and located in a way you can browse through for a quick trip or parts where you can stop and read for a more indepth look. The walk through is well lit, clear and the information provided is concise. It would be a mistake to say the displays are easy on the eye considering the subject matter but everything is clear and in print large enough even for those with like myself with eyesight issues. The staff I met were friendly but not too intrusive giving one the freedom to browse and roam at your pleasure. The venue was clean and felt very safe. At the end of the walk through is a lovely memorial garden and a shop where I enjoyed a quick refreshment. Although the central focus of the exhibits were the awful events of the Holocaust, there were sections that dealt with genocide from other parts of the world. A good informative balance was struck between them in my opinion. If you have an hour or two to spare while visiting Durban and need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city I highly recommend this place. A place where you can stop and just dwell for a while on something profoundly important.
3. KwaZulu-Natal Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 72 reviews
KwaZulu-Natal Museum is a popular tourist and educational amenity and acclaimed centre of scholarly research, offers thousands of visitors a feast of attractive, modern and user friendly displays. The KZN Museum is dedicated to increasing understanding of the history of mankind in south-eastern Africa and of the natural world, through the collection, study and display of real objects. The Museum opened its doors on 30 November 1904 and is now home to several of South Africa's most important heritage collections. The collections are of international renown, and feature regional archaeology, African cultural products, European settler history, seashells, insects and other forms of animal life. The KZN Museum is proud to be the custodian of one of the most important collections of Zulu craft objects. The largest national Museum in KwaZulu-Natal, this Museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation, study and exhibition of objects of cultural and scientific value.
Reviewed By luc_victor_jr
Arguably one of the best museums in KZN, the Natal Museum is very well maintained, meticulously set-up and very educational. Its vast resource of information from natural to local history is bountiful, well researched and impeccably documented. The taxidermied animals are amazingly real and the dioramas are life-like. It also has adequate sociological and anthropological information that are sometimes lacking in some other museums. Although this museum is nowhere near the Durban CBD, the drive to Pietermaritzburg is well worth it. The only other issue when visiting the museum is parking where you may have to park down a few blocks and of course, no pictures or food allowed.
4. Blood River Heritage Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 145 reviews
This is the Blood River Heritage site.We can provide the visitor with accommodation, restaurant, curio shop, a dvd showing about the Battle of Blood River on the premises.
Reviewed By 118michaelc - Nelspruit, South Africa
as South Africans the Blood River Covenant is one that all of us know or should know. The danger and hardships that the Voortrekkers had to enddure is mindboggling, especially when overlooking th eveld and imagining the open wide terrifying area that you were scouting to find an area where you could settle. Nrver mind the sadness of the killing, provoked or not of the persons looking to settle in an area that was regarded as the Zulu area and not to be settled by Foreigners. Not understanding each other like all over the world caused the battles instead of trying to get understanding by talking. Power play always has destructive consequences. It was a good reflection on our history and a reminder of where all South Africans come from, and we should avoid in the future.
5. The Himeville Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 89 reviews
The Himeville Museum and Fort is both a historical site (the old fort, and prison) as well as a well-kept local history museum. , Each of the rooms is either a room in the house, representing the era, or it is dedicated to the life and times of the area: the prison, the telephone exchange, the school: the farming implements of the time. What makes this museum different is that it also represents the varieites of communities in the area: from the original inhabitants, the first people of South Africa, the Khoi/San with local caves able to be visited to see their representations there, through to the settlers and other people of the wider area, to the fauna and flora, clothing and the kitchens of the day: Open garden courtyard in the middle of the fort, shaded, and a bench to rest on - this is a representative and diverse museum that has something of interest to everyone, young and old, local and from all over the globe.
Reviewed By JoeBGsy
On a rather wet April afternoon we took the advice of a Tripadvisor recommendation and paid this place a visit. Pleasantly surprised at the sheer range of exhibits and the very helpful set up which apportioned the various themes in an orderly way. Staff were very helpful and despite arriving near closing time for the day we were welcomed and allowed to stay beyond the time. No charge for entry with donation box at the end. Well worth a visit if you have a spare hour or 2 available.
6. Fort Nongqayi Museum Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By Mobile35942195053 - Bristol, United Kingdom
We headed here, directly from arriving in Durban on an early Sunday morning. Interesting small town, breakfast was taken at the local new mall(safe to park) and then we drove to the fort. Very friendly welcome which then turned into a personal tour of the museum, chapel and fort, thank you. So much historic information here, the Norwegian influence, the Zulu chieftain's and of course the relationship between the British and Zulu homeland. An excellent craft/culture centre of which the lady provided so much very interesting culture with passion, a true delight. Toilet facilities, good cafe/shop and a save heaven to explore. Very friendly and helpful staff. Well worth the small fee.
7. Pinetown Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
8. Kwa Muhle Museum
9. Bergtheil Museum
10. Macrorie House Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 7 reviews
