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:

• For more information on the country’s museums, go to Museums Online South Africa

• Also useful is the Iziko Museums of Cape Town

SAinfo reporter

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