Visitor Information
OPENING HOURS
Monday – Sunday from 09h00 – 16h00 except for Good Friday and workers day on 1st May.
After 13h00 on Saturday and Sunday the whole day it is still open, guided tours can only be made per arrangement or per booking.
For any other time not mentioned above, please arrange in advance to gain access.
NELSON MANDELA MUSEUM, BHUNGA BUILDING, MTHATHA
The Nelson Mandela Museum is designed for self guided activities. Visitors should allow between one and three hours to view all the exhibits.
The Museum and its grounds are wheelchair accessible. Special needs parking space is available at Museum and is located at the back of the building. Security is available for such requests. Special needs cards are required to be produced to a security official at the reserved parking gate. Museum security has the right to assess the situation and allow special needs visitors access if appropriate and in the absence of special needs cards.
Complimentary wheelchairs for elderly are not available at present. However chairs for sitting viewing are available in all our exhibition rooms. Emergency evacuation chairs are available.
Please note that no pets are allowed in the Museum. However, working animals such as guide dogs for the blind are allowed.
A craft shop sells a wide range of memorabilia, crafts and books. Drinks and snacks are also available at the shop.
NELSON MANDELA YOUTH AND HERITAGE CENTRE, QUNU
This component of the Nelson Mandela Museum is 500m from the N2 road that connects large cities from Cape Town via Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown and East London to Durban.
It is a few metres from Nelson Mandela’s home. The Madiba clan dominates Qunu’s social landscape and several Mandela homesteads, directly related to Nelson Mandela, are situated in the area.
This forms part of the story told and shared by the Museum through its exhibitions and programmes. The story is enriched though visiting the family’s historical sites that form part of the Footprints Village Tours.
This tour meanders in tranquility of the hilltop, fresh air and magnificent views keeps visitors coming back. It reveals Nelson Mandela’s primary school where he was named Nelson, the thorn bushes into which he fell from a donkey (much to the amusement of his friends. Facilities include a viewing/contemplation deck and a sliding stone where Nelson Mandela enjoyed traditional youth game of sliding down the gigantic stone, located a few metres down the hillside. Please allow between one and three hours for a customised tour.
The Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu, known as the Nelson Mandela Youth & Heritage Centre, attracts youth from all over the world who come and experience the way that Nelson Mandela grew up through structured programmes run by this Centre.
The Qunu Component is accessible through a paved road, from an off ramp situated on the N2. Visitors are directed to travel 600m to the end of the road, where the Museum situated.
A directional board and signage close to the entrance directs visitors to the information office where they can connect with a site tour guide to assist them with information and viewing of exhibition.
A community based craft project associated with the Museum, making and selling quality crafts is located at the far end of the buildings.
Outdoor cultural entertainment by villagers is available on request at a minimum fee.
This site is popular for business functions, retreats, team building, weddings and festivals. Locals enjoy wedding photo shoots in our gardens.
Please note that no pets are allowed on the grounds or in the Museum unless they are working animals such as guide dogs.
Please note: The Museum does not charge any entrance fees, however donations are encouraged
