7 Museum Wonders of Pretoria
Real museums are places where Time is transformed into Space. – Orhan Pamuc
Pretoria is rich with history and blessed to have Ditsong Museums South Africa part of our community, as they present an amalgamation of 7 outstanding national museums to children, the youth, adults, students, tourists (foreign and local), researches and the public in general.
Their vision states “to be a leading African heritage institution of excellence, accessible to all”. And indeed they live up to these standards as they reflect a wide variety of values to the public, including accountability, diversity, excellence, professionalism, transparency, loyalty, honesty, and Ubuntu.
Museums are managers of consciousness. They give us an interpretation of history, of how to view the world and locate ourselves in it. They are, if you want to put it in positive terms, great educational institutes. – Hans Haacke
Every museum presents a different piece of history to our community, thus entitling you to choose one to visit that suits your needs.
Real museums are places where Time is transformed into Space. – Orhan Pamuc
In order for you to decide which one the museums you should visit, a compilation with the most r
elevant information of these 7 museums are to follow.
1. National Museum of National history
Where?
432 Paul Kruger Street Pretoria 0001
Why?
Specialises in South Africa’s natural heritage.
The Museum’s collections and exhibits include hominid fossils from the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and associated fauna, including Mrs Ples (the nickname attributed to a fossil skull believed to represent a distant relative of all humankind); fossils, skeletons, skins and mounted specimens of amphibians, fish, invertebrates, reptiles and mammals.
When?
Daily: 08:00 – 16:00
Except Christmas Day and Good Friday
Price?
Adults: R 45
Children Own Tour: R 25
Children Guided Tour: R 30
Pensioners: R 20
Educator – (Free entry for educator/ group of 30 learners): R 25
Learners Own Tour: R 25
Learners Guided Tour: R 30
International Tourist Adult: R 70
International Tourist Child: R 30
Special Guided Tours local (Broom Room Tour): R 65
Special Guided Tours (Night Tours): R 150
Special Guided Tours International (Broom Room Tour): R 100
Contact?
012 492 1358
2. National Museum of Cultural history
Where?
149 Visagie Street, Pretoria
Why?
The National Cultural History Museum explores South Africa’s cultural diversity in various permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Exhibitions include rock paintings and engravings of the San people; thousand year old Iron Age figurines from Schroda in the Limpopo Province (described as “the best known artifacts indicating ritual behaviour in the Early Iron Age”); the Art Gallery presents an overview of South African culture through time, using cultural objects, crafts, sculpture and paintings and an exhibition on Marabastad is a true example of a cosmopolitan and fully integrated rainbow nation before apartheid.reptiles and mammals.
When?
Weekdays: 08:00 – 16:00
Weekends and public holidays: 08:00 – 16:00
Closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day
Price?
Adult: R 45. 00
Pensioners: R 20.00
Children own tour: R 25.00
Children guided tour: R 30.00
Contact?
3. Pioneer Museum
Where?
Keuning Street, Silverton, Pretoria
Why?
While enjoying a cup of coffee and homemade bread, visitors can experience a way of life that has irrevocably passed. The stories of the Pioneer Museum and 1848 house, and of the people who lived on the farm, Hartebeestpoort, are enacted against the background of the pioneer years in South Africa.
Visitors can make use of the picnic and braai facilities. The two lapas and the hall can be rented for family celebrations and work-related functions. A New Year’s Festival is held on 1 January every year.
When?
Office Hours Weekdays: 07:30 – 16:00
Public holidays/ Saturdays/ Sundays: 09:00 – 16:00
Price?
Adults: R40.00
Children: R 25
Pensioners: R 20
Educator – Free entry for educator/ group of 30 learners: R 30
Learners: R 30
International Tourist Adults: R 70
International Tourist Children: R 30
Special Guided Tours: R 70
Contact?
012 813 8006 / 072 323 9758
4. Sammy Marks Museum
Where?
Old Bronkhorstspruit Rd, Donkerhoek
Why?
Sammy Marks arrived in South Africa with a case of silver knives as his only valuable possession, and became one of the first entrepreneurs, playing a significant role in mining, industrial and agricultural development in the country.
When?
Weekdays: 09:00 – 17:00.
Weekends and public holidays: 09:00 – 17:00
Closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day
Price?
Adults: R 60
Pensioners R 35
Students: R 30
Children under 18: R 25
Contact?
012 755 9542 / marks@ditsong.org.za / http://www.ditsong.org.za/sammymarks.htm
5. Tswaing Meteorite Crater
Where?
Plot 149 JR, Soutpan, along the old Onderstepoort Road.
Why?
Some 220 000 years ago a blazing stony meteorite the size of half a football field slammed into the earth’s crust. The impact formed a huge crater, 1.4 km in diameter and 200 m deep. This crater is one of the best-preserved meteorite impact craters in the world.
The name Tswaing means Place of Salt in Setswane, and refers to a saline lake that covers the crater floor.
When?
Daily: 07:30 – 16:00
Except Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year
Price?
Adults: R 30.00 p/p |
Contact?
076 945 5911 / Tswaing@ditsong.org.za / http://www.ditsong.org.za/tswaing.htm
6. Kruger Museum
Where?
60 West From Nkomo Street, Pretoria
Why?
The Kruger Museum and its contents bear witness to the forceful personality of the man who lived there as leader of a small republic in southern Africa, at a stormy and unsettling time of his people’s long struggle against British imperialism.
When?
Weekdays: 08:30 – 16:30
Weekends and Public Holidays: 09:00 – 16:30
Price?
Adults: R 45
Children: R 25
Pensioners: R 20
Educator – Free entry for educator/ group of 30 learners: R 30
International Toursist Adults: R 75
International Toursist Children: R 30
Learners: R 30
Special Guided Tours: R 85
Contact?
012 326 9172 / krugerm@ditsong.org.za
7. Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum
Where?
Farm Kaalfontein, Rayton
Why?
The Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum preserves and presents South African agricultural history in a unique manner.
Visitors will find a historic farmyard (1880-1920) with indigenous domesticated farm animals like Nguni and Afrikaner cattle, Colebrook pigs, Painted Persian sheep and indigenous chickens.
When?
Weekdays: 08:00 – 16:00
Weekends: 09:00 – 16:00
Price?
Adults: R 30.00
Children: R 25
Pensioners: R 20
Educator – Free entry for educator/ group of 30 learners: R 30
International Toursist Adults: R 70
International Toursist Children: R 30
Learners: R 25
Special Guided Tours Team: R 70
Special Guided Tours Team Guided: R 45
Special Guided Tours Team Child: R 30
Contact?
012 7362035/6 / prinsloo@ditsong.org.za
Pretoria Museums |