Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, Pretoria

Founded as the “Staatsmuseum of the ZAR” in the December of 1892, the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History is situated in Paul Kruger Street in Pretoria CBD,  between Visagie and Minnaar Streets, at the heart of Pretoria Opposite the Pretoria City Hall and 5 minutes from the Paul Kruger Square.

Home to one of the largest Natural History Collections in South Africa, exhibits at the museum include hominid fossils from the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, skeletons, skins including Mrs Ples which is about 2.1 million years old.

‘Mrs Ples’ is on display at the museum

Popularly nicknamed “Mrs Ples” by Dr. Robert Broom, who discovered the skull in 1947 just outside Pretoria, the skull is a world-famous fossil and a favourite among visitors to the museum.

The museum is also home to the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History Library, a science reference library that has been in existence in Pretoria for over a hundred years.

The Museum includes a restaurant that always spoils their clients with a delicious breakfast selection, great lunch with a relax atmosphere and a variety of cuisine from our ala carte menu for dinner.

The restaurant also provides catering for group meetings, office functions, special events, outside catering, special lunches and weddings to not less than 120 people.

 The various exhibition halls are:

• Genesis of Life I and II: A journey of life on earth from singled celled organisms to amphibians in Genesis I  and a focus on the evolution of mammals and humans in part II.
• Austin Roberts Bird Hall: Boasting over 800 South African bird species with general feeding, behavior, migration and flight of bird’s information on display.
• The Discovery Centre: Part of the hands on activities held at the National Museum of Natural History where all five human senses are used to discover the wonders of nature.
• Geoscience Centre: Visitors can see a range of minerals, crystals, crystals and gemstones from different parts of the world, including a piece of moon rock.

There are different venues for hire at the museum that can be used for a range of events, from meetings to business receptions, dinners and year-end functions.

The venues capacity range from 200 – 500 banquet style, 100 – 1000 cinema style or 100 – 700 classroom style in the Ditsong National Cultural History Museum’s Multi-Function Hall.

The Aqua room is also available for events, with a capacity of 50 – 300 Banquet Style, 50 – 500 Cinema Style, 50 – 200 Classroom Style or 50 – 120 in U-Shape.

A Conference Room is available for up to 200 people, and the museum’s auditorium has a capacity for up to 120 people. For more information visit Conference & Function venues for hire in Pretoria.

The museum is open daily from 07:30 – 16:00, except on Christmas Day and Good Friday.

Contact Details:

Tel: 012 492 1358 / 012 492 5709

Email: info@ditsong.org.za

Website: www.ditsong.org.za

Address: 432 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria

The nearest Gautrain station is the Pretoria Gautrain Station (GPS: S:25°45.490′, E: 028°11.368′), located adjacent to the railway lines and platforms of the existing Pretoria Station in Scheiding Street.

A Gautrain Bus stops right at the gates of the museum. 

Entrance Fee:

Adults: R 50
Children Own Tour: R 25
Children Guided Tour: R 30
Pensioners Own Tour: R 25
Educator – (Free entry for educator/ group of 30 learners): R 30
Learners Own Tour: R 25
Learners Guided Tour: R 30
International Tourist Adult: R 80
International Tourist Child: R 40
Special Guided Tours local (Behind the Scenes Tour): R 65
Special Guided Tours (Night Tours): R 160
Special Guided Tours International (International Tourist): R 70
Special Guided Tours (Discovery Centre): R 30
Special Guided Tours (DC + Museum): R 50