Mandela House Travel Guide: Top Sights in South africa, Tours &

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Mandela House- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Historical & Cultural; South Africa; 5 Reviews

+3 Photos

Suggested Duration: 2 hours

In Johannesburg, South Africa, the Mandela House stands as a profound exhibit of history and resilience on Vilakazi Street, Orlando West, Soweto. Formerly the home of Nelson Mandela from 1946 to 1962, this red-brick structure, marked by bullet holes and scorch marks, narrates tales of struggle and triumph. In 1997, Mandela himself donated the house to the Soweto Heritage Trust, converting it into the Nelson Mandela National Museum, a gesture to preserve the legacy encapsulated within its walls. Declared a National Heritage Site in 1999, the museum houses original furnishings, memorabilia, and exhibitions - including photographs and a championship belt from Sugar Ray Leonard, enriching visitors' understanding of Mandela's monumental life. Accompanied by a visitors' centre introduced in 2009, Mandela House not only highlights a crucial chapter in South Africa's history but also stands as a symbol of Mandela’s enduring spirit and the universal quest for freedom.

Operators offering tours in South Africa

Attractions in Johannesburg

Apartheid Museum

4.8

Constitution Hill

Gandhi Square

Hector Pieterson Memorial

4.4

Lindfield Victorian House Museum

Johannesburg Zoo

4.2

James Hall Museum of Transport

4.4

Museum Africa

4.4

Reviews of Mandela House

irfan virji

5
Reviewed: 2024-08-14

History like a gunshot to the face! Generous amount of knowledge & history to be absorbed here. If you’re holding an African passport you get a discounted price, please note.
Mustafa Arikan

5
Reviewed: 2024-06-01

It is the absolute and must do in Johannesburg. It is Soweto. Entrance is 180 ZAR. But is a must see to pick a bit of history of the country. And taking photo outside is an obligation. Totally amazing.
Heather P

5
Reviewed: 2024-05-25

Some reviews wonder if this place is worth seeing. Well, I definitely think it is even though it is a small home. So much history and the guide made it come alive with stories while also letting us wander around a bit on our own.
Wenchy

4
Reviewed: 2024-05-05

We got there late afternoon and our guide was clearly tired. We had multiple international guests in our group and communication wasn't clear. The house itself is always good to visit as a historical site but while I've been there numerous times, I always appreciate the visit.
Katlego “Kat” Lephalala

4
Reviewed: 2024-04-05

We took our kids here and they had a lot of questions about the furniture in the house. Took us all back in the days when we used coal stoves. The queue to enter was not long and we weren't many inside the house, we could maneuver around easily. What an interesting visit.