It’s time to exit and get cultured! For those who’re planning a street journey from Johannesburg to Solar Metropolis, we did some probing and curated a tradition vulture’s dream street journey. Listed here are some implausible spots to go to for a cultural street journey from OR Tambo to Solar Metropolis.
Fo Guang Shan Nan Hua Temple
Nan Hua is the identify of the South African department of the Humanistic Buddhist order, Fo Guang Shan, which has made it its mission to unfold Humanistic Buddhism to all of the continents on Earth.
The temple is the most important Buddhist temple and seminary in Africa, positioned kind of 50km east of Pretoria and 70km northeast of Johannesburg in Cultura Park, a suburb of Bronkhorstpruit. Being solely a stone-throw away from OR Tambo Worldwide Airport, this temple makes it an ideal place to start your sightseeing expertise.
- Location: right here
- Working Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm
The Apartheid Museum
The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg illustrates the period of apartheid and the Twentieth-century historical past of South Africa. The museum, a part of the Gold Reef Metropolis complicated, was opened in November 2001.
The museum permits guests to be taught extra in regards to the racial segregation that occurred throughout apartheid throughout which authorities really separated folks in response to the width of the nostril, the kinks of their hair, and their pores and skin color. This can be a nice technique to be taught in regards to the historical past of South Africa and the way far we’ve come.
- Location: right here
- Working hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 9 am to five pm
The Hector Pieterson Memorial
This highly effective museum, named after the 12-year-old boy shot useless through the pupil protests in Soweto on 16 June 1976, illuminates the function of Sowetan life within the historical past of the independence battle.
It’s a significant cease on all excursions of Soweto and thus is sort of at all times busy. Situated on Khumalo road which is a couple of minutes’ strolling distance from the well-known Vilakazi road, vacationers and residents alike can discover and go to the various eateries and expertise the kasi life-style of Mzansi’s most well-known township.
- Location: right here
- Working hours: Monday to Sunday from 10 am to five pm
The Voortrekker Monument
The Voortrekker Monument commemorates the historical past of the Afrikaner folks and is among the most-visited heritage websites in South Africa.
That includes a novel architectural design that permits the solar to shine by way of a gap within the dome yearly (on 16 December) to light up the patriotic phrases carved into the cenotaph, which is the symbolic grave of all of the pioneers who died through the Nice Trek. The museum accommodates a formidable show of Voortrekker memorabilia, and consists of interactive exhibitions that goal to objectively clarify the function and contributions of the Afrikaner folks to South Africa.
- Location: right here
- Working hours: Monday to Sunday from 8 am to six pm
Lunch cease: Dishopong
On 1 June 1977, Bophuthatswana, a product of the Bantustan system of the apartheid regime, attained independence. This was 5 years after Bophuthatswana was proclaimed a self-governing ‘Bantu’ homeland.
As an alternative of Rustenburg being integrated wholly into Bophuthatswana, it was divided right into a South African sector, and a sector that fell into Bophuthatswana. The widespread boundary between the 2 ‘unbiased’ international locations was Plein Avenue, to the southeast of Tlhabane – the township was henceforth thought-about an integral a part of the newly unbiased Bophuthatswana.
An excellent place to go to is Pretend Foodies Cafe, which is predicated within the well-known Dishopong sector which accurately interprets to ‘The Outlets’ right here you’ll find completely different native shops and immerse your self within the native township life-style.
- Location: right here
- Working hours: Monday & Wednesday from 12 pm to 7 pm, Friday & Saturday from 12 pm to 1 am
Mzilikazi’s Grave
Though it’s the gravesite of his son Nkulumane somewhat than the Bantu king Mzilikazi himself, this gravesite provides friends a peek into historical past and the relation between Zulu folks and the Tswana tribe.
The story goes that Nkulumane was made chief after Mzilikazi was away searching for extra land and his folks presumed he was useless. After discovering out in regards to the betrayal, Mzilikazi killed the individuals who ordained Nkulumane as chief and banished his son to return to KwaZulu-Natal.
In retaliation, Nkulumane helped the Bakwena defeat a rival chief along with his impi by killing the rival king himself. This resulted within the Bakwena persuading him to remain amongst them as a substitute of embanking on a harmful journey again to KwaZulu.
He thus remained within the North West till his well timed dying.
- Location: right here
- Working hours: N/A
Paul Kruger Nation Home Museum
Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, affectionately often called ‘Oom Paul’, was the State President of the previous Zuid-Afrikaanse Republiek. What you could not know, nevertheless, is that earlier than he gained worldwide renown because the face of Boer resistance towards the British through the South African Struggle (1899 – 1902), he was a profitable farmer who owned and labored a number of farms within the Rustenburg district.
The property encompasses a group of distinctive historic buildings and provides a captivating perception into Kruger’s life at a time when South Africa was locked in a battle for sovereignty with the British Empire.
Kruger’s rifle is on show, though it could not the one with which he killed a lion on the tender age of 14! Additionally on present are his many bibles, the bellows organ that was performed by his spouse, in addition to quite a few items given to him by visiting state dignitaries. In shut proximity are household graves, the koppie the place he sought non secular steering and the saddle within the hills the place he hid his horses from British forces.
- Location: right here
- Working hours: Monday to Friday from 9 am to five pm
Mphebatho Cultural Museum
The Mphebatho Cultural Museum close to Solar Metropolis in North West province is a community-owned repository that preserves and paperwork the lifestyle of the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela folks, capturing their essence and tradition for generations to come back.
The museum which occupies a Thirties schoolhouse provides travellers an outline of a conventional African lifestyle.
Friends can be immersed within the lives of the Bakgatla by way of photographic shows, folklore, clay pottery, artefacts, conventional apparel and documentary proof on show within the museum.
The Bakgatlha-ba-Kgafela individuals are led by King Pilane of the Pilane clan, after which the Pilanesberg Nationwide Park was named.
- Location: right here
- Working hours: Monday to Friday from 9 am to five pm
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