Visit the Talana Museum

About Visit the Talana Museum

Winning the unspoken 'battle of museums', the Talana Museum arose victorious in the voting war as South Africa's Best Country Museum. 'Talana', a Zulu word holds the meaning of 'the shelf where precious items are stored'. This particular 'shelf' is suspended on the gunpowder graveyard of South Africa's Boer War. Built on the actual Talana battlefield at the base of Talana Hill, the museum defends history on the 20 acre Heritage Park.

It takes half a day touring the 17 buildings on site to absorb the impact of the 'Boer' (Farmer), British and Zulu combat legacy. Restored homesteads (of Dundee founder Peter Smith), garden headstones; South Africa's first coal mine; a locomotive; weapons; uniforms, photographs; an original hand built wagon and one of the only two wooden wool presses left in South Africa, spin tales of time. Rare artefacts and archives serve as evocative references. Exclusive Zulu beadwork, hand-blown glass and precious books are for sale at the shop. Miner's Rest restaurant serves meals in a pre-1914 corrugated iron miner's home.

Special annual events feature; 'The Ghost Walk' following in the footsteps of the British Troops on the anniversary of the Talana Battle (20th of October); a 5km Gandhi Walk (1 August) commemorating Mahatma Gandhi's efforts; and period decorated and themed Christmas trees and carols (December). Horse trails and helicopter flips over the battlefield are available by arrangement.