September is Heritage Month, and there is no better time to delve into our culture and heritage.
South Africa’s cultural diversity and rich heritage are no secret. The country is home to a number of cultural and heritage sites worth exploring.
They provide insight into how far we have come as a country, as well as the depth of our cultures.
Here are a couple of sites to consider:
Lesedi Cultural Village
Image: Sourced (Lesedi Cultural Village)
Located among the rocky hills of the Cradle of Humankind, the Lesedi Cultural Village offers insight into South Africa’s diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Picture: Sourced
Representing five major tribes—Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho, and Ndebele—each with its own distinct homestead, the village offers cultural performances, storytelling, as well as useful information and a deeper understanding of the tribes’ traditional ways of life.
Nelson Mandela Capture Site
Nelson Mandela Capture Site (Picture: Sourced)
The Nelson Mandela Capture Site holds enormous significance for South Africa’s heritage. It is where struggle icon, Nelson Mandela, was arrested on the 5th of August 1962.
The site is operated by the Apartheid Museum and serves to commemorate Mandela’s arrest. A visit to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site is interesting and insightful, providing necessary information and insight into South Africa’s past.
Botshabelo Historical Village
Image: Sourced / Botshabelo Cultural Village
Nestled in the Mpumalanga province, the Botshabelo Historical Village offers the chance to explore the artistic heritage of the Ndebele people.
It dates back to 1860 and showcases the Ndebele people’s famous brightly colored geometric artworks and traditional homesteads.
This open-air museum also dives into rich traditions through live demonstrations of beadwork, mural painting, and the wearing of ornate garments. It offers a vivid educational experience about the resilient warrior nation.
Cradle of Humankind
Picture: Melanie van Zyl
The Cradle of Humankind is an important attraction worth visiting. It is home to limestone caves which carry a rich fossil record for human evolutionary studies. Thus, it is the ideal place to learn more about human evolution and heritage.
The site’s official visitors’ center showcases in-depth detail pertaining to how humans lived using spectacular storytelling methods. Undoubtedly, a visit to the site grants an insightful and fascinating historical experience.
Robben Island
Picture: Getaway Gallery
Robben Island is an important aspect of South Africa’s heritage. It holds a symbolic value that is found in its sombre history. The attraction is famously known as the place where Apartheid struggle icon, Nelson Mandela, spent 27 years imprisoned.
At various times between the 17th and the 20th century, Robben Island was used as a military base. It also served as a hospital for socially unacceptable groups, including an isolated leper colony in 1845.
The attraction was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, and offers a rich, interesting and educational experience.
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