Freedom Day, observed as a public holiday in South Africa, commemorates the landmark democratic elections held on April 27, 1994. In Cape Town, a city steeped in history and culture, many attractions bear testament to the journey towards freedom and democracy.
These include:
Robben Island
Robben Island, where former South African president Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his 27-year incarceration, is home to fascinating history and boasts some of the most scenic views of Table Mountain. The UNESCO World Heritage site once served as a whaling station, a leper colony, and a political prison from the 17th to the 20th centuries. A trip to Robben Island is only accessible aboard a ferry from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront. There are several different tour types, with the general tour being the most popular option. The ferry to the island departs from the V&A Waterfront 4 times a day from Monday to Sunday, with the first trip departing at 9am.
Location: The tour departs from the V&A Waterfront
Price: South Africans: R400 per adult and R210 per child
Non- South Africans: R600 per adult and R310 per child
Contact: Visit www.robben-island.org.za/
Long March to Freedom
Brush up on your history at The Long March to Freedom, an outdoor exhibition featuring 100 life-size bronze sculptures of South Africa’s most famous historical heroes. From Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu to Walter Sisulu, the Long March to Freedom transports you back in time to highlight the role of many freedom fighters who fought for democracy.
Location: Century Boulevard, Century City
Price: From R20-R75
Contact: Visit www.longmarchtofreedom.co.za/
Cape Town City Hall
Cape Town City Hall is the grande architectural dame of the city, and most popularly known as the place former South African President, Nelson Mandela gave his famous speech from a couple of hours after his release from prison on 11 February 1990. Visitors will see a life-size statue of the great Nobel Peace Prize winner on the balcony from where he addressed his people. There is also an exhibition inside City Hall dedicated to this icon.
When you visit, pop by Cape Town Tourism’s Visitor Experience Centre where our team can help you plan your Cape Town journey and browse our retail store.
Location: Darling St, CBD, Cape Town
Price: Free entry
Contact: Call 021 444 0747
Picture credit: Poetry Photography / Shutterstock.com
District Six Museum
Few areas are as vivid an example of the Apartheid regime as District Six. A once racially diverse and vibrant community, the original residents were forcibly removed from the area when the National Party government declared it a “white group area”.
The District Six Museum Foundation was founded in 1989, hot on the trail of the Hands-Off District Six Conference a year earlier. The museum launched in 1994 with a compelling inaugural exhibition called Streets: Retracing District Six and has become a must-visit spot for local and international travellers. Visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour or walk through the museum with an ex-resident storyteller.
Location: 25A Buitenkant Street, District Six, Cape Town
Price: Self-guided visit: R60, and with ex-resident guide: R75. Tickets can only be purchased at the front desk or via Quicket.
Contact: Visit www.districtsix.co.za
The Iziko South African Museum
Located in the historic Company’s Gardens, the Iziko South African Museum is home to more than 1.5 million items of cultural and scientific significance. Explore the museum to learn more about fossils and ancient insects, stone tools made by people 120 000 years ago, and traditional clothes from the last century.
Location: 25 Queen Victoria Street, Gardens
Price: R60
Upon presentation of valid SA ID/ SADC identification:Adults: R40; Children aged 5 to 17: R20; South African pensioners and students (with valid cards): R20, and free entry on Fridays; School groups: R15; and free entry on commemorative days.
Contact: Visit www.iziko.org.za/museums/south-african-museum
Picture credit: Florencia Maisonnave / Shutterstock.com
Iziko Slave Lodge
The Slave Lodge is one of the oldest buildings in Cape Town. It has answered to many names over the last three centuries, namely the Slave Lodge, Government Offices Building, Old Supreme Court, and South African Cultural History Museum. All these names reflect the long and rich history of the building. The Mother City site features exhibitions that explore the long history of slavery in South Africa, temporary exhibitions that put a spotlight on human rights awareness, and upper-level galleries.
Location: Corner Adderley Street and Wale Street, Cape Town
Price: R60
Upon presentation of valid SA ID/ SADC identification: Adults: R40; Children aged 5 to 17: R20; South African pensioners and students (with valid cards): R20, and free entry on Fridays; School groups: R15; and free entry on commemorative days
Contact: Visit www.iziko.org.za/museums/slave-lodge
Nobel Square, V&A Waterfront
Nobel Square at the V&A Waterfront pays homage to the nation’s four Nobel Peace Prize winners: the late Nkosi Albert Luthuli, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, former State President FW de Klerk, and former President Nelson Mandela. Created by internationally acclaimed artist Claudette Schreuders, the larger-than-life bronze sculptures of these Laureates embody the complexities of defining an ‘African’ identity in post-apartheid South Africa. The fifth sculpture in the square, titled Peace and Democracy and created by Noria Mabasa, recognises the invaluable contributions of women and children to the pursuit of peace in South Africa.
Location: Watershed, 17 Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Price: Free
Contact: Visit www.waterfront.co.za/attractions/nobel-square/
Picture credit: Augustcindy / Shutterstock.com
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