South African National Museum of Military History
South African National Museum of Military History
South African National Museum of Military History
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
This large museum contains mostly military-related records, journals, weapons and photographs that depict the nation’s participation in large-scale conflicts.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
397 reviews
Excellent
216
Very good
150
Average
27
Poor
1
Terrible
3
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Павел Безпалько
Moscow, Russia128 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
Nice, beautiful and well maintained museum. Various samples of weapons, equipment and types of weapons have been collected. A lot of equipment and weapons from the Second World War. There are various planes, helicopter, submarine and guns. You can walk into or look inside some of the exhibits.
There were very few people. We went on Monday at lunchtime. Apparently everyone was at work.
It’s true that you can’t take photos in two pavilions, for some reason it’s unclear.
Overall the museum is interesting, but the theme is sad. How people learned to kill each other.
There were very few people. We went on Monday at lunchtime. Apparently everyone was at work.
It’s true that you can’t take photos in two pavilions, for some reason it’s unclear.
Overall the museum is interesting, but the theme is sad. How people learned to kill each other.

Written May 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna K
16 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
I’ve been to South Africa so many times and only now did I come across this museum which has so many military artefacts. I am so impressed by the exhibits of military uniforms aircrafts vehicles etc. also what really positively surprised me is the Polish connection exhibition with so much information and artefacts too! I’m originally from Poland and was always curious if there is any connection so there you go -:) I found lots that dates back to Jan Smuts times!! And also Outdshoorn - if you’re into history WWI and WWII it’s a place to visit. Prices are very reasonable so no complaints
Written April 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather S
Nottingham, UK208 contributions
Mar 2022
A great museum with a surprising amount to see - cannons, planes, submarines - all sorts of things. We spent 2 hours there, and could have spent longer (bypassed some of the photos, and smaller exhibits) but left because we were doing the zoo (next door) in the same afternoon. Would well recommend.
Written April 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
benjamin
Benjamin, TX11 contributions
Nov 2020
Fantastic. Everything you visit there is a new exhibit. Some of the rarest and best preserved militeria are on display here. The Museum, is well laid out, exhibits are well described, the facilities are neat and clean. It spans from the 1800 to current. Its an experience seeing the weaponry you used on display in a museum.
Written February 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris P
Shanghai, China6,025 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
So enjoyed my visit to this museum. I stopped off on my Red Bus Tour. Give yourself enough time, as it is crammed with historic items. I learnt a lot, as well as being emotionally stirred a number of times. I was disappointed that photographs were not allowed in 2 of the exhibition halls. There is a lot to see.
Written May 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beekay-on-holiday
Johannesburg, South Africa2 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
This is truly one of the best places one can visit if one has an interest in WWII machines, particularly German technology. It is amazing that in this corner of the world they actually managed to get hold of a Messerschmitt Me 262 (the only one of its type left in the world!), as well as a miniature German submarine. Coming from nanny-state Australia where everything is fenced off and need to be viewed with a telescope for fear that somebody might cut a finger touching anything, this is a stunning, good old South African no-nonsense experience. You can actually walk right up to these machines and touch them and stick your head right into the hole to see what is inside!
Wander off to the South African war machine section and you can see equipment from the days when South Africa had to fight the might of Cuba and Russia in Angola: they actually have a G5 and a G6 cannon right there, as well as an old Impala airplane and a Mirage that saw plenty of action against the ANC's communist backers from the eighties.
If you like a BMW badge then look at my photo: you are not the first guy to like your BM! Some pretty bad people from the past still had pretty good taste...a palm tree, a Swastika and a nice BMW, what more could a man want?
You need 2-3 hours and unless the missus is into war stuff then sending her and to kids off to the adjacent Johannesburg zoo may be a good idea: this is man stuff and you will want to hang around for a while!
Wander off to the South African war machine section and you can see equipment from the days when South Africa had to fight the might of Cuba and Russia in Angola: they actually have a G5 and a G6 cannon right there, as well as an old Impala airplane and a Mirage that saw plenty of action against the ANC's communist backers from the eighties.
If you like a BMW badge then look at my photo: you are not the first guy to like your BM! Some pretty bad people from the past still had pretty good taste...a palm tree, a Swastika and a nice BMW, what more could a man want?
You need 2-3 hours and unless the missus is into war stuff then sending her and to kids off to the adjacent Johannesburg zoo may be a good idea: this is man stuff and you will want to hang around for a while!
Written March 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jurassicark
Sydney, Australia21 contributions
Aug 2012 • Couples
Recently my husband and I (both retired in mid 60's) visited South Africa for one month. We landed in Joburg, coached to Nelspruit, hired a car from Hertz, then drove to Kruger where we stayed for 5 nights, then drove down through Swaziland to Capetown. Had a great trip. Some comments which may be of assistance to others are:
JoBurg: Stayed in Rosebank Lodge, terrific, safe convenient location. Caught the Gautrain (fantastic) from the airport to Rosebank, then a short walk to the Lodge. Room great, breakfasts excellent. A great location at a fair price. Did a day trip to Soweto which was great but humbling. A day spent at the Apartheid Museum was good. Caught the Gautrain mostly. No problems with security. Thoroughly enjoyed it and can recommend Rosebank.
Coached to Nelspruit with Intercape. Picked up a Chev Spark there. Would have been better if we had spent a little more and got a larger car as the hills were very demanding of the vehicle.
Kruger was great. Did four ranger guided tours (2 night and 2 morning) and both were worthwhile. Stayed at Pretsoriukop and Berg en Dal. Preferred Pretsoriukopt as felt it had a bit more of an African feel. Wildlife viewing was great and enjoyed it all
Then on to Swaziland, Malandelas Guesthouse, was great and the countryside was good.
Then down through Mtubatuba, Eshowe (Eshowe Guesthouse great), to Kloof (not much to see) Hogsback, Graaf Reinet (excellent) Plettenberg Bay, Oudshoorn, Swellendam, Franschoek and to Capetown where we stayed at 21 Braemar Street (good accomodation and very central). We then caught the Premier Classe train back to Johburg to fly home. The train trip was great as it went up the centre (more or less) of the country and we saw country we had not seen before.
All in all it was great, terrific scenery, an interesting country with so much recent history. Can recommend it to all.
JoBurg: Stayed in Rosebank Lodge, terrific, safe convenient location. Caught the Gautrain (fantastic) from the airport to Rosebank, then a short walk to the Lodge. Room great, breakfasts excellent. A great location at a fair price. Did a day trip to Soweto which was great but humbling. A day spent at the Apartheid Museum was good. Caught the Gautrain mostly. No problems with security. Thoroughly enjoyed it and can recommend Rosebank.
Coached to Nelspruit with Intercape. Picked up a Chev Spark there. Would have been better if we had spent a little more and got a larger car as the hills were very demanding of the vehicle.
Kruger was great. Did four ranger guided tours (2 night and 2 morning) and both were worthwhile. Stayed at Pretsoriukop and Berg en Dal. Preferred Pretsoriukopt as felt it had a bit more of an African feel. Wildlife viewing was great and enjoyed it all
Then on to Swaziland, Malandelas Guesthouse, was great and the countryside was good.
Then down through Mtubatuba, Eshowe (Eshowe Guesthouse great), to Kloof (not much to see) Hogsback, Graaf Reinet (excellent) Plettenberg Bay, Oudshoorn, Swellendam, Franschoek and to Capetown where we stayed at 21 Braemar Street (good accomodation and very central). We then caught the Premier Classe train back to Johburg to fly home. The train trip was great as it went up the centre (more or less) of the country and we saw country we had not seen before.
All in all it was great, terrific scenery, an interesting country with so much recent history. Can recommend it to all.
Written September 10, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Graham P
Worcester, UK7 contributions
Feb 2023
If you are remotely interested in Military History you have to go to this museum, it is excellent, with an array of aircraft such as Spitfire, Hurricane, FW190, MBF109, Mosquito, tanks including Centurion, M4 Sherman, Artillery Flak88, Pak, 7lbers to name but a few, some great models there are numerous halls with various information on history ciovering the Zulu and South African Wars - the guide book I had recommended 2hrs I spent double that - definately well worth going.
Written February 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David S
Sydney, Australia73 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
The museum contains a large number of interesting exhibits displayed over a sizable indoor/outdoor area. The exhibits include a number of iconic WW1, but mainly WW2 Allied and Axis aircraft. on display are a couple of Messerschmitt Bf109's, an FW 190, ME 262, Spitfires, Hurricane, Mosquito and a Douglas Dakota. The outdoor exhibits include numerous tanks and field artillery from the 19th century to the modern age. For any military enthusiast or anyone interested in history, this is a great resource. The Joburg Green Line hop on/off bus stops literally at the front gate. The Anglo-Boer War Memorial is situated in a park adjacent to the Museum.
Written July 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GlobalFooder
London, UK47 contributions
Nov 2015 • Family
An interesting collection of both indoor and outdoor exhibitions. It is well maintained and not too large to exhaust you.
Written November 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, is two hours enough time to see the major items? I'm trying to allocate time on my sight seeing bus tour (one day only).
Thanks
Written September 20, 2020
It should be enough - it always depends on how much detail you want to see
Written October 18, 2020
Hi, I have a question about the displayed Me-262 Night Fighter. I am Norwegian and modelling this aircraft for a competition ( 1/4 scale), JWM (Jet World Master) and need some additional pics of the Me-262. This is for the documentation of the aircraft, need end view, top and bottom view. This may be difficult, but all help is very much appreciated. Thanks, Per-Oluf Olsen
Written November 12, 2019
Hi Per-Oluf, we don’t really have any pics of that plane sorry.
Reece and Terri
Written November 14, 2019
HI Choba14
Where in the museum did you host your kids party? Could you bring your own food or did you have to use restaurant? Do you remember what you paid for venue? thanks! :)
Written November 1, 2018
I did not host a kids party. It is ok if the kids are interested in learning a bit of military history for a hour or so. It is a museum so not the place to run around making a noise. There is a lot of open ground outside the entrance of the museum area for you to have a picnic.
Written November 2, 2018
Tim and Fiona S
Sandton, South Africa
Is it open on the 1st May 2017? If so, what are the opening times? Thanks
Written April 30, 2017
Absolutely. There is a small coffee shop that can do toasted sarmies and ice creams there. Also a collectibles shop if you are looking for that special momento.
Written April 12, 2017
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