uMsunduzi Museum
uMsunduzi Museum
4
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
About
Cultural history museum, with displays celebrating the heritage of all the major cultural groups of KZN. The historical Voortrekker Complex was the original part of the museum, which celebrated its centenary in 2012. The museum also administers the Ncome Museum in Nqutu, northern KZN.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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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.
4.0
29 reviews
Excellent
11
Very good
12
Average
4
Poor
2
Terrible
0
ThevFit
Brighton and Hove, UK8 contributions
Nov 2013 • Family
The Voortrekker Museum is about the Voortrekkers. Since the Great Trek began in the cape and lasted into the Northern Transvaal, this museum really tells the story about how South Africa started its modern history. There were battles with tribes migrating from the North and the British. Pietermaritzburg is also the Capital of Pietermaritzburg. When exploring Natal, this should be your first point.
Written October 24, 2014
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.
laurenbks3
Johannesburg, South Africa4 contributions
Jun 2017 • Friends
This museum is really fantastic with well-kept and extensive displays and staff that are friendly and helpful. My only critique is that the museum starts off with a display on Apartheid and the struggle era, which happened after the Voortrekker time. It could be nicer if events were displayed chronologically. Also note that the Voortrekker house is not open according to the opening hours on the website, they open it specifically for guests. This can be organised at the main Voortrekker museum. Overall, a pleasant experience.
Written June 26, 2017
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.
Cricketman_10
United Kingdom1,300 contributions
Dec 2015 • Friends
The Voortrekkers ( Pioneers of their day ) whose wagons pulled into Zulu territory, were not welcome guests in their time, this museum really tells the story about how South Africa started its modern history. it consists of building containing an original wagon and other artefacts of the period. It also consists of the first Voortrekker church, Part of the museum is actually housed in the 'church of the Vow'. So its very fitting It features later on the tour, Church of the Vow built in 1838, this was the Voortrekkers bargain with God for victory over the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River three years earlier.
Written December 19, 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.
mel3130
Papua New Guinea15 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
If you have the time - go and visit this museum. As a local, I first went when I took a friend from abroad, who really like history - it was quite an eye-opener for me - and more interesting than I anticipated! I learned a lot about my city, and my country! Do visit, if you haven't been before.
Written August 5, 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.
Africa_Travels
Randburg, South Africa171 contributions
Oct 2011 • Couples
Somehow I never managed to go into this museum whilst I was working right opposite. It took a stopover on holiday to finally go in. What a pleasant surprise. The museum is split into different parts with a modern exhibition hall that is trying to tell the story of the varied peoples of Natal. Then there are some historic buildings which have been re-erected on the site. An old Voortrekker Church and farmhouse.
The new hall seems to want to try a little too hard to be inclusive of all influences. It was nicely done, but maybe a little too broad. The Voortrekker story was nicely told with both actual artifacts as well as a movie and texts. When we went the place was very empty which is a real shame as it is a nice little museum.
The place was reasonably newly renovated as well, so it was all in nice condition.
The new hall seems to want to try a little too hard to be inclusive of all influences. It was nicely done, but maybe a little too broad. The Voortrekker story was nicely told with both actual artifacts as well as a movie and texts. When we went the place was very empty which is a real shame as it is a nice little museum.
The place was reasonably newly renovated as well, so it was all in nice condition.
Written December 31, 2011
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.
Yumeshrey N
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa48 contributions
Mar 2019 • Family
There is alot of South African history in the museum, however the set up of the museum doesn't tell a story and it was alittle boring for me personally. The kids also lost interest and wanted to leave.
Written March 21, 2019
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.
Norhes
Bryanston, South Africa29 contributions
Jan 2019 • Family
So we went to PMB looking to visit the Church of the Vow and had some difficulty locating it. Luckily we saw the "Tourist Information" Offices and proceeded to make an enquiry. The pamphlets on the shelves dated back to 2013 and even older. I asked the gentleman behind the counter for the location of the Church of the Vow and he looked at me with a blank face. Not to be outdone the chap typed the following into his Google search engine..."Church of the Valley". Nothing was found under this description. After some haggling we eventually found the museum premises. The staff manning the desks have no clue whatsoever around the exhibits, their cultural and historical significance or the stories behind them. Naturally the apartheid and freedom struggle exhibits were featured very prominently. The person in the actual Church had no idea why the church had been built or what lead up to its construction. Ah well another cultural and historical landmark solidly on its sad way to neglect and ultimate destruction.
Written February 4, 2019
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.
Alonso H
Rotterdam, The Netherlands21 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
What a let-down. The museum (for lack of a better word) has no clear scope, no idea what it intends to tell the visitor. There is no introduction, no welcome, no framing and thus no obvious way to stroll along the almost comically crammed together artifacts. Oh, here’s some random ancient traditional Zulu stringed instrument on display. Oh, look, next up is a maquette of the building we are currently in, apparently made by the kids of the local primary school. Oh, hey, this corner of the room has an old stuffed cow and an ox-wagon.
What’s the context, what is the curator (there probably isn’t one) trying to tell me? Next up: the absolute mess that is dubbed the Apartheid-section. A downright insult to anyone who actually wants to learn about the subject. Walk across the courtyard and find the Church of the Vow and Andries Pretorius’ house. Vastly uninteresting buildings with the information that is currently on display. It’s all neither here nor there. This museum needs a huge overhaul. Until then, don’t bother.
What’s the context, what is the curator (there probably isn’t one) trying to tell me? Next up: the absolute mess that is dubbed the Apartheid-section. A downright insult to anyone who actually wants to learn about the subject. Walk across the courtyard and find the Church of the Vow and Andries Pretorius’ house. Vastly uninteresting buildings with the information that is currently on display. It’s all neither here nor there. This museum needs a huge overhaul. Until then, don’t bother.
Written June 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.
Prof Ernst Uken
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa74 contributions
Sep 2017 • Business
Having visited this informative museum many years ago, I was surprised at the good shape this historical museum is still in.
Written May 27, 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.
762anwark
4 contributions
Dec 2016
enjoyed the experience...we were learning about this in history....battle of blood river, etc...visitted in 1979....your date selection does not allow me to click on correct date.
Written November 9, 2017
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.
Hi
As we will be visiting from Australia and will be travelling in a hired people carrier (draw card to be robbed), and will have all our lugguage and possessions with us, I would like to know where I could park (don't mind paying) that would prevent us from being robbed. I REALLY want to visit the museum as I visited the museum in the 70's and I have amazing memories of it which I want to share with my family.
Regards
Tracy Hart
Written January 4, 2017
There is safe and ample parking in the museum grounds. There is also a checkpoint before entering the general area so the place is relatively safe.
Written January 4, 2017
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