Pretoria, in the Gauteng province, is known as the administrative capital of South Africa. There are many tourist activities and sites that you can enjoy on your visit to Pretoria. The place is host to lots of gardens, historical monuments, galleries, theaters and many extremely beautiful buildings like the Union Building. The botanical gardens of the city are commendable. there are many wonderful ones too Museum in Pretoria, Overall, Pretoria is a great holiday destination!
Top 11 Museums in Pretoria
Museums are a great way to get acquainted with history and gain some knowledge from it. The museums are very informative and the establishments are enlightening. This is a must visit for a family. It gives a good opportunity to young minds to know history and be curious about it. Here we have compiled a list of Best Museums in Pretoria Which you can see on your trip to Pretoria.
1. Kruger House Museum
Kruger House belonged to the former South African Republican President and a Boer leader, Paul Kruger. A unique feature of the construction of the house is that milk was used instead of water to mix the cement of the house as the water available was of poor quality. It is considered to be one of the first houses in Pretoria that had electricity. The house contains belongings of President Paul Kruger; Some also include gifts given to them. This place is like a window to understand the rich history of South Africa.
Address: 59 WF Nkomo St, Pretoria Central, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
Time: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
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2. Transvaal Museum
The Transvaal Museum has many installations, ranging from fossils of ancient humans to fossils of animals. The museum has an extensive fossil collection of reptiles, mammals and birds. If you are traveling with kids, you should make sure that you keep this as a must-see place. It is very informative and gives great information about many species of animals and birds.
Address: 432 Paul Kruger St, Pretoria Central, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
Time: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
3. Pretoria Museum of Art
All art lovers, this is a great place to enjoy some of the best art creations. The art museum has a lot of paintings by many artists, and that is why it occupies an entire city block. The main focus of the Pretoria Art Museum is to showcase South African artwork. It is a great place to spend time and marvel at the wonderful creations created by various artists during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
Address: Francis Bard St and Wessels St, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0007, South Africa
Time: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM (Closed Monday)
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4. Pioneer Museum
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What if we told you, we’ve got an interactive museum for you, in which you are a part of the museum! If this idea excites you, the Pioneer Museum is the perfect place for you. The Pioneer is a living museum that depicts the lives of early pioneers. And to experience it you will have to wear the same clothes and engage in various activities. Activities include making bread, churning butter, baking and reloading. This place has gardens, which are full of traditional herbs and vegetables, you can learn about some home remedies here. This whole place is quite a departure from the traditional definition of a museum. And if you want to experience something different then you should definitely go here.
Address: Pretoria, Guanteg, South Africa
Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
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5. Van Wouw Museum
The Van Wouw Museum is a house that was the last residence of Anton Van Wouw, who was a sculptor and used the space as his studio. Here you will get the chance to see some of the amazing works done by Van Wouw, his photographs, paintings, documents. If you love art then don’t miss this place while exploring the living wonders of Pretoria.
Address: Old Arts Building 2-9 University of Pretoria, Linwood Road, Hatfield, South Africa
Time: 10:30 am to 4:30 pm
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6. Sammy Marks Museum
Sammy Marks Museum There is a guided museum in which you can see inside the Victorian-style mansion of industrialist Sammy Marks. The place is very well maintained. The gardens and the entire museum give a feeling of peace. There is also a restaurant at this place where you can eat mouth-watering food. Keep your camera handy, as you will find many photo spots here.
Address: Bronkhorstspruit Road, Savannah Country Estate, Pretoria, 0184, South Africa
Time: 8:30 am-5:00 pm
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7. Jan Smuts House Museum
It is a house converted into a museum, with guided tours. The house once belonged to one of South Africa’s most famous personalities, Jan Smuts, who was the Prime Minister of South Africa. The tour guide will explain to you various things around Smuts House. You will be surprised to know that the car used by the family, Cadillac, is still in pristine condition. You can also visit the library and be surprised by the collection of books there.
Address: Jan Smuts Avenue, Centurion, 0062, South Africa
Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
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8. National Museum of Cultural History
The focus of the museum is on the history of its people and the diversity of their culture. The museum has some permanent and some temporary installations. There is an art gallery that offers glimpses of South African life through the centuries in the form of sculptures, crafts and paintings. The National Museum of Cultural History houses some great artefacts in the form of manuscripts, documents, records, publications. If you want to understand the people of South Africa and their history then definitely visit this place. The entire collection has been presented very well. Apart from these, other main attractions of this place include an Iron Age exhibition and a Stone Age exhibition.
Address: 121 Visagie St, Pretoria Central, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
Time: Monday-Friday: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
9. Voortrekker Memorial, Museum and Heritage Center
This vast site showcases the history of the Afrikaner people and is one of South Africa’s most popular heritage sites. Its unique architecture allows sunlight to enter through a hole in the dome every year on December 16, highlighting the patriotic words engraved on the dome. The museum displays Voortrekker memorabilia, whereas, the Heritage Center has interesting exhibitions portraying the contributions of African people to South Africa.
Time: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Daily)
10. Freedom Park Museum
Another interesting museum is the Freedom Park Museum situated on a hill which honors the sacrifices of the freedom-fighters. It also showcases the diversity of the African people and has a range of sites featuring culture, heritage, spirituality and history through distinctive African architecture and sculpture. The exhibitions here also include the era of colonization and the struggle to achieve democracy in South Africa.
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Daily)
11. South African Post Office Museum
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The South African Post Office Museum is a wonderful museum located in Church Square. It is one of the best museums in Pretoria and delights philatelists with its rare collection of stamps, art and other items related to the postal services in South Africa. Anyone can view the complete history of South African stamps here and take a look at the unique perspective of this country.
Time: Monday to Saturday- 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Closed Sunday
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We hope the list we compiled will give you a good idea about the top museums in Pretoria. Make sure you add them all to your bucket list and don’t skip any of them. Plan a trip to South Africa and explore this destination by learning about its interesting past.
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