Ditsong Museums of South Africa are an amalgamation of eight national museums, seven in Tshwane and one in Johannesburg in terms of the Cultural Institutions Act. These museums have diverse collections covering the fields of fauna and flora, palaeontology, military history, cultural history, geology, anthropology and archaeology. The target audience for these museums are children, youth, adults, students, tourists, researchers and the public in general. They are indicated as Ditsong Museums in the list below
Ditsong: African Window
This is the Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History centre for cultural exhibitions. An appreciation of culture and traditions through community involvement, educational activities and public programmes, including song, dance and much more, is promoted. The museum boasts a coffee shop, a traditional craft shop, conference facilities, guided tours and archaeology programmes. Reservations for traditional meals are recommended.
Telephone: 012 324 6082/012 324 6082
Fax: 012 328 5173
Address: Visagie Street (between Bosman and Central Streets) Pretoria Central
South African Air Force Museum
The Air Force Museum depicts the history of the South African Air Force. It houses a collection of old aircraft, uniforms, missiles, aeronautical displays and paintings; Flying days are held periodically. For more on these and similar events, visit http://www.saaffriends.co.za/events.htm.
Telephone: 012 351 2911/2153/2111
Address: Route 101 (Old Johannesburg Road), Zwartkop Air Force Base, Old Johannesburg Road, Valhalla
This museum is the only one of its kind in South Africa; It portrays the development of the penal system and displays the hobbies of prisoners – and illegal items manufactured by them.
Telephone: 012 314 1766
Address: Prison Reserve, Central Prison, Potgieter Street, Pretoria Central
Geoscience Museum
Located in the Transvaal Museum building, the Geoscience Museum displays a fascinating collection of precious and semi-precious stones.
Telephone: 012 322 7122
Address: 432 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria Central
Ditsong: Kruger Museum
This museum exhibits the possessions of President Paul Kruger and his wife during their years of residence in the Kruger House from 1884 to 1901.Also displayed are tributes presented to the president and the Boers during the Anglo-Boer War.
Telephone: 012 326 9172
Address: 60 Church Street west, Pretoria Central
National Film, Video and Sound Archive
These archives collect, conserve and exhibit audiovisual material on South Africa.
Telephone: 012 343 9767
Address: Corner of Johan and Wessels Streets, Arcadia, Pretoria
Ditsong: Pioneer Museum
The fully furnished house at the Pioneer Museum is a T-shaped dwelling with a thatched roof, dung-smeared floor and pioneer furniture dating from 1848.
The historic farmyard, its outside oven, outbuildings, tanning pit, wagon shed, water furrow, threshing floor, water mill, duck pond and farmyard animals, are worth a visit.
Advance booking for guided tours and demonstrations is required.
Picnic and braai facilities are available.
Telephone: 012 803 6086/7
Address: Pretoria Road, Silverton, Pretoria
SAAF Memorial
Built on Bays Hills, the SAAF Memorial offers a clear view of the Zwartkop Air Force Base, as well as the top of the Voortrekker Monument.
The design of the base is in the shape of a triangular star with three wings – one forms a neutral chapel for small services.
The memorial is about six storeys high and symbolises flight.
The Garden of Remembrance was laid out for the 3 000 SAAF members who died during wartime.
Telephone: 012 351 2911/2153
Address: Snake Valley Road, off the Old Johannesburg Road.
From the intersection of Old Johannesburg Road (R101) and Snake Valley Road (M24) turn east into Snake Valley Road. The Memorial is visible to the right.
Ditsong: Sammy Marks Museum
The splendid Victorian mansion, which dates from 1884, was once the residence of the magnate Sammy Marks who made a significant contribution to the industrial, mining and agricultural development of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek.
Telephone: 012 802 1150
Restaurant: 012 802 1485
Address: Route 104, Old Bronkhorstspruit Road (off N4 highway, take Hans Strijdom off-ramp and follow the signs).
Science and Technology Museum
A true “hands-on” museum, the Science and Technology Museum is the only one of its kind in South Africa that allows visitors to see the wonders of science and technology unfolding.
Telephone: 012 322 6406
Address: Didacta Building, 211 Skinner Street, Pretoria Central
The Pretoria Art Museum
The Pretoria Art Museum is a premier art museum; It focuses on contemporary developments in Southern African art including urban, rural and traditional art as well as new media and techniques
Telephone Number: 012 344 1807/8
Address:Cnr Schoeman and Wessels St, Arcadia
Click here to view more on the Pretoria Art Museum
Melrose House Museum
This elegant house museum stands as a superb example of the transition of Victorian to Edwardian architectural styles and interiors.
Telephone: 012 322 2805 / 012 322 0420
Address: 275 Jacob Maré Street, Pretoria
Click here to view more on the Melrose House Museum
Smuts House Museum
The many aspects of the life of Jan Christiaan Smuts (1870-1950) – the world-renowned statesman, lawyer, botanist, philosopher, farmer and family man – can be seen in this wood-and-iron house in the country environment of the Doornkloof farm.
Telephone: 012 667 1176
Address: Nellmapius Road (M31), Irene
Ditsong: National Museum of Natural History
This natural science museum houses the finest collection of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects as well as a remarkable display of fossils, pre-historic man and geological and archaeological material;
It is home to Mrs Ples, the australopithecine fossil found at Sterkfontein (Cradle of Humankind).
Telephone: 012 322 7632
Address: 432 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria Central
Voortrekker Monument and Museum
The Voortrekker Monument was erected to commemorate the centenary of the Great Trek when Dutch and German pioneers from the Cape of Good Hope travelled by ox-wagon to the northern parts of South Africa;
A series of maps at the museum chart the most important migratory patterns in the history of Southern Africa. The focus is on the lifestyles of the Voortrekkers, as well as life after the Great Trek (1835-1852).
Fort Schanskop can also be seen from the Voortrekker Monument.
Telephone (monument and museum): 012 323 6770/ 012 323 7885/ 012 323 9050 / 012 323 0682
Address: Eeufees Road (M7)
Ditsong: Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum
The museum theme is the development of agriculture in the old Transvaal, and an impressive collection of horse-drawn vehicles, farming equipment and examples of implements used on farms over the ages are to be seen.
Telephone: 012 734 4171 Address: Route 104, Old Bronkhorstspruit Road
