Talana Museum, Dundee

Talana Museum, Dundee

Set in a 20 acre heritage park that forms a portion of the Talana battlefield - the first battle of the Anglo-Boer war - is a museum that is dedicated to memorabilia and the growth of the Dundee area, and is home to displays as diverse as war and agriculture, mining, industry and domestic life.

Talana Museum lies at the base of a hill of the same name, which is Zulu for ‘the shelf where precious items are stored’ - rather an apt name for a museum. The Talana museum is just outside the quaint town of Dundee and has recently been upgraded to a Grade 1 listed site, no surprise if you consider that some of the buildings in which the museum is housed date back to pioneer times. There are displays that outline what the daily lives of early settlers to the area must have been like, as well as displays of the Zulus and the Bushmen in the area. Local industry too has contributed with displays from the Consol Glass Collection, and a Corobrick heritage display.

Probably the best part of a visit here is the self-guided trail one can take on the Talana battlefield itself, whilst audio cassette tours are available for neighbouring Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift battlefields - one can totally immerse oneself in the battles that took place in this part of the world. If you would rather have an experienced guide, the museum provides one on request, and there is a restaurant and curio shop within the complex. Just over Talana Hill lies Thornley Farm, which was the former Boer forces HQ, hospital and mortuary during the battle of Talana. Although on a private farm, one can visit the buildings.

Hours:
Weekdays 08h00 to 16h30; Weekends and public holidays 10h00 to 16h30
Telephone: +27 (0)34 212-2654.