Africa Deluxe Tours The Nelson Mandela Museum

Mthatha (a.k.a. Umtata)

Mthatha, formerly known as Umtata, is the main city (a large town really) in the Transkei region of South Africa's Eastern Cape.

The town is located in the cultural heartland of South Africa's Xhosa speaking people. Nelson Mandela and other prominent liberation figures spent time here in their early years. These days one of the main tourist attractions, in what is a somewhat unattractive town, is the Nelson Mandela Museum.There’s been quite a bit of criticism on the museum and it’s probably due for an upgrade in future. However, it remains a worthwhile visit for an introduction to Mandela’s life from his early years in Qunu not far from Mthatha to his eventual presidency of South Africa and his final years.

The CBD is a noisy and busy beehive of activity. Folk from outside of the urban centre and from deep rural areas congregate in the CBD to stock up on supplies and stand huddled around street-corner and shop-front salesmen punting some or other product on PA systems of varying quality. Taxi’s, with blaring radios, hoot to attract customers and people shout friendly greetings across the street.

On the southern edge of the urban centre lies the Walter Sisulu University’s main campus, named for Nelson Mandela’s closest confidant during the struggle and the many years of incarceration on Robben Island.

All around the urban centre, most of the residents of greater Mthatha live as most of the Xhosa people in the Transkei do. As you drive through this area you’ll see thousands of huts clustered in small family compounds across the hills as far as the eye can see - very much in rural and traditional fashion. Pick-up trucks and taxis navigate the gravel roads that branch of the main N2 tarred road. Cattle herders tend to livestock, women balance heavy loads on their heads and old women smoke traditional pipes.

Tours that include Mthatha (a.k.a. Umtata)

Blyde River Canyon

Duration: 16 days, 15 nights
Tour Type: Scheduled tours
Luxury Level: *** / ****
Price: R32,500 per person sharing (±US$ 2,343 )
R10,900 single supplement (±US$ 785 )

Valid dates: Nov 2017 - Oct 2018


The German-guided version of our tour that covers the highlights of South Africa (link to English tour provided as well). It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.

Highlights: Panorama Route , Blyde River Canyon , Kruger National Park , Swaziland , Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve , St. Lucia , iSimangaliso Wetland Park , Transkei , Garden Route , Storm’s River Mouth , Knysna , Cango Caves , Route 62 , Cape Winelands , Stellenbosch , Paarl , Cape Town .

Blyde River Canyon

Duration: 16 days, 15 nights
Tour Type: Private guided tours
Luxury Level: *** / ****
Price: R57,500 per person sharing - for group between 2 and 2. (±US$ 4,146 )
R38,500 per person sharing - for group between 4 and 6. (±US$ 2,776 )
R30,700 per person sharing - for group between 7 and 14. (±US$ 2,213 )

Valid dates: Nov 2017 - Oct 2018


This private guided tour covers the highlights of South Africa and is ideal for first time visitors to the country. It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.

Highlights: Panorama Route , Blyde River Canyon , Kruger National Park , Swaziland , Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve , St. Lucia , iSimangaliso Wetland Park , Transkei , Garden Route , Storm’s River Mouth , Knysna , Cango Caves , Route 62 , Cape Winelands , Stellenbosch , Paarl , Cape Town .

Blyde River Canyon

Duration: 16 days, 15 nights
Tour Type: Self-drive tours
Luxury Level: *** / ****
Price: R38,900 per person - for group between 1 and 1. (±US$ 2,804 )
R24,500 per person sharing - for group between 2 and 7. (±US$ 1,766 )
R8,500 single supplement (±US$ 612 )

Valid dates: Nov 2017 - Oct 2018


This self-drive tour covers the highlights of South Africa and is ideal for first time visitors to the country. It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.

Highlights: Panorama Route , Blyde River Canyon , Kruger National Park , Swaziland , Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve , St. Lucia , iSimangaliso Wetland Park , Transkei , Garden Route , Storm’s River Mouth , Knysna , Cango Caves , Route 62 , Cape Winelands , Stellenbosch , Paarl , Cape Town .

Blyde River Canyon

Duration: 16 days, 15 nights
Tour Type: Scheduled tours
Luxury Level: *** / ****
Price: R32,500 per person sharing (±US$ 2,343 )
R10,900 single supplement (±US$ 785 )

Valid dates: Nov 2017 - Oct 2018


This tour covers the highlights of South Africa and is ideal for first time visitors to the country. It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.

Highlights: Panorama Route , Blyde River Canyon , Kruger National Park , Swaziland , Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve , St. Lucia , iSimangaliso Wetland Park , Transkei , Garden Route , Storm’s River Mouth , Knysna , Cango Caves , Route 62 , Cape Winelands , Stellenbosch , Paarl , Cape Town .

Mthatha (a.k.a. Umtata) attractions

It's not unusual to encounter a herd of cattle on the beach when hiking on the Wild Coast.

Transkei

While the former Apartheid homeland called 'Transkei does not exist anymore the region is still known by that name. The small village of Qumbu has the claim to fame of being the birthplace of Nelson Mandela. The Wild Coast is the region's biggest attraction, although accommodation facilities for tourism are very limited.

Ladies at Lesedi Cultural Village in tradtional Xhosa dress as a bride and family member.

Xhosa people

A person who has isiXhosa as home language is referred to as a Xhosa. IsiXhosa is one of South Africa's eleven official languages. It is in fact, in terms of home languages, South Africa's second largest language group (17.9%) after isiZulu (22.9%). The language falls in the Nguni-language group.

Nelson Mandela, the first president of a fully democratic South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918-2013) was the first President of the “new” democratic South Africa (1994-1999). The key role he played in South Africa’s peaceful transition can never be overestimated. He was a remarkable diplomat with a wonderful ability to win over his harshest critics. His sense of forgiveness and spirit of reconciliation was remarkable.