Talana Museum
Nestled at the base of Talana Hill the Talana Museum is situated in a large heritage park. The Zulu name “Talana” meaning “the shelf where precious items are stored” is a most appropriate name for this large and varied museum. The museum comprises 42 buildings, with exhibits in 24 of them dedicated to subjects as diverse as war and agriculture, mining, industry and domestic life. 15 of these buildings form the traditional Zulu village of Kwakunje which offers B&B accommodation and also schools touring accommodation.
Situated on the outskirts of the town of Dundee, the museum is a good starting point for a visit to some of the most famous battlefields in the country; Blood River, Rorkes Drift, Fugitives Drift, Isandlwana, Elandslaagte, Spioenkop, Colenso and the Siege of Ladysmith. The museum is the national coal mining museum for SA and has the home and farm buildings of one of the founders of Dundee – Peter Smith.. Also on the site of the first battle of the Anglo Boer War and in the cemetery there are 56 British soldiers from the battle buried there as well the Smith family and descendants.
Open 7 days a week, 363 days a year, the museum takes about half a day for a quick visit. Accommodation, restaurant and curio shop on site, picnic and braai areas.
The Zulu name “Talana” meaning “the shelf where precious items are stored” is a most appropriate name for this large and varied museum.
The museum comprises 23 buildings, dedicated to subjects as diverse as war and agriculture, mining, industry and domestic life.
We are situated just outside the town of Dundee, KwaZulu-Natal – South Africa, and are within short driving distances of some of the most famous battlefields in the country; Blood River, Rorkes Drift, Fugitives Drift, Isandlwana, Elandslaagte, Spioenkop, Colenso and the Siege of Ladysmith.
Open 7 days a week, 363 days a year, the museum takes about 1/2 a day for a quick visit. We close on Christmas and Boxing day.
Our Museum
Named after the hill at the base of which the museum is situated, “Talana” meaning “the shelf where precious items are stored” is a most appropriate name for this large and varied museum. Started in 1979 to commemorate the Anglo Zulu war, the small collection moved to the present site at the beginning of 1983. A 20 acre section of “Dundee” farm, bought in 1982, for the development of a museum to commemorate the centenary of Dundee, included the home and farmsteading of one of the founders of the town, the site of the first coal mining activity in this area and portion of the Talana battlefield.
Talana Museum boasts a comprehensive range of archival material relating to the town, region, coal mining and military conflicts in this area over the past two centuries. Researchers have access to these records. The Museum Shop offers a variety of quality, locally produced products to suit every requirement. An extensive selection of books relating to the military history of the region, locally made beadwork and baskets and a wide variety of other crafts , are among many items available.
Contact 034 218 2837 for more information.
KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields Route
With 82 battlefields, museums, old fortifications and places of remembrance the Route boasts the largest concentration of significant Battles and war related sites than anywhere in South Africa.
But that is not all! within this same area, or close by, are some of the best game parks and conservancies in the country where you can see the Big Five, fantastic bird viewing areas, the magnificent mountains of the uKhahlamba/Drakensberg Heritage Park, numerous adventure sports sites and of course Zulu Culture and Heritage sites.
So when you plan your holiday in South Africa look first at what the Battlefields Route of KwaZulu-Natal has to offer.
It is difficult to imagine that the scenic and tranquil landscape of central and northern KwaZulu-Natal was once the focal point of major military engagements, where Zulu, Boer and British forces clashed in bloody conflicts that shaped the course of South Africa and rocked the pedestal of the British Empire.
The internationally renowned Battlefields Route draws visitors from around the world – and with good reason. Every town, historical building, battle site and memorial has a fascinating tale to tell, an event to commemorate, a poignant memory to recall.
Whether you treat your battlefields getaway as a self-drive exploration (armed with maps and brochures available from the tourism association and information offices in the region), or use the services of a specialist guide, your stay on the Battlefields Route will bring an exciting new dimensin to your African experience.