Apartheid Museum

Outside the back of the Apartheid Museum, they have a beautiful patch of Highveld with a pretty good view of the Joburg skyline. Of course, you also get the roller coaster from Gold Reef City...

The interior of the Apartheid Museum is powerful and sobering, but step outside in to the adjacent 'veld' (Afrikaans for 'field') and you'll lose yourself in the equally powerful beauty of the landscape.

Visiting the Apartheid Museum is a haunting, but essential experience to understand South Africa's recent history. It is one of the most powerful museums I have been to. Although at times deeply shocked with the insane inhumanity of it all, I left with newfound compassion for the South African people, and hope for the country. The museum's tagline nails it: 'Apartheid is exactly where it belongs–in a museum'. Don't rush your visit. There's much to see, experience and learn.

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." –Nelson Mandela 

Our kids adored this museum for its outside features, which allowed my husband and me time to split up and take in the deeper insides. Trading off is a great way for families traveling the world with young kids to fully enjoy and appreciate the travel- when museums like the Apartheid Museum exist, with their clever landscaping and well crafted exhibits, this is all the easier. Our kids did take in some of the greater messages as well, and did so without complaint as they were able to take breaks to have fun.