Freedom Day reminds us of our rich history and how fortunate we are to live freely in South Africa. The day commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held in 1994.
Refreshing your knowledge on South Africa’s roots not only reminds us of the history and our past, but also allows us to celebrate just how far we’ve come as a nation.
Here are 4 things you can do to celebrate Freedom Day this year
1. Take a trip to Robben Island
If you’ve never been, now is the time – as prices increase in July this year. The island has also recently launched an app in partnership with Google Maps, which will enable visitors to experience the island on their own time, with an audio playing ‘tour guide’ in hand.
2. See Soweto
There are plenty of ways to take a trip into this cultural hub of the country. If anything, you need to walk down the only street in the world to have houses two Nobel Peace Prize winners. Other than that awesome fact, there are plenty of other must-sees in this urban city. Opt for a organized tour with either Soweto.co.za or City Sightseeing, and you’ll be sure to hit all the sweet spots.
3. Go to Franschhoek
It’s both a cultural hub, filled with history from long before Freedom Day. But this also happens to be the place closest to where Nelson Mandela spent his last days in prison. The private house on the Victor Verster premises (now the Drakenstein Correctional Facility) where Mandela lived has been declared a South African National Heritage Site, and a statue of Mandela stands just outside the prison gates.
4. Visit the Apartheid museum
This iconic museum it voted as one of the favourite in SA, and will give you deep insight into the wrongs of the Apartheid era, as well as the good that overcame that evil regime.
5. Go for a braai at Mzoli’s
Get out there and celebrate FREEDOM with fellow South Africans. There’s no need to go to Mzoli’s specifically, as you can just as well host a braai with friends at home. If you’re looking for good company, however, Mzoli’s will serve this, along with the best Shisanyama around.
6. Visit Lilliesleaf Farm in Rivonia
Once the nerve centre of the liberation movement and a place of refuge for its leaders, today Liliesleaf is one of South Africa’s foremost, award-winning heritage sites, where the journey to democracy in South Africa is honoured.
Liliesleaf has always been a place of dialogue. In the early 1960s, when the property was the headquarters for covert, underground activities and a safe house for many leading figures of the liberation movement, debates on political and military policy and strategy were commonplace. People from diverse backgrounds but with a common vision met here to discuss South Africa’s emancipation from an oppressive apartheid regime.
7. Attend a proudly South African festival
You can either hit the Tankwa Karoo for the iconic AfrikaBurn, or head down the Garden Route for SA’s Gay extravaganza that is the highly-celebrated Pink Loerie Fest. Or maybe join the cheese & wine lovers at this years’ Cheese Festival held outside Stellenbosch on Sandringham Farm.
8. Visit the Nelson Mandela Capture site
This is one of the most beautiful of the remembrance sites in South Africa. This sculpture in Howick in KwaZulu Natal is an interactive area where you can reminisce alone or spend time with your loved ones. The beautiful green surrounds add to the display that becomes Madiba’s face as you walk closer.
9. Hang out in Sandton at the feet of the father of our nation
The Nelson Mandela square boasts a six-meter tall sculpture of Madiba (which is almost as big as he was…). Here, while you go about your daily business of shopping and grabbing a bite to eat, you will be in the presence of this icon looking down on passersby.
10. Enjoy the country’s public gardens
In the light of South Africans celebrating every national symbol and significant SA features, why not head to Kirstenbosch to see to most magnificent display of our national flower (the protea) and tree (the yellowwood)?
You can also head to the equally impressive botanical gardens of Durban or Johannesburg, or the smaller ones in Betty’s Bay, Stellenbosch, or the beautiful ‘garden’ that is the south coast and sunshine coast as a whole!
