If you want to learn about the life of Nelson Mandela, there’s no better place to start than with a visit to Qunu.
The dwellings of Qunu are around 30km from Mthatha on the East London side, and if you take the N2 through the area, you’ll see the mansion he grew up in.
Going up the N2, you’ll also see signs for the Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Visitor’s Center, where you can take a tour, or look around the craft center.
You can also visit the remains of Nelson Mandela’s primary school to get an idea of how he grew up along with seeing the sliding rock he used to slide down with friends.
Other remnants of his life can be found in the graveyard, where his parents, son and daughter are all buried. Mandela is also buried there (but you can only view his grave from afar).
Locals in Qunu still wear traditional clothing and live a pastoral style life, so you’ll get a sense of the land he came from.
If you’re in the area, it’s also definitely worth a visit to the Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha.
For more information on Nelson Mandela, check out our article 15 Milestones In The Life Of Nelson Mandela.
