The Natal Museum in Pietermaritzburg houses a wide variety of exceptional animal collections that represent the rich diversity of life in Southern Africa.

The entomology (insects) collection is the largest collection of insects in the country, especially noted for it's Diptera (fly) collection of over 220,000 specimens.

The museum also has one of the best Mollusc collections in the world, containing 1,000's of both marine molluscs and non-marine moluscs. Although most specimens consist only of the shell, many preserved whole specimens are also on display.

NATURAL SCIENCE GALLERY:
The Dinosaur Gallery and the Fossil Exhibit display ancient specimens found mainly in South Africa. There is also a comprehensive Bird Gallery and a Marine Gallery, which contains the rare Coelacanth, an unusual fish that was thought to be extinct, until found off the east coast of South Africa. The African herbivores exhibit is considered to be the most comprehensive collection in South Africa.

HUMAN SCIENCE GALLERY:
This exhibit chronicles the history of human habitation in Southern Africa beginning with an excellent display on the Bushman (San) and the rock art they left behind. Next on the scene were the Iron Age People that migrated down from Central Africa about 2,000 years ago. The Portuguese Gallery picks up the trail from here, beginning with early Portuguese explorers, who paved the way for the later colonization by other Europeans. A new exhibit investigates the rise and fall of the Great Zimbabwe the late Iron Age culture in Southern Africa.


OLD PIETERMARITZBURG GALLERY
Pietermaritzburg as it was in the Victorian era is brought to life complete with a turn of the century apothecary (chemist shop), pawnbroker, jeweler, dressmaker, blacksmith, and a wheelwright shop. The exhibit has been named 'Theophilus Shepstone Place' in honour of the Secretary of Native Affairs in Natal during this time period.


HOURS:
- Mon-Fri: 9:00-16:30

ADDRESS:
- 237 Loop Street

TEL:
(0331) 45-1404


Accommodation Near Natal Museum (Pietermaritzburg Musuem):
Pietermaritzburg Area Accommodation