Mahikeng Museum. — Attraction in Mahikeng Local Municipality

The Mahikeng Museum sits on Martin Street, housed in a building that started as the town hall back in 1902—red brick, colonial vibes, and declared a heritage site in 1986. I love how it’s a time capsule of Mahikeng’s wild past, especially the famous Siege of Mafeking during the Second Boer War (1899–1900). That 217-day standoff put Mahikeng on the map, and the museum dedicates a whole room to it. You’ll find relics like old rifles, uniforms, and photos, plus stories about Colonel Robert Baden-Powell’s clever tricks—like faking minefields to fool the Boers. There’s even a retired steam locomotive outside, a siege survivor that kids (and train buffs)...

The locals often complain about this museum. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the experience. The guide (an intern) was enthusiastic and competent. She explained the biased nature of many of the displays. There is a fairly new exhibition (installed in 2020) which gives a nifty and quick chronological overview of Mahikeng's past. It's not a deep academic study, but it is enough to give the public an overview. The older exhibitions focus on the Siege, and could do with a little tlc. Nonetheless, it is a space worth visiting. The inside of the building is gorgeous, especially...

I embarked on a trip to the museum yesterday to see displays related to my grandfather's great uncle who played a very prominent part in the town around the time of the Anglo Boer war. After a 3 1/2 journey only to be very disappointed as Google says the museum is open but to my great disappointment it has been closed for renovations since around...