KwaZulu Natal FREEDOM ROUTE Tour Bus: Durban, Inanda, Pietermaritzburg, Howick
KwaZulu Natal Freedom Route BUS TOUR welcome visitors to the Kingdom of the Zulu in either Durban, City of Fun, or Pietermaritzburg, Capital City KwaZulu Natal, home to legends, historical locations, heritage gems, but most importantly, that cannot be copied, replicated or duplicated anywhere else in the world……
EXPLORE …Authentic Iconic attractions, unique to Durban, Pietermaritzburg and KZN Midlands to DISCOVER how the Fathers of the Nation changed history, to shape the world as you follow legendary footsteps to FREEDOM.
Fifteen years ago, a casual coffee chat at OPC (aka Old Prison Café) at Old Prison Project Gateway, Pietermaritzburg, between Di Milford (Project Gateway) and Bunny Bhoola (African Link) mushroomed into this, the KwaZulu Natal FREEDOM ROUTE Tour Bus.
Exciting news indeed is that KwaZulu Natal Freedom Route Tour Bus finally made the very long-awaited appearance, and, appropriately, on World Tourism Day during Heritage month…Friday 27 Sept 2019.
Listen to Team KZN Freedom Route (aka Tour Guide and eager beavers) telling stories, relating fascinating snippets, as well as longer tales of triumph that influenced lives, restored dignity and changed history, pertaining to each of the authentic iconic unique locations in this, the KwaZulu Natal Freedom Route Tour.
When approaching eg. Arya Samaj Manaye Hall, hear how Madiba came upon this venue, how Secret Police tracked Madiba to this hall and how a crowd of over 1400 people in house (attending All-in Africa Conference in May 1961) rallied round a comrade who had faked an epileptic attack to create a diversion. In the commotion, Madiba slipped away and avoided capture…. this time. En-route to Mandela Capture Site, you will hear the King’s Tale, by-pass a royal palace and the house where Moses Mabida once lived…
In the Pietermaritzburg Howick story, there is only ONE Arya Samaj Manaye Hall (location of Madiba’s last address before capture), only ONE Old Prison – Project Gateway (only museum in South Africa, highlighting Kasturba Gandhi’s life), only ONE Railway Station in the world, where Gandhi was thrown off the train (Sat 7 June 1893) and only ONE ACTUAL site where Mandela was captured, on a quiet August Sunday afternoon in 1962 (5 August).
ONE Manaye Hall.
ONE Old Prison.
ONE Railway Station.
ONE Capture Site
The Durban Inanda Story : Ohlange Institute and Phoenix Settlement
Ohlange Institute, the first educational institution started by a black South African, John Langalibalele Dube in 1901. Son of James Dube, John studied in the US, was influenced by philosophies of black Americans such as Booker T Washington, formulating the idea to start an industrial school in South Africa. John Dube, essayist, philosopher, educator, politician, publisher, editor, novelist, poet, was indeed, a remarkable man. He was the first president of the ANC, founder Ilanga newspaper, wrote extensively and was also an accomplished pianist. It was at Ohlange Institute that Mandela cast his first vote on Wed 27 April 1994 in the first South African Democratic election. An overjoyed emotional Madiba, went to John Dube’s grave to report to his leader that South Africa is finally free.
After a visit to John Dube impressive burial site John Langalibalele Dube (11 Feb 1871 – 11 Feb 1946), depart for Phoenix Settlement, just down the road.
Phoenix Settlement. ‘It is hard to live the life of Gandhi. You have to make sacrifices for mankind.” These were the words of Bongani Mthembu, the tour guide at Phoenix Gandhi Settlement, as he explains how the Gandhi Settlement is not allowed to charge visitors any fees, even though the Gandhi Development Trust maintains the facility and battles financially.
Mahatma Gandhi arrived in South Africa (aged 24), lived here for 21 years, and had a profound influence on South Africa’s political history and the thinking of liberation leaders such as John Dube, the first ANC president. At the Phoenix Settlement visitors can still see his home, the printing press which he shared with John Dube and where both Ilanga and The Indian Opinion newspaper were published. Gandhi’s granddaughter, Ela, now in her 80s, still heads Gandhi Development Trust and Satyagraha movement. She was imbued in the philosophy of righteous action on the basis of truth, religious and cultural tolerance.