Liliesleaf

You may be surprised upon your arrival at this heritage site and 18 month long home of Mandela to find it’s in the middle of the busy and affluent Johannesburg suburb of Rivonia.  Back in the 1960’s when Mandela was posing as Liliesleaf groundskeeper David Motsamayi, hiding from the authorities, it was still a farm.  Although it must have been stressful living in hiding, pretending to be someone else at that, it was also a place of great importance for the liberation movement and as it turns out, rest for Mandela. “The loveliest times at the farm were when I was visited by my wife and family… The children could run about and play, and we were secure, however briefly, in this idyllic bubble.”  A visit to this Madiba home can take between 45 minutes and an costs R110 for adults. It’s open Mondays to Fridays from 8:30 to 17:00 and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 to 16:00. It’s a great place to take a break from the city bustle at the café and overlook the beautiful grounds.