Freedom Park

S 25 45.994 E 028 11.372

Freedom Park is a massive undertaking that includes a park, memorials and a conference facility dedicated to those who died in the pursuit of freedom. In 1999, Nelson Mandela gave a speech in which he said, "the day should not be far off, when we shall have a people's shrine, a freedom park, where we shall honor with all the dignity they deserve, those who endured pain so we should experience the joy of freedom." Today the 52 hectare park has a number of memorials including Isivivane, a mist-filled resting place for the spirits of those who died in the struggles for humanity and freedom, and the Wall of Names, a 697 meter structure engraved with the names of those who died during eight major conflicts that shaped South Africa's history. The park first opened to visitors in 2006 and is not scheduled to be completed until 2012. While the park is under construction, entrance is limited to guided tours through the park via golf cart that last about 1.5 hrs.

Tags: activities, golf cart tours, isivivane, memorial park, nelson mandela, sights, south african history, wall of names