Watch: Discover the wonders of the Durban Natural Science Museum

The Citizen

18-05-2025

NESTLED in the heart of eThekwini and within the walls of City Hall, the Durban Natural Science Museum, which is home to some of Southern Africa's wonders and greatest discoveries, including the well preserved and near complete skeletal remains of the extinct Dodo bird, stands as a beacon of knowledge and discovery.
Established in 1887 and located on Anton Lembede Street, the Durban Natural Science Museum attracts thousands of visitors, students, and curious minds throughout the year. As the only other museum – the other being in Mauritius – with the extremely rare complete skeletal remains of the Dodo on display, Durban's hidden gem has become the envy of scientists across the world with some even flying in to get a glance at the well-preserved specimen.
As we celebrate International Museum Day today, May 18, we take look at the wonders that reside within the glass cabinets and jars of the Durban Natural Science Museum. This remarkable free to enter institution is a must-visit destination for locals and tourists, offering a fascinating glimpse into the natural world and the rich history of the region.
As you enter the museum, you are greeted at reception by the majestic sight of a giraffe that stands tall next to the Dodo remains and behind the welcoming staff. On your left is the door that takes one into the PA Clancey Gallery that houses preserved specimens of birds that once roamed the southern parts of the continent.
Among them are the flightless ostrich and stuffed owls, the extinct Egyptian vulture, storks and the list continues with their eggs and nests out on display. The aptly decorated gallery, with a large bird's nest hanging above and chirping sounds of birds, is only dwarfed by a life size Tyrannosaurus Rex (T-rex) model and crocodile that stand at the centre of the room which leads you into the geology and palaeontology section.
There, you will find the origins of mankind and information on evolution. Aimed at furthering knowledge, research and conservation, the room documents fossils from how the world started, including the evolution of horses who have adapted to the warmer weather conditions.
From there you are taken to an interchangeable room that is used for educational purposes and currently looks at the relationship between filthy urban places and how waste contributes to the rising number rodents and diseases. The display asks and answers the poignant question of 'What is eThekwini doing about rats?'
Next to it is the KwaNunu, the insect and non-insect room that educates on the creepy crawlys that walk among us. The larger life mammals are in the next room with the endangered rhino and elephant taking centre stage. In there, you walk among wild dogs and hyenas.
Realistic dioramas or habitats line the walls of the enclosures that depict different ecosystems and the animals that live in them. In one of the displays, named the Waterhole, life size preserved animals occupy the area and give you a sense of the wild, and the symbiosis of the circle of life as they work together and fight for survival.
The Durban Natural Science Museum is free to enter and is open from Monday to Sunday, 08:30 to 15:45 (opens at 11:00 on Sunday). They offer guided tours for school groups and individuals. For more information and bookings, contact 031 311 2256 or [e-mail].
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