2018 marks the centenary of South Africa?s first black President and inspirational anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest human rights advocates the world has ever seen. Often respectfully referred to by his Xhosa clan name Madiba, Nelson Mandela would have celebrated his 100th birthday on July 18, 2018. In his honor, South African Tourism Board invites visitors to follow in Mandela?s footsteps with Madiba?s Journey? app,? available now on the App Store and Google Play.

From Cape Town to Johannesburg, travelers eager to mark this important milestone and learn more about Madiba?s life can explore 27 historic landmarks through Madiba?s Journey? - an app created to offer context, photos and curated audio narration about his life and the 27 years he spent as a political prisoner. The app allows users to customize their own itineraries and helps guide them to key landmarks including the capture site in Howick, Mandela?s jail cell in Robben Island, and the nation?s legislative capital where Mandela was eventually sworn in as president. Earn rewards by checking in at each site, and use the app to tell you the distance to your next stop, along with weather, ticket prices, and opening hours information.

A sample itinerary includes:

EASTERN CAPE & KWAZULU-NATAL

Every tour of Mandela?s history must begin at his birthplace on South Africa?s Eastern Cape. Here, visit the Voting Line Sculpture in Port Elizabeth, a tribute to the thousands of South Africans who participated in the nation?s first democratic elections in 1994. Don?t miss a stop in at the Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Center which will help show the place where Madiba spent his happy childhood.

Continue on to KwaZulu-Natal to see the Nelson Mandela Capture Site. After being on the run for 16 months, Madiba was captured here in August 1962 and was arrested here. In 2012, the now-famous sculpture by Marco Cianfanelli was erected to memorialize the spot forever.

JOHANNESBURG

Start the journey in Johannesburg in the same city where Mandela found his passion for activism. Your first stop should be the Mandela House in the colorful and vibrant township of Soweto, where Nelson Mandela and his family lived from 1946 into the 1990's. Make sure to check out Constitution Hill, which?used to be a prison but is now a living museum and home to South Africa's Constitutional Court. Later,?explore the city and visit the Nelson Mandela Square, one of the best shopping areas on the continent, named in his honor in 2004.

Other spots not to be missed include the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, the Apartheid Museum, and the famous Vilakazi Street.

CAPE TOWN

Journey to South Africa?s ?Mother City? of Cape Town where travelers can visit Robben Island where Madiba spent 18 years of his life, through the eyes of those who experienced it first-hand. Many tours are led by ex-political prisoners.

Another key location to not be missed is the Parliament building. It was in this building that President FW de Klerk announced Nelson Mandela?s imminent release from prison. Four years later, Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the President of South Africa in this building, after a historic democratic vote that sealed his spot in history as South Africa?s first black president. Visitors are welcome in the National Assembly to see where he made many of his historic speeches, including his first and last State of the Nation addresses.

A collaboration between South African Tourism and The Nelson Mandela Foundation,?the Madiba?s Journey app can be downloaded at?madibasjourney.southafrica.net.?

Issued by W!T on behalf of South African Tourism

For more information on South Africa?s rich and diverse offerings visit www.southafrica.net, follow @SouthAfrica on Twitter and @VisitSouthAfrica on Instagram and Facebook.

?

South African Tourism North America

Tel: +1 (212) 730-2929

Email: newyork@southafrica.net

Website: www.southafrica.net

?

W!T Public Relations

Tel: +1 (212) 967-5895

Email: southafrica@growwithwit.com

Website: www.growwithwit.com

?