Liliesleaf uncovered: The (r)evolution of a South African farm
10. Jul, 2009
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Forty-six years after the infamous Rivonia Raid took place and forty-five years after Nelson Mandela made his renowned ‘I am prepared to die’ speech during the Rivonia Treason Trial, Liliesleaf still stands as a bastion of hope on the future landscape of South Africa. In celebration of Liliesleaf’s forty-sixth anniversary on 11 July, we take a look at this iconic property in residential Rivonia and how it has evolved over the years…
From a secret hide-away and centre of military discourse and strategy, to a tourist guest house, to a world-class visitor experience, the functions of Liliesleaf have changed over the years but the core essence of the building and what it stands for has remained unchanged: a meeting place where great ideas are conceived and a place where people can embark on a unique journey of understanding South Africa.
When the Liliesleaf Trust commenced work on the Liliesleaf Legacy Project in January 2002, one of the key objectives was to ensure the preservation of the authenticity of the site. As a consequence, approximately 60% of the building infrastructures today are comprised of original brickwork. In addition to the authentic infrastructures, two new buildings have been erected on the premises to bring Liliesleaf into a contemporary context: The Resource and Archive Centre which pays tribute to our socio-political past through its impressive archival and academic collections, and Liberation Centre, which makes the Liliesleaf experience even more enjoyable through a state-of-the-art auditorium, cosy coffee shop, gift shop and crèche for smaller children.
What you can do and learn at Liliesleaf:
1. Walk in the footsteps of the political giants who used the property as a hide-out and understand where they held their meetings and why secrecy was of paramount importance at Liliesleaf. The walk-through museum at Manor House and the outbuildings makes for a great outing for families with children or relatives visiting from other countries.
2. Maintain the tradition of meetings and intellectual discourse and reserve a venue for corporate meetings, a small conference or executive strategy session. Situated in a tranquil environment and easily accessible from Johannesburg and Pretoria, Liliesleaf provides a superb location for corporate guests and business executives.
3. Liliesleaf provides upmarket facilities and services for functions, AGMs and product launches. Contact us for a list of venues and capacities.
4. Explore the wealth of knowledge and intellectual collateral on offer at the Resource and Archive Centre or reserve the services of a tour guide for a fully-interactive and comprehensive historical tour of the site. The Resource and Archive Centre is ideal for academics, scholars and school children, as well as local history enthusiasts.
Liliesleaf is accessible by wheelchair and secure parking is available for cars and tour buses.
Celebrate the transformation of our nation and pay Liliesleaf a visit. Pensioners and children can enjoy discounted rates and various packages are available on request.
My name is Muzi Mohale a full-time travel blogger, your host at Travelwires.com responsible for all editorial on this blog. I blog about the travel and tourism industry in Africa. Apart from blogging about tourism, I also run 
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