Mpho Malematja, Ditsong National Museum of Natural History (DNMNH)
Ditsong Museums of South Africa is home to one of the best-preserved meteorite impact craters in the world. The crater is one of only four meteorite craters in South Africa. It is located right next to Soshanguve township, which is approximately 40 km west from Pretoria central.
In a documentary with creative feel magazine, Simon Nyalungu who is a former guide, now education officer at the crater site says; “the crater was formed approximately 220 000 years ago as a result of an impact from a burning meteorite which was 50 m in diameter, about half the size of a soccer field”. This theory was confirmed by a scientific discovery of mineral grains, sulphate traces and fragments of glass extracted from the center of the crater. The crater is 100 meters deep, and 1.4 km in diameter.
Ditsong Meteorite Crater is also known among locals as ‘’Tswaing”. Tswaing is a Tswana phrase and it translates to a place of salt. The discovery of stone age tools around the crater is proof that stone age people have previously inhabited the area approximately 100 000 years ago. They were likely attracted to the presence of salt water and abundance of wildlife around the area. Similarly, early Tswana speaking people later inhabited the area and used the salt for purposes such as consumption as well as food preservation.
Ditsong Meteorite Crater also consists of a Wetland area, where tourists can experience an abundance of birdlife and plant species; there are reportedly 240 bird species in the area. There is a camping area, picnic area as well as chalets for overnight visitors. Hiking is also one of the favorite sports at Tswaing.
Ditsong Meteorite Crater is a great tourist destination area, and a valuable museum site, for educational and fun purposes. It is definitely worth a visit.
For more information relating to Ditsong Tswaing Meteorite Crater, watch this YouTube video courtesy of creative feel magazine.