Satyagraha House
15 Pine Road & Garden Road, Orchard, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2192
Once home to Mahatma Gandhi, Satyagraha House is an elegant and sustainable guesthouse with a small museum. It was in this thatched cottage inspired by native designs that Gandhi came up with his idea of satyagraha (a type of nonviolent resistance). It would shape not only India’s but also South Africa’s future.
The basics
Admission to the museum is free if you’re staying in the guesthouse, which offers six boutique rooms and a 2-bedroom cottage inspired by people in Gandhi’s life, including his wife Kasturba and the architect who designed the home. There’s a significant charge for non-residents who can experience the museum on a guided tour. Highlights include a recreation of Gandhi’s simple mezzanine bedroom accessed by a ladder, portraits of Gandhi and the people who mattered to him, informative displays, and tools such as the spinning wheel Gandhi famously used.
Things to know before you go
Satyagraha House (or Gandhi House) is a great choice for history buffs, architecture fans, and anyone interested in Gandhi.
To honor Gandhi, meals at the guesthouse are vegetarian and alcohol-free. It’s occasionally possible for non-guests to book for dinner.
Experiences available for guests include yoga, meditation, and massage.
Allow 30 minutes to 2 hours to experience the museum and the beautiful garden, depending on your interest levels.
There is wheelchair access to some of the property, but you can only reach Gandhi’s bedroom by ladder.
How to get there
Satyagraha House sits in the Orchards suburb of northeastern Johannesburg, about a 5-mile (8-kilometer) drive from Johannesburg Park Station. It’s not easy to reach by public transit, but there’s free parking for guests.
When to get there
The museum opens to visitors 10am–4pm daily. Spring and summer (late September through late March) are particularly lovely times to visit as the garden is in bloom.
Who was Mahatma Gandhi?
Considered the father of modern India, Mahatma Gandhi was the leader of the Indian nationalist revolt against colonial British rule—although he was assassinated soon after India achieved independence. He spent more than two decades in South Africa, where the racial segregation and discrimination he encountered helped to radicalize him and refine his concept of nonviolent resistance.
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