5 Things You Didn’t Know About Nelson Mandela

Gayane Margaryan December 6, 2013

About the Author

Gayane Margaryan is African Wildlife Foundation's Senior Digital and Partner Marketing Manager. She oversees digital fundraising, advocacy, social media marketing, and affiliate relationships. Gayane is passionate about communicating the message of conservation through new tools and technologies… More

Nelson Mandela headshot

Photo by Naijamayor.com / CC BY

1.Despite a lifetime of political activism, Nelson Mandela voted for the first time in his life on April 27, 1994

Nelson Mandela collage
Photo by sorpresina / CC BY

2.“Nelson” was the English name given to Mandela by a teacher on his first day of school. His birth name was Rolihlahla.

Nelson Mandela statue
Photo by Paul Simpson / CC BY

3.In 1952 Mandela, along with Oliver Tambo, founded South Africa’s first black law firm.

Nelson Mandela with dove
Photo by Sebástian Freire / CC BY

4.In addition to his political and humanitarian work, Mandela was also a conservationist. In 1997, along with HRH Prince Bernard of the Netherlands and Dr. Anton Rupert, Mandela founded the Peace Parks Foundation—an organization that works to establish protected areas that conserve animal migration routes.

Nelson Mandela life

​Photo by lasanta.com.ec / CC BY

5.On October 4, 2001, Nelson Mandela opened the gate between Mozambique and South Africa to allow a truck transporting the first elephants translocated from South Africas Kruger National Park to cross the border into the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.