Nelson Mandela's final journey - in pictures

Motorcycles escort the hearse carrying the coffin of Mandela en route to Waterkloof air base on the outskirts of Pretoria Photograph: Markus Schreiber/AP

People wait on the roadside to watch the hearse arrive at the air base Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP

People waiting to see Mandela's hearse turn away as a low-flying escort helicopter blows dust and debris up in the air Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP

Mandela's coffin is carried on to a plane after a farewell service at the Waterkloof air base Photograph: Stephane De Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images

People wave at the aircraft as it takes off from Waterkloof air base on the outskirts of Pretoria Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP

People begin to gather in Mthatha to await the arrival of Mandela's funeral cortege Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

People sing and dance while they wait in Mthatha Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The South African air force flies in formation above Mandela's childhood home in Qunu Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

People take photos of the aircraft carrying Mandela's coffin Photograph: Markus Schreiber/AP

Women take part in a Mgidi initiation ritual ahead of the arrival of Mandela's body in Qunu Photograph: Nic Bothma/EPA

A woman dressed in traditional clothes and wearing face paint awaits the homecoming of Mandela's body Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

A man speaks on his mobile phone as he waits for a sight of Mandela's funeral cortege Photograph: Nic Bothma/EPA

A woman puts on a free T-shirt while waiting for the funeral cortege to arrive in Mthatha Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Mandela's widow Graça Machel (right) and his former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela watches his coffin arrive at Mthata airport Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

Mandela's coffin arrives at Mthata airport as family members look on Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

Villagers sing while waiting for the funeral cortege to pass Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Graça Machel and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela console each other Photograph: Kopano Tlape/AP

South Africans watch the funeral cortege leave Mthatha on its way to Qunu Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images

South Africans mourn as the hearse drives by in Mthatha Photograph: Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images

Children chant, dance and wave the South African flag in celebration of the former president's life Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

Khanyile Diko cheers while waiting for the motorcade to pass Photograph: Bernat Armangue/AP

Thousands of people line the streets Photograph: Kim Ludbrook/EPA

People hold hands as the hearse proceeds to the burial site Photograph: Peter Dejong/AP

A xhosa walks through a field before the arrival of the coffin Photograph: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/Getty Images

The cortege approaches Mandela's final resting place in Qunu Photograph: Nic Bothma/EPA

The coffin arrives at Mandela's home Photograph: GCIS/Reuters

The hearse arrives at the venue in Qunu where the memorial service will take place on Sunday Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images