Nelson Mandela's remains flown to his childhood village in Qunu

The national flag-draped coffin of the former South African President is carried down steps of the Union Buildings at the end of the third and final day of lying in state on December 13.

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Nelson Mandela memorial service

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: Nelson Mandela's casket will lie in his bedroom overnight
• "Even when my father was in jail, he had the most fondest memories of Qunu," daughter says
• Once in Qunu, the military will officially hand over his remains to his family
• Mandela will be buried Sunday

Qunu, South Africa (CNN) -- A plane carrying Nelson Mandela's body arrived in South Africa's Eastern Cape province Saturday, where he'll be buried at his childhood village surrounded by giant, lush green hills.

South Africa's first black president will be laid to rest in Qunu on Sunday.

The plane touched down in Mthatha, the closest airport to Qunu. The casket will head to his rural home aboard a gun carriage. It will make stops along the way so mourners can pay their respects.

Mandela has always said he feels most at peace at the rural home in the southeastern corner of the nation.

"Look, he loved these hills. He really believed this is where he belonged," his daughter, Maki Mandela, told CNN in an exclusive interview.

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His burial Sunday comes after 10 days of mourning for the international anti-apartheid icon.

Before his journey home, the ruling African National Congress bid him farewell Saturday morning at an air force base in Pretoria.

Members of the ruling party stood around his flag-draped casket. They bowed and prayed.

"Icon of our struggle. Father of our nation," read a giant poster with a picture of a smiling Mandela.

His wife,Graca Machel, sat on the front row, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.

"We will miss him. He was our leader in a special time. Go well, Tata," President Jacob Zuma said, using the Xhosa word for father. "You've played your part. You've made your contribution. We'll always remember you."

'He really wanted to die here'

At the airport in Pretoria, his black casket was put in a military plane for Qunu. Helicopters hovered overhead as soldiers marched it into the plane.

The plane later took off, followed by fighter jets.

Though dined by presidents and kings, Mandela relished his time at the simple village, which has endless open fields and velvety green grass. It's where he herded cows and goats as a child; where his relatives are buried at the family farm.

"Even when my father was in jail, he had the most fondest memories of Qunu. And he really wanted to die here," Maki Mandela said.

Goodbye to a famous son

Throngs of mourners are expected to line the streets as the military takes his body home for the last time.

Once in Qunu, the tributes will get more intimate.

The military will hand over his remains to elders at his home. And to symbolize a return of one of their own, the national flag over his coffin will be replaced with a traditional blanket of the Xhosa people.

At dusk, tribal leaders and men in his family will hold a private night vigil to honor traditions of his native Thembu clan.

His casket will lie in his bedroom overnight. The room overlooks the hills and his grave site.

Villagers may gather outside the house to pay their respects

Small village, giant spotlight

Mandela died last week at age 95.

Events leading up to the burial included a memorial service Tuesday followed by three days of public viewing at Pretoria's Union Buildings, where he was sworn in as president in 1994.

About 100,000 people paid homage to Mandela in the three days he lay in state, government officials said.

Thousands are expected to make the trip to Qunu for the burial, thrusting the remote village into the international spotlight. The mourners will include dozens of foreign dignitaries making their way along the back roads of his rural resting place.

Notable names on the guest list include former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his family, Britain's Prince Charles and talk-show host Oprah Winfrey.

"It's been a challenge, it's been a serious challenge. But hey, my grandfather was born here," Tukwini Mandela said of planning the logistics. "It's a mix of emotions, some of us are very teary because this is where my grandfather told us who we were as the Mandelas."

About 400 family and close friends will walk to the grave site to bid a final farewell to the man who spent 27 years in prison and emerged to lead the nation out of its grim apartheid era.

He will be laid to rest in the afternoon when the sun is high in the sky.