Cultural Experience

Isithumba Cultural Village is found in the magnificent Valley of a Thousand Hills on the banks of the Umngeni River. The village is relatively devoid of modern influences and practices the traditional Zulu way of Life.

The resident guide who was born and raised in the village takes visitors on a walking tour, where they have the opportunity to meet and interact with rural Zulu people.

Highlights of the tour include a visit to the traditional healer and a meal prepared by one of the families in the village. Isithumba also offers visitors entertainment and accommodation and there are conference facilities linked to the cultural village.

Visitors to this former mining town are prone to falling in love with it's charm and beauty, and many speak of it with a glint in the eye for years to come. The town sprang up as a result of the 1873 gold rush, with almost 1500 prospectors massing to the ara within the year to seek their fortune. The gold held out for more than a hundred years! The beautiful fully restored town is now a national monument and visitors can explore the Old Print House, Miners House, St Mary's Anglican church, Joubert Bridge, the cemetary (with its infamous Robber's Grave) and Dredzan and Co's general dealer store

To get a taste of life as Pilgrim's rest prospector, try out panning for gold at the diggings siteon the banks of the pilgrim's creek. There are gold-panning demonstration to watch first if you don't want to risk throwing your name away. If you take panning like a duck to water, then stick around untill November for the annualNational gold panning Championships, a fun filled festival spread er five days. Each competitive receives a bucket of sand and a regulation gold pan. The officials know how many nuggets are in the buckets - competitors are penalised for nuggets missed. The 'prospector' who pans out the most nuggets in the shortest time is the winner.

Kwabhekithunga was not built as a commercial enterprise. It is a home - a very special home - the tribal home of Mbhangcuza (Thomas) Fakude and his family; an Umuzi (Zulu Village) true to Zulu culture and traditions that span centuries.

By nature, the Zulus are polite and sharing people, and Thomas and his family welcome you into their home. Come and experience first hand the fascinating rituals; the intriguing customs and beliefs that form the fabric of Zulu life. Various ZUlu craft items such as drums, spears and beadwork are all manufactured on site

Dave and Wendy Rosenhahn, who have been working with Zulu families in the area for years, personally accompany all tours, which are conducted by prior booking only. Each visiting group has exclusive use of the facilities. In this way specialised language groups as well as Kosher, disabled tourists or educational groups are easily accommodated.

One of the best known authentic Zulu cultural villages, Shakaland introduces visitors to King Shaka's realm. Overlooking the beautiful Mhlatuze Lake, the village was use das the set for the 'Shaka Zulu' television series.

Shakaland provides and informative insight into Zulu culture and history through the telling of stories, tribal dancing, sangoma secrets and other customs.

Additional facilities include accomodation un the form of 50 beehive huts with en suite bathrooms and a craft site. Day visitors can partake in the Nandi experience, a three hour cultural tour named after Shaka's mother, Nandi. Protea Hotels present an array of cultural shows as well as demonstrations of the making if traditional Zulu shields and pots andf grass weaving.

Great accomodation near the cultural village is the Protea Hotel's Shakaland Hotel.

On the same day as the battle of Isandlwana, Zulu soldiers who did not participate in the battle of Isandlwana disobeyed orders from King Cetshwayo and crossed the Buffalo River to attack nearby Rorke's Drift.

It was a small mission station occupied by just over 100 British troops, who successfully defended the mission station and were awarded eleven Victorian crosses, the most ever awarded for a single action.

Today the Rorke's Drift complex comprises a church, the ELC Arts and Craft site, a museum and a small restaurant. Stone marketings have been laid down to outline where the British soldiers established their famous 'Biscuit tin' defense walls during the battle.

Battlefields tour guides usually include Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift.

The Ncome Museum and Munument Complex forms part of the Ncome-blood River Herutage site and is situated on the eastern side of the Blood River Battlefield.

The arcitecture of the buildingreflects the shape of the famous Zulu war horns. Aseries of shields displayed along the oo=ter wall indicate the cattle hide colouring that differentiate the various Zulu regiments. The museum provides a general insight into the Zulu culture and offers, according to historical research, its own interpretation of the Battle of Blood River.

The older Blood River Monument and Museum Complexsituated to the west of the battlefield differs on some facts about the battle between the Zulus and the Voortrekkers that took place in 1838

Formerly known as Potgietersrus, Mokopane and its surrounds have a multitude of historical and cultural features. The archaeological site of the MakapansValley has records of hominid life going back3,3 million yeas.

The Cave of Hearths, once the site of bloody confrontations between the Voortrekkers and BaTlou people, has a sequence of artifacts dating from the Early Stone Age throught to the Late Stone Age.

The Arend Dieperink Museum covers the history of the town, with features ranging from Bushman drawings to the modern day. Mokopane's major industries inclue mining and agriculture.

The nearby Zebediela Citrus Estate is the largest citrus farm on the Southern Hemisphere. A game breading centre belonging to the National Zoological gardens of Africa on the northern border of the town makes for an excellent family outing.

This village offers visitors some insight into the background and history of the Bakone people, a sub-group of the Northern Sotho. The village has been reconstructed in the style used by the Northern Sotho approximately 250 years ago. Two lapas (homesteads) contain exhibits that explain much of the Bakone’s history.

There are also demonstrations of traditional fire making, maize grinding and beer brewing. Handcraft demonstrations include pottery, wood carving, basketry and bead work and a craft shop sells reasonably priced crafts made mainly by the locals. Tours are conducted at set times throughout the day and most of the guides are excellent story-tellers who can fill you in on all the cultural aspects of this age-old civilisation.

This cultural villag situated outside of Polokwane is located in an old traditional Northern Sotho village and is one of the few in existance.

An interseting display of artifacts can be viewed at the Bakone Malapa Open-air Museum and the traditional way of life through the ages can be experienced at this live-in cultural venue.

Traditional drum-making, traditional wear, grass weaving, woodcarving and traditional clay pots are produced on site. Cultural events and tours can be accomodated.

Share in the unique heritage from diverse origins at the Khayalethu Cultural Village situated at Wholesong Coastal Lodge. Experience a vibrant introduction to the Xhosa culture and true African hospitality. Traditional village life, highlighting aspects of their rich culture, is depicted through narration accompanied by the primal throb of African drums and the customary song and dance.

Browse through an exhibition of local arts and crafts in The Barn or purchase high-quality hand craftsproduced on site at the Craft Centre. A restaurant that serves both traditional and international food is located at the village.

After the Voortrekkers had failed to negotiate with the Zulus the secession of land for settling and grazing, and had endured a number of catastrophic assaults, they assembled at the Ncome River for a decisive battle. On December 16, 1838, 464 Boers under the command of Andries Pretorius defeated more than 10,000 Zulu warriors. The deeply religious Boers did not ascribe the military victory to their technically superior armaments, but interpreted it primarily as a sign of God. Before the battle, they had prayed and made a vow that if God would grant them victory over the Zulus, they would commemorate the event annually. With that battle behind them, they believed even more strongly that white predominance over blacks is God's own will.

The monument at Blood River, a fort of cast-bronze wagons, brings to life the terrible events of 1838, which meant the beginning of the end of the Zulu Kingdom. This monument stood alone for many years as a reminder exclusively of the heroism of the white settlers, who suffered no fatalities at Blood River on that day.

Finally, in December 1998, a memorial for the 3,000 Zulu soldiers who died in the battle, was inaugurated by Zulu Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi across the river from the Afrikaner monument. The historic anniversary of the 'Day of the Vow' has been renamed 'Reconciliation Day' in the New South Africa.

Stanford Town is filled with South African History. Some of the oldest houses in the Western Cape, still stand proudly is this quite little corner of the Earth. Upon entering Stanford, there is an information office, stacked with pamphlets, maps, souvenirs, as well as a knowledgeable guide to help you plan your trip.

I decided to drive around the streets, to admire the aged architecture. I found myself wondering what it must have been like to live way out in this little piece of hot land, in these old buildings. The buildings themselves range in size, age and design, creating a truly fascinating town adventure.

Being such a hot day, I then decided to make my way down to the river, in order to see what would be happening, on a day like this. A few locals swimming were what greeted me. That and a beautiful view of greenery, mountains and water, flowing out into my view.

There are river cruises on offer, where one can have a relaxing trip down this extremely scenic natural path of water. The boats themselves are also quite old fashioned, which would add to the authenticity of the whole Stanford Town experience.

After a decent length chat with one of the friendly locals, I made my way back to my car. The drive out was as great as any other moment of the trip, with all that beauty to absorb.

The Western Cape is truly a marvel of unending character and spectacular beauty.