Welcome to the Zulu Kingdom, KwaZulu-Natal

Township & Cultural Tourism in the Kingdom of the Zulu (KwaZulu-Natal)

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Contents

A feast of multi-cultural delights
Township Tours
A community displaced
Inanda Heritage Route
The legacy of Mahatma Gandi
Mandela Park
Hostel Life
A mosaic of music, drama and dance
Museums and Cultural Villages
Creative arts and colourful crafts
Reflections of the spiritual realm
Heavenly shopping
Echoes of the past

A feast of multi-cultural delights
Only its remarkable mix of cultures matches the outstanding scenic diversity of South Africa's, Kingdom of the Zulu. African, European and Asian influences intermingle to create a uniquely South African multi-cultural society. The many-faceted heritage bequeathed by this mixture of exotic and indigenous cultures is deeply interlaced with the social and political history of the region, the country and the continent.

The spectacular landscapes of the Kingdom of the Zulu have been inhabited for more than 100,000 years, and today's visitors can only marvel at the distant memory of San hunter-gatherers retained in the priceless rock-art paintings found in the rock shelters and caves of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, a World Heritage Site situated only a few hours drive from the port city of Durban.

The pastoral way of life of today's rural, Zulu-speaking population harks back to the Early Iron Age people, farmers who first cultivated the lush lands of the Kingdom of the Zulu 2000 years ago. Visitors to the Kingdom of the Zulu can sample this traditional way of life in a range of different ways: through the beautiful local craftwork, vibrant displays of singing and dancing, or even by spending a night in a Zulu homestead, eating food cooked over an open fire, and perhaps even drinking some home- brewed sorghum beer.

Scattered throughout the Kingdom of the Zulu are world- famous battlefield sites that bear witness to the historic clashes between spear-wielding Zulu warriors, red-coated British colonial regiments, and horse-mounted Boer settler commandos. Let knowledgeable guides lead you on a tour of the battlefields sites and find yourself immersed in the fascinating stories of these shows of military might that shaped South Africa s history, and indeed that of the world.

Beautiful mosques, brightly coloured temples, vibrant festivals and exotic food and dance are the rich cultural legacy of hundreds of thousands of South Africans of Indian origin. Brought to the Kingdom of the Zulu as indentured labourers in the 19th century, the forebears of today's Indian community nurtured the great Indian leader, Mahatma Gandhi, who first embarked on his famous passive resistance movement in the Kingdom of the Zulu.

The Kingdom of the Zulu boast 74% of South Africa's total Indian population, or 825,000 people, with Durban's Indian population being equivalent to 80% of this. This is the largest concentration of Indian people outside of India itself.

Wozani. Our Kingdom Calls - Come and explore the rich cultural mosaic of the Kingdom of the Zulu where there is something to cater for all tastes and budgets.

For more information on specific aspects of the Kingdom of the Zulus cultural history, please visit the following websites:

Heritage and History of the Kingdom of the Zulu

History of the Zulu Nation

History and Culture of our Indian community

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Township Tours
a vibrant slice of local life
What better way to embrace the cultural heritage of the Kingdom of the Zulu than to immerse yourself in the colourful, community-driven life of the province s townships? Township tours, in Durban and throughout the Kingdom of the Zulu, are an exciting way to meet local people, experience the pulse of life in an African community and explore the fascinating social and political history of these townships that helped shape the history of the Zulu Kingdom.

Townships were originally established as dormitory suburbs for black labourers who came to the cities and towns from rural areas. A legacy of under-development during the apartheid era meant that few townships had decent infrastructure or reliable essential services, deprivations that

ironically seemed to fuel the vibrancy of township life. Knowledgeable local tour operators are eager to accompany you on a visit to these centres of African urban culture, where residents live and work in modern surroundings, while at the same time embracing the social customs and traditions of their forebears. Ensure that you make use of a local guide for a friendly, rewarding and hassle-free cultural experience.

Visit the popular 'shebeens' or taverns where people meet to relax and share a drink and exchange news and views with locals while enjoying the lively music of urban black South Africans.

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A community displaced
Cato Manor was once a bustling settlement of Indians and Africans who, in the early 1960s, were forcibly removed to townships much further away from the city of Durban.

Today it is the site of an ambitious, urban renewal programme, in a landscape dotted with mosques and brightly painted Hindu temples that survived the apartheid era bulldozers.

Inanda Heritage Route
The Ohlange Institute, founded by Rev. John Dube, the first president of the African National Congress (ANC) is the historic place where President Nelson Mandela cast his vote in South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994. From this first node of the Inanda Heritage Route move onto the Phoenix settlement where Mahatma Gandhi developed his philosophy of passive resistance, which had such a profound impact on the world. Here Gandhi's restored home, rededicated as a monument to peace and justice, is an experience to see. The Inanda Seminary is one of the oldest African private schools for girls started by the missionary Mary Edwards in 1869. The immaculate gardens and beautifully restored buildings now celebrate the many Black women leaders this school produced. Ebuhleni provides an experience of the religious world of the Shembe Church, your last stop on this route.

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