Welcome to the Zulu Kingdom, KwaZulu-Natal

Zululand Newsletter - Autumn 2005

Zulu Beer Pots

The type of clay used to make Zulu beer pots is very important and is called IBUMBA. This clay is dug out of the ground and left to dry. The smaller IZINKAMBA (Zulu beer pot) are made of the dried fine clay but the bigger Zulu beer pots are mixed together with other clays to make them more solid. The clay is mixed with water to form a ball and the women work on the ground, using a ring of dried grass so that they can turn the pot as they work and as the pot grows in size.

The base of the Zulu beer pot is a round solid disk of clay but the walls are made of long coils of clay, which the women roll and blend together to make the walls more or less an even thickness and beautifully smooth.

Once the Zulu beer pots are completed they are left to dry in the shade for about a week before they are fired. The women have their own traditional 'firing' methods - no sophisticated kilns for them - a hole is dug in the ground and various leaves, woods and dried cow dung are used to make the fire.

The many patterns and decorations on the Zulu beer pots are different according to each region and family and are usually situated just below the pots mouth and extend not too far below the widest curvature of the pot and this is so the pot can be gripped more easily when drinking from it. The raised patterns are much like the designs that the Zulu warriors used when decorating their bodies with scars, many years ago.

Birding ID Course



Date: 14th May 2005

Venue: Will be advised when you book (Richards Bay area)

Time: 07h30

Duncan Pritchard of BirdLife South Africa will be presenting a full day birding ID course, ideal for beginners and anyone interested in learning more about wild birds and how to find you way around a bird book. Birding is a hobby that can take place in your back yard or anywhere at anytime away from home. Millions of people from all age groups around the world have been bitten by the “Birding Bug” come join us and find out how!

Cost:

Non BirdLife South Africa Members: R350.00 (includes one years free membership to BirdLife South Africa)

BirdLife South Africa members: R200.00

Contact:

Duncan Pritchard to book on richardsbay@birdlife.co.za

Cell: 083 225 5960

uMhlathuze Tourism Association

The uMhlathuze Tourism Office has moved and you will now find them at the foyer of the Richards Bay Civic Center.

UTA's Contact Details are as follows:

035 901 5018 - tel - Tourism Information

035 901 5408 - tel - Bernadine Wright

035 901 5334 - fax - Att: UTA

rbtour@uthungulu.co.za

www.tourismassociation.org.za

Postal Address: PO Box 10500 Meerensee 3901

Physical Address:

Richards Bay Civic Center 5 Mark Strasse CBD Richards Bay

The UTA has also opened an office in Empangeni as well.

The Empangeni Tourism Office and the Greyhound Bus

Agency are housed at the Empangeni Arts and Crafts Center, Shop 1 & 2



Empangeni Tourism / Greyhound Contact details are:

035 792 1283 – Tel

emptour@microweb.co.za

www.tourismassociation.org.za

Whale Watching

Imagine coming face to face with the 5th largest animal that has ever lived on this earth!

This is quite possible when enduring an awesome whale watching tour with “Advantage Charters” in St Lucia. No experience in the whole wide world could be more satisfying. The Humpback Whale is considered to be the most playful of all large whales and is known to be the most acrobatic. They thrust their gigantic forms right out of the ocean. Whales obviously do not perform specifically for whale-watching boats. However a well-planned tour by Danie Bennett of Advantage Charters makes a whale-watching tour an unforgettable and unique lifetime experience from as close as 50 metres away.

This phenomenon is an exciting opportunity not to be missed and only occurs from June to November!

For a booking contact St Lucia Tours and Charters at

035-5901259/5901199

e-mail: advantage@zululink.co.za



Events

For a detailed list of events contact the Tourism Office on 035-7992500.

MAY

Bat Interest Group: BAT CAVE HUNT (Eshowe) 14 MAY Juan 082 830 6334

Richards Bay Round Table 200 Annual Golf Day 14 May Gawie 082 894 8541 Bearing Man Triathlon Series #2 15 May

Casper Kriel

082 896 6011 Hillside 21.1km/10km 21 May

S Mncwango

072 437 1347

MotoCross

Natal Championship 22 May

10H00 Lynne Bourne

035 474 1632 Business to Business Showcase

26 May Louisa Jury

035 797 1870

Mark Banks Comedian Show.

28 May Contact: Eshowe High School

035 - 4742117 Cycling: UMHLATHUZE TOUR 29 May Ronald Bartholomew

082 823 0617 Bay to Bay Challenge Martina 035 901 5405



June

Whale Watching June 035 590 1259 Grantleigh Golf Day 4 June Jill Hutchison

035 580 1581

marketing@grantleigh.co.za Mtunzini Conservacy Birding Quiz/Talk 7 June 7pm Prayer Against Crime 8 June Jeanine

035 772 5083 Koos Kombuis 10 June 083 635 5358

Lorinda 035 753 2070 Mtunzini Conservancy Birding outing 10 June 6am Dutch Reformed Church Golf Day 18 June Melinda Louw

035-4744352 Star Games 25 June Bella 035 772 7211

7am Dutch Reformed Church Golf Day 25 June Loffie Schoeman

035 474 3050





Zululand…

A place where beauty will stun your senses and your spirit will be enthralled by wonder.

For further information on tourism activities in the district or should you like to contribute information for the newsletter contact:

Anushka Makka

Tel: 035-7992614 Fax: 035-7898176

E-mail: makkaa@uthungulu.co.za

Website: www.uthungulu.org.za / www.zulu.org.za

Copyright © Tourism KwaZulu-Natal