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Valley of Zulu Kings

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Zulu Tours

Author: Graham Chennells

Publishing date: 06.06.2004 11:10

Cowards Bush Visitors

The birth of the Zulu Nation. Rise and fall of King Shaka. Contemporay Zulu life.We trace the birth and rise of the Zulu Empire from Zulus birthplace below the Mandawe Cross.Zululand Eco-Tours. From The George Hotel and Zululand Backpackers. Eshowe.

The eMakhosini. Valley of the Zulu Kings, Historical Tour. Graham Chennells (Registered Satour guide ) Price: R495 for 6 hour tour.

A long line of Zulu Kings

1781 to 1816 Senzangakhona
1816 to 1828 Shaka
1828 to 1840 Dingane
1840 to 1872 Mpande
1872 to 1879 Cetswayo
1879 to 1916 Dinizulu
1916 to 1933 Maphumazana
1933 tp 1968 Cyprian Bhekezulu
1968 to Goodwill Zwelithini

Move onto kwa Bulawayo, King Shakas stronghold from whence the mighty Zulus rose to create a dynasty to equal that of other world renowned nation builders. On to his mother Nandi’s grave then Cowards Bush where those who lost their nerve in battle were tested. We drive through the fertile Nkwalini Valley up the Melmoth pass to eMakhosini monument at the centre of “The Valley of the Zulu Kings”.

Amakhosini Monument

Visit the Piet Retief monument and Dinganes Royal Kraal at uMgungundlovu. Mngungundlovu museum. Then the Battle of Goqkli Hill which was King Shaka’s first military victory. Battle of Ulundi, Ondini then Cetehswayo’s Military stronghold. Story of the birth of a nation and the rise of Shaka. Also contemporary Zulu Life in rural Zululand.
At each stop you will get a detailed description of events and historical background pertinent at the time. The tour will also cover contemporary Zulu life, the economy, politics and social life. A contrast to the Apartheid era will be given and an optimistic future scenario of our country.
Covering most of the topics mentioned in “The Face of Changing Africa”.
If you are travelling through our country and feel you have missed Africa, go on this tour. Our spontaneous tours show you the positive things happening in our society.The generous nature of the people in their rich tradition and quest for an improved life.We experience the changing culture, traditions and adoption of a 21st century lifestyle. Subsistence economy, industrial impact, rural infrastructural development, traditional system and democratic changes, the transition from apartheid, modern religion and traditional beliefs.

The eMakhosini
The eMakhosini is a microcosm of the history of southeastern Africa. In the valley one will find stone tools left behind by Stone-Age hunter-gatherers who were probably of the valley’s earliest inhabitants. 15th century stone-walled structures on the hillsides bear testimony to the formative settlements of the forefathers of the great Zulu Kingdom.

It was in this valley that King Shaka was born and where seven of the great Zulu kings lie buried. It was here that the Zulu’s defeated their archrivals, the Ndwandwe, an epic battle which had repercussions for the whole of southeast Africa. It marked the beginning of the creation of the most powerful, economic and military kingdom on the African sub-continent, the Kingdom of the Zulu. Young Shaka drove out clans who left their mark as far as Zimbabwe, Malawi and Tanzania.

eMakhosini. Later, Shaka’s successor and half brother, Dingane, established his Royal Residence in the eMakhosini. It was here where he clashed with the Voortrekkers who sought new lands in the Zulu Kingdom. The valley also contains the Hill of Execution, kwaMatiwane, where Dingane’s men put Voortrekker leader Piet Retief and his followers to death. These events have influenced the course of South African politics to this day.

The final battle of the Anglo Zulu war was fought between the invading British army under Lord Chelmsford here at Ulundi in 1879 on the eastern periphery of the eMakhosini.

The eMakhosini.There are several other sacred, ancient places in the valley. Such as Nobamba, the homestead of Shaka's grandfather Jama, which is also referred to as "the most sacred site" and "the place of unity and strength". Close by lies Makheni, a hallowed spot where men are not permitted to strike or even touch the ground with their sticks, lest they disturb the spirits of their ancestors.

The eMakhosini. The valley is not only a place rich in history, but is rich in ecological diversity, ranging from grassland to valley bushveld.

Ophathe Game Reserve.The eMakhosini.
Ophathe Game Reserve was proclaimed in 1991. Situated on the southern banks of the White Mfolozi river, this 8825 ha reserve is less than 10 kms from Ulundi and, more significantly, at the edge of the eMakhosini valley.
The initial purpose for proclamation of Ophathe was "to serve as a sanctuary for the endangered Black Rhino and possibly other endangered species as well."
Fauna and flora were to be managed and conserved so as to allow sustainable utilization of resources and protection for sensitive ecosystems.

The notion of developing the eMakhosini valley and Ophathe Game Reserve jointly had been under discussion for several years. In 2001, however, an agreement regarding management of a parcel of Ingonyama Trust land by *Amafa made the two areas contiguous. This gave impetus to the process, leading to the far-sighted decision by the KZN Wildlife Executive and Amafa Council to develop the area jointly. This area is now known as the eMakhosini Ophathe Heritage Park.
This park opens the way to realizing a rare combination of opportunities, linking a rich historical and cultural heritage site with a Game Reserve, assembling a significant area of land (approx. 24 000 ha) which can be proclaimed as a single protected area, the potential for further expansion into a park that displays significant biodiversity.

eMakhosini Ophathe Heritage Park extends from an altitude of 1200 m above sea level in the west, through the moist mist belt grasslands and ngongoni grasslands, into valley bush veld below 300m. This covers a substantial range of riparian, wetland, woodland and grassland. The east-west altitude difference also represents a strong climatic gradient (principally rainfall and temperature). Together with the geology, this has resulted in a protected area covering a wide range of faunal and floral communities, the beta diversity of which is regarded as significant and sufficient large in area to carry the "big five"
Preserving a culture and history that has already left an indelible mark on the world stage, easily accessibly by main road and situated astride one of KZN' s main tourism routes, in close proximity to a medium sized town and an airport capable of handling large aircraft.

The Spirit of the eMakhosini Memorial was officially opened by His Majesty King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu in 2003. The Memorial captures the long history of our nation and draws together the threads of what has gone before. The memorial is surrounded by seven animals horns, representing the graves of the seven Zulu kings who are buried in the eMakhosini area. Here, in this valley, Kings Unkosinkulu, Zulu, Phunga, Mageba, Ndaba, Jama and Senzangakhona lie buried.
*AMAFA was established in 1997 as a statutory body responsible for the protection and conservation of KwaZulu-Natal's cultural and historic heritage.

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Zululand Eco-Adventures.
Eshowe, Zululand.
info@eshowe.com
Graham Chennells
035 4744919

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