Zululand Travels and Pictures

[Riaan van Wyk]

Zululand is in my blood, having been born here and lived all my life. I have been fortunate over the years to have had and still have the opportunity to travel quite a bit. Having a hobby as photographer also contributes to the wanderlust.

I had to visit clients in a rural area today and thought there are parts of my province people will never see and thought it a good idea to share some of the pictures of the travels over the years. As I find items of interest I will share them here.

It will be a mix of everything so please bear with me, get a wide brimmed hat and come along for a drive.

First pic is from the Makhathini Flats, on the road from Jozini to Mbazwane which must be the worst dirt road in the known universe, the cattle form an integral part of the Zulu culture so they are everywhere. Taken on a very hot and humid day.

[Riaan van Wyk]

The fish kraals at Kosi.

[RobH]

Lovely Riaan,looking forward to this. Keep them coming, please.

[Riaan van Wyk]

The Lala and Wild Date palms are used in Northern Zululand to make a traditional beer called "injemane," in some areas the term "ubusulu" is also used but it is less common.

As attached pic shows, the palm is cut in a certain way and a leaf inserted into a horizontal cut into the heart. This stimulates the palm to "bleed" onto the leaf which in turn bleeds into a tin cup attached underneath. Every second day the palm is trimmed a bit and a new leaf cut is made and the cup moved. Each stump is trimmed about five times, then left to regrow. This is an art, passed down from generation to generation as one has to know how to cut without killing the tree and also where to cut and how often. The trees are also not harvested willy-nilly, each family of harvesters have a "stand" of palms that they have been harvesting and these "stands" have been passed down to the generations which are rotated and rested to produce the most sap. All the cutting is done with a cane knife. The stands are no go areas if you are not the owner, if you trespass and harvest trees that are not yours the cane knife doubles as a quick way to dissuade you.

This sap is then collected and sold to the fermentors who buy the raw sap from the harvesters. Sold in 25L drums for about R150 if I remember correctly. The fermentors then dilute, blend and ferment according to their own recipes.

The end product is seriously strong and varies in taste. Usually consumed in an empty 900g mixed fruit jam tin, two of which will make you forget your name, nationality and cause your legs to operate independently from your brain.

Picture is from the Makhasa area near the Nibela peninsula ( Falsebay)

[caranx36]

The fish kraals at Kosi.

One of the best pics of the kraals that I have ever seen Well Done.

Have a lot myself but yours beats all of them.

Spent a lot of time at Kosi Mouth when working in Zululand and miss it SOOOO MUCH.
My forum name comes from those days.

Keep posting pics and make me more and more nostalgic

Cheers

Rob

[Riaan van Wyk]

Rob, we "met" on ODP many years ago while I was living in Ingwavuma, not sure if you recall. Anyway, good to read you again!

[PeetS]

Fascinating! Keep them coming!

[caranx36]

Rob, we "met" on ODP many years ago while I was living in Ingwavuma, not sure if you recall. Anyway, good to read you again!

It does ring a bell in my senile(alcohol soaked ) brain.
I became inactive on ODP, mainly as I found a lot of personal bickering going on. Still a member maybe I should start again.

Enjoy Zululand

Cheers

Rob

[Riaan van Wyk]

Fascinating! Keep them coming!

Will do so Peet, must say I am rather flattered by the response so far.

[Ian.McM]

Will do so Peet, must say I am rather flattered by the response so far.

Well, apart from being very interesting, they are competition quality photos.

[Fluffy]

Well, apart from being very interesting, they are competition quality photos.

Agree, lovely.

I am just wondering. Would you be prepared to sell me a high-res image of the Nguni's under the tree for my own use.

I will have it printed on canvas and block mounted.

I have an Nguni Lounge/TV room in my home.

[PieterM]

Stunning photos, please keep them coming!

[Sechaba]

Has the hijacking of 4x4 cars dropped, we want to drive to Zululand this December.

[caranx36]

Rob, we "met" on ODP many years ago while I was living in Ingwavuma, not sure if you recall. Anyway, good to read you again!

Seem to remember that we tried to get together for a shoot at the mouth and could never get it right

Enjoy

Rob

[Riaan van Wyk]

Agree, lovely.

I am just wondering. Would you be prepared to sell me a high-res image of the Nguni's under the tree for my own use.
I will have it printed on canvas and block mounted.
I have an Nguni Lounge/TV room in my home.

Fuffy, you are fortunate to have such a lounge!

I want to print it myself first and see if it will hold up to a decent size, it's from a "mik en druk" 15 years ago so it isn't the best quality. Will let you know.

I hope you have the book "The Abundant Herds" on a bookshelf in that lounge.

[Riaan van Wyk]

Seem to remember that we tried to get together for a shoot at the mouth and could never get it right
Enjoy
Rob

Yes Rob, you remember correctly.

[Fluffy]

Fuffy, you are fortunate to have such a lounge!

I want to print it myself first and see if it will hold up to a decent size, it's from a "mik en druk" 15 years ago so it isn't the best quality. Will let you know.

I hope you have the book "The Abundant Herds" on a bookshelf in that lounge.

Thank you.

No unfortunately I don't have my own one, but do have regular access to a friends one.

Quite fascinating to see how all the markings are formed and given names.

[furpile]

Very nice Riaan. There are so many awesome places in SA, you just need to know about them.

[Riaan van Wyk]

The area is called Port Durnford and is on the northern side of the Mlalazi river at Mtunzini. It is from here that the Zulu King Cetswayo was escorted onto the ship "Natal" when he was captured after the Zulu war of 1879.

[Riaan van Wyk]

Cattle, Hlabisa area.