{"id":1256,"date":"2021-03-18T23:20:38","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T21:20:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zulu.org.za\/travel\/?post_type=regions&p=1256"},"modified":"2021-11-12T06:11:40","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T04:11:40","slug":"zululand","status":"publish","type":"regions","link":"https:\/\/visitkzn-sa.com\/travel\/regions\/zululand\/","title":{"rendered":"Zululand"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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No culture is static, especially in Africa where traditional life is constantly under threat from modernisation. Despite this, in the rural area of KwaZulu-Natal generally known as Zululand<\/strong>, many cultural practices remain intact and there are sites of great cultural significance to be explored.<\/p>\n

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Zululand Cultural Villages<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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It can sometimes be difficult to experience <\/span>traditional<\/strong> culture<\/strong> first hand. However, one way to do this is to visit one of the many cultural villages, or what are often referred to as ‘living museums’. At places such as <\/span>Shakaland<\/strong>, <\/span>Dumazulu<\/strong> or <\/span>Simunye<\/strong>, it is possible to catch a glimpse of a lifestyle and traditions that are slowly transforming. Here you can sleep over in a traditional Zulu homestead, sample traditional Zulu cuisine and Nqombothi (Zulu beer), and visit a <\/span>traditional healer<\/strong> who can also take you for a walk to teach you something about the many fascinating <\/span>medicinal plants<\/strong> still used by a vast majority of rural South Africans.
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eMakhosini<\/b><\/span>, (which literally means the ‘Valley of the Chiefs’), lies southwest of Ulundi, one of the biggest towns in the region. The graves and royal residences of four Zulu kings, <\/span>Shaka<\/strong>, <\/span>Dingane,<\/strong> Mpande<\/strong> and <\/span>Cetswayo<\/strong>, who ruled in succession from 1816\u00a0– 1884, are located in and around eMakhosini, as are the great, royal Zulu homesteads of <\/span>Ondini<\/strong>, <\/span>Nodwengu<\/strong>, <\/span>KwaDukuza <\/strong>and <\/span>uMgungundlovu<\/strong>. Some of these residences were razed to the ground by the British Imperial forces, but have been restored and developed, have <\/span>museums <\/strong>and guides, and are now accessible to visitors.
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eMakhosini also has ties with the Voortrekkers. Voortrekker leader, Piet Retief, lies buried in the valley at <\/span>kwaMatiwane<\/strong>, the Hill of Execution, and there are graves and monuments that, with the help of a good guide, can provide fascinating and enlightening insights into modern South African society and politics.
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While much of a visit to Zululand is about discovering South Africa’s <\/span>history<\/strong> and <\/span>cultural<\/strong> heritage<\/strong>, there are also many lovely, eccentric small villages. <\/span>Eshowe<\/strong> has a <\/span>canopy boardwalk<\/strong> through the <\/span>Dlinza Forest<\/strong> and the excellent <\/span>art <\/strong>and <\/span>craft <\/strong>centre at <\/span>Fort Nonqayi<\/strong>. In the little coastal town of <\/span>Mtunzini<\/strong>, wander through one of the last remaining protected stands of <\/span>Raffia palms<\/strong> and possibly spot a rare <\/span>palm nut vulture<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Zululand Entertainment<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Zululand is the place to go on <\/span>safari<\/strong> as it is home to some of the country’s finest <\/span>game reserves,<\/strong> such as <\/span>Hluhluwe-Imfolozi,<\/strong> Ithala<\/strong>, <\/span>Opathe<\/strong>, <\/span>Thula Thula<\/strong>, <\/span>Thanda <\/strong>and the <\/span>Zululand Rhino Reserve<\/strong>. Herds of plains game grazing under umbrella acacias and antelope skittering across a dusty pan, hippo honking in the waterways and pans, giraffe silhouetted against the setting sun and the smell of the African bush in the early hours of the morning are typically what one can expect on a visit to Zululand.
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There are <\/span>airports<\/strong> at both <\/span>Ulundi<\/strong> and the coastal town of <\/span>Richards Bay<\/strong> serving this area.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Latest Listings in Zululand<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTwigs and Pappanui – Coffee Shop\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
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An overview of Twigs, Coffee Shop, Mtunzini, Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tBook\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

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An overview of Golden Peak Spur Restaurant, Vryheid, Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tBook\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

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An overview of Steers – Richards Bay, Richards Bay, Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tBook\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

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An overview of Romans Pizza – Empangeni, Restaurant, Empangeni, Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tBook\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

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An overview of De Hof Cellar – Protea Hotel, Restaurant, Empangeni, Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tBook\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

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An overview of Itala Game Reserve, Game Reserve, Vryheid, Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tBook\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

No culture is static, especially in Africa where traditional life is constantly under threat from modernisation. Despite this, in the rural area of KwaZulu-Natal generally known as Zululand, many cultural practices remain intact and there are sites of great cultural significance to be explored. Zululand Cultural Villages It can sometimes be difficult to experience traditional […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":28752,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":""},"region_category":[89,90,91],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nZululand - KwaZulu-Natal Tourism & Travel<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/visitkzn-sa.com\/travel\/regions\/zululand\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Zululand - KwaZulu-Natal Tourism & Travel\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"No culture is static, especially in Africa where traditional life is constantly under threat from modernisation. Despite this, in the rural area of KwaZulu-Natal generally known as Zululand, many cultural practices remain intact and there are sites of great cultural significance to be explored. 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