Shakaland tour from Durban
We began our Shakaland tour in Durban where I collected my clients and we covered more of the in depth history of the Zulus and the Eshowe area we would be travelling into.
Once we arrived at Shakaland for the tour we enjoyed the shop and the amazing African crafts as well as music before the tour of the Umuzi(homestead) began!
We learned the structure of the Zulu Umuzi and then watched a 15 minuted video clip on the movie Shaka Zulu all of this helps when you do a cultural tour from Durban of this nature.
We then got permission to enter the Zulu village.
Shakaland tour; Welcome into the village
We then made our way to watch the lady who wove the sleeping mats and then watched as Zulu beer was made(Umqomboti). This is always interesting and great to sample later in the day.
Shakaland tour; Making of Zulu Beer, Umqomboti
Next was the balancing of the water pots on the head of the ladies. This is the traditional way of carrying water and is still done today with everything and anything. The pots are made with clay soil found down near the river.
Zulus carry pots on head during our Shakaland Tour
[
Next we then made our way up to the Chief of the village who also showed us King Shaka’s Short stabbing spear and the Bulls horns formation of attack! He also demonstrated how to throw the Isiphapha the long throwing spear King Senzangakhona invented(Shaka’s father).
Shakaland tour; Zulu Warfare demonstration
It was time to shift further into the Zulu cultural village and we went into the Sangoma and Nyanga’s hut. A Sangoma is a fortune teller and an Nyanga is a traditional healer.
Nyanga and Sangoma
We now sampled the Zulu beer and learned more about Zulu love letters, clothing and bead work. Once this was done we did some more shopping before the Zulu dancing which was amazing!
Sampling of the Zulu Beer
We said farewell to the dancers as we made our way down for some lunch. A traditional Zulu lunch with some things to help if the Westerners could not stomach the Zulu food.
Shakaland tour; The farewell after the Zulu dancing
Lunch was lovely and the food both traditional and western was lovely. We all enjoyed it and after dessert and coffee we made our way back to the shop. This was mostly my idea as I wanted to buy this one CD of Zulu music I heard earlier in the shop. It was lovely so why not.
It was now time to depart Shakaland after a great Durban day tour and an amazing Zulu cultural experience.
We covered just a couple of things on the way back and left the floor open to questions.
After arriving safely I turned back and went home after 3 amazing days of tours. I actually had been on the road a week with 4 different groups of clients. Amazing times!
If you wish to do this same tour please click the link below:
