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7 REASONS TO PLAN A KWAZULU-NATAL VACATION

KwaZulu-Natal – or better known as the Zulu Kingdom, is arguably one of South Africa’s most diverse travel destinations. It is one of the countries most popular destinations for local travelers but often overlooked by international visitors. If you are an international traveler planning a vacation to South Africa and have glanced over KwaZulu-Natal without giving it much thought, then you should look again. With its spectacular weather, distinct yet varied destinations and warm hospitality it truly is a destination worth considering. With this in mind, here are seven excellent reasons why you should consider KwaZulu-Natal for your South Africa vacation. And for all our local followers, if you haven’t visited KZN recently, these seven reasons should get you up and planning. 1. YEAR ROUND DESTINATION Zimanga Private Game Reserve Landscape KwaZulu-Natal enjoys blissful sub-tropical weather almost all year round, making it the perfect all season destination. The coastal areas enjoy hot summers and mild winters, averaging over 300 days of sunshine a year. The Indian Ocean adds to the appeal with water temperatures averaging a delightful 21 degrees throughout the year. Ideal for swimming, surfing, diving, snorkeling, sailing or any other ocean based activity. The interior (KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and the Drakensberg Mountains) of the province also enjoys beautiful warm summer days but does have cold winter temperatures with regular snow fall in the Drakensberg Mountain range. For many, the cold winters mornings with mist covered mountains and crisp clean air is what makes the KZN Midlands and Drakensberg Mountains so special. 2. FROM MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS TO CRYSTAL CLEAR OCEANS Lala Nek in nothern KwaZulu-Natal Deep in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal lies the exhilarating Drakensberg Mountain Range. This is KwaZulu-Natal’s second world heritage site, the first being iSimangaliso (St. Lucia) Wetlands Park found on the North Coast. With its dramatic mountainous landscapes and deep valleys, the Drakensberg is a photographers paradise. For the more active traveler there is plenty on offer with numerous hiking trails (from overnight hikes which summit the many peaks to easier day walks on the lower slopes), horse back trails, excellent fishing, scenic helicopter flips, adventurous 4×4 trails (Sani Pass), and much much more. Descending from the Drakensberg lowlands and heading south east you travel through the Natal Midlands towards the Indian Ocean. Besides the areas natural beauty, the Midlands Meander has been made famous by the many art galleries, fascinating craft stores and world class restaurants, all perfectly placed in a landscape of charming working farms and pristine nature reserves. From the Midlands, its a short drive down the escapement to the coastal city of Durban, the provinces larges city. Durban is a soulful, cosmopolitan city that moves to a rhythm of its own. With its impressive swell, long beaches and warm oceans its a surfers paradise. But if you looking for something a little more secluded, leave the city and travel north or south along the coast for a variety of pristine beaches waiting to be explored. Up the North Coast and close to the Mozambique border you’ll find some of the most remote beaches in the country. The swimming conditions are sublime with beautifully warm, crystal clear water – paradise for any true beach holiday maker. The South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal offers several impressive dive sights including Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks. However, the South Coast is probably best know for the sardine run – where massive shoals of sardines migrate north, attracting large schools of dolphins, sea birds and other ocean predators. 3. BIG FIVE SAFARI Lion at Phinda Private Game Reserve The biggest draw card for anyone interested in an African vacation is the safari experience. The KwaZulu-Natal Elephant Coast, situated in the north of the province is home to several world class, big 5 safari destinations including Phinda Private Game Reserve, the Zululand Rhino Reserve, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and Amakhosi Game Reserve to name a few. Further inland you’ll also find the Nambiti Big Five Private Game Reserve as well as several smaller private nature reserves all offering something unique for the nature lover. With such a wide variety of game reserves to chose from the accommodation options are almost endless. From basic camping facilities and self catering lodges to elegant five star luxury, you wont struggle to find a safari to suit your budget and accommodation preferences. 4. EXPERIENCE AFRICAN CULTURE Zulu Cultural Dance KwaZulu-Natal is known as the Zulu Kingdom and for good reason. The province is home to one of Africa’s most powerful tribes – the Zulu Nation. With enchanting tales of great warriors like King Shaka, the history of the Zulu Kingdom is captivating. A visit to a traditional Zulu village gives insight into this fascinating culture. If you wish to go further back in time, a visit to one of the ancient rock art sites in the Drakensberg Mountains is a must. These sites, some as old as 40,000 years, offer a glimpse into the life of the African Bushman or San people. Interestingly, the Drakensberg Mountains has the highest number of recorded African rock are sites in South Africa. 5. RELIVE THE ANGLO-BOER AND ANGLO-ZULU WARS The battle of Isandlwana The Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902 are two highly significant wars that shaped the course of South African history. The most famous battles of the Anglo-Zulu war were the battles of Isandlawana and Rorke’s Drift which both took place on the same day (22 January 1879). At Isandlawana 20, 000 Zulu warriors annihilated a British force of 1,700 soldiers. In complete contrast, at Rorke’s Drift a small group of British soldiers known as the ‘heroic hundred’ successfully defended the Swedish mission station for 12 hours against a force of 4,000 Zulu soldiers. Several years later the Anglo-Boer war erupted. The British entered the war confident they would conquer the Boers in no time, but they were horribly mistaken. The Anglo-Boer war turned out to be the longest, most expensive and bloodiest war Britain had fought since the Napoleonic wars. 6. GET ACTIVE View of Durban

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Emdoneni News

15 Benefits of treating yourself to a SPA Day

There are so many benefits of a spa day for both your mind and body. You should never feel guilty for treating yourself to a spa treatment. Next time you need an excuse (not that you should EVER need an excuse) to take a spa day , whip out this article and share it around so that everyone knows you’re simply taking care of your health. 15 Reasons Why a Spa Day is Good For You – Your skin will be glowing after a delicious sugar or salt scrub. All the dead skin cells will be scrubbed away into oblivion and shiny new ones will be revealed. – Everything about the spa from the lighting to the treatments are designed to make you calm, chilled out and relaxed. After a spa treatment you’ll be walking on clouds. So if work, relationships, or just life in general are stressing you out, a spa day is exactly what you need. – You get plenty of time for quiet reflection when you’re in the spa. Sometimes we get overwhelmed by how “connected” we are in this day in age. A spa is usually a no phone, no laptop, no WiFi zone so you can truly get away from the world. Which, nowadays, is a rare luxury. – The sauna and/or steam room is great for respiratory conditions. It helps to open your airways which can help to soothe asthma, coughs and colds. So really, you need a spa day, for your health. – A good massage can take away aches and pains and help with joint pain conditions like arthritis. Just make sure you let your therapist know of any pre-existing conditions before the massage. I reckon you need to take a spa day at least once a month (easier done if you’re somewhere cheap like Indonesia), for your muscles’ sake. – The steam in the sauna/steam rooms helps you to sweat out toxins and a massage helps your lymphatic system to flush toxins from your body. A spa day is essential for when you’ve done a little too much indulging! Post Christmas, post birthday, post weekend, WHENEVER! Get in there and detox yourself. – Massage stimulates blood flow hence boosts circulation. It can ever help to lower blood pressure. So if you have circulation problems then you need to get some hands on your manipulating your tissues and muscles. – Leg massages can help prevent varicose veins. So if you’re on your feet all day in work then you definitely need to treat yourself to a massage for your perambulating limbs. – A spa treatment can be a great bonding experience for friends, family and couples. Got a mother-in-law you’re not getting on with? Take her for a spa day! Me and my boyfriend love a couples’ massage experience. Need a baby shower idea? Spa day! Honestly, a spa day is usually the answer to any question. – A spa experience can boost body confidence as you’ll HAVE to get fairly used to being naked. Nothing like lying on a therapy table in disposable underwear to make you comfortable with your own skin. The ideas of spas used to freak me out. I didn’t like the idea of being naked or semi-naked in a non-private environment. But now, after trying tonnes of different spa treatments in spas around the world, I’m definitely more body confident. – Depending on the oils used in your treatment a massage or spa treatment can give you energy. Peppermint, lemon, orange and cedarwood are just a few examples of oils that are great for vitality and energy. – Head, feet and hand massages are known to have the ability decrease the frequency of migraines/headaches when done correctly. Headache/migraine is one of the leading reasons for absence from work. SO, a spa day really could help you to be better at your job! – Massage can increase the amount of white blood cells in your system, boosting your immune system and helping to defend against infections. – A facial/facial massage can help refine pores, quench skin and slow the onset of wrinkles. So you’ll feel and look amazing. – FINALLY, massage releases serotonin (the happy hormone) so it’s great for your mental health, state of mind and mood. Chemically, you’ll just feel better after a massage. This is one of the main benefits of a spa day. So go book yourself a spa day with some of your favorite people or just for yourself. With all these physical and mental benefits of a spa day, we don’t just deserve a spa day, we NEED a spa day. Contact Emdoneni Lodge SPA and treat yourself to a well deserved Spa Day!

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Emdoneni News

Win a stay at Emdoneni Lodge

WIN A STAY AT Emdoneni Lodge How to enter: Simply tag the name of the person you would like to bring along for a stay at Emdoneni Lodge in the comments section below. Included in your prize: – 1 overnight on a bed and breakfast basis (dinner on request) – A complimentary bottle of wine and fruit basket in your room on arrival – Complimentary cat tour – An Emdoneni spa voucher to the value of R100 per person For more info about the lodge, kindly click here:www.emdonenilodge.com Please note: *Terms and conditions apply *Prize is subject to availability *This competition closes on Monday, 3 September at 10h00. Winners will be selected randomly. *This promotion does not have a connection with Facebook in any way and is not sponsored, supported or organised by Facebook PLEASE VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE TO ENTER THIS COMPETITION.

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Emdoneni News

Zulu Wedding – Umabo

It’s almost wedding season and we love this time of the year! Living in Kwa Zulu Natal makes the Zulu culture extra special to us and we would love to share how the Zulu traditions apply to when it comes to a wedding. As with most cultures there are different stages in a Zulu wedding. In western society there will traditionally be an engagement, followed by a kitchen tea or hens party, the infamous bulls party, and finally the wedding. A traditional Zulu wedding is quite different, but also has distinctive stages, with the first being the payment of lobola, something that’s the subject of great debate these days. Once lobola has been paid izibizo will follow, where gifts are given to the bride’s family, followed by umbondo where the bride reciprocates by buying groceries for the groom’s family, and finally the actual wedding or umabo. A Zulu bride covered in a blanket, carrying an assegai The traditional Zulu wedding always takes place at the family home of the groom. The bride will leave her home early in the morning, covered in a blanket given to her by her mother. The bride’s father leads her to her new family home, and she is advised not to look back, so as not to invite bad luck. The bride’s father will call out the family’s clan names, telling the ancestors that his daughter is officially leaving home to join another family. On arrival at the groom’s house the bride must walk around the house so as to be introduced to her hsuband’s ancestors, before entering the home through the kitchen while nobody is noticing her – the groom’s family will pay a penalty for not being aware of the bride – they should have gone to fetch her. The bride’s family also comes early in the morning, with the wedding ceremony starting at around midday. A Zulu bride sitting on her grass mat The groom buys two cows which are slaughtered and eaten on the day of the ceremony. He also buys a goat that is slaughtered after the head of the family has spoken. The father of the groom opens the ceremony by welcoming his new daughter, with the bride’s father also saying some words, as a sign that he approves of the union. After the ceremony there is dancing and food. While gifts and money are given to the bride’s family prior to the wedding, on the day of the umabo it is the turn of the bride to give the gifts. The exchange of gifts symbolises the forming of a new bond between the two families. The bride’s family buys grass mats, blankets for the women, beer pots for the men, as well as some pieces of furniture and brooms, which are given out to guests at the wedding by the bridesmaids and sisters of the bride. The bride sits on a grass mat, and refrains from talking or looking at anyone out of respect, while her bridesmaids hand out the gifts. The names of the various people receiving the gifts are called out one by one. The wedding guests will lie on the grass mats, before being covered with a blanket by a family member from the bride’s side. They then sing and dance as a sign of appreciation for the gifts. Older women are called first, followed by the groom’s sisters, and finally the men. The groom is the last person to be called. A Zulu bride laying out grass mats for her husband to walk on After the groom has been called the bride gets up, makes up a mock bed and goes to look for her husband. When she finds him, she will place grass mats on the floor leading to the bed, where the groom will sit down. The bride takes a basin with a towel and soap and washes the groom’s feet. She then pulls back the bed covers for the groom to lie down. As part of the drama the bridesmaids and other young ladies from the bride’s side hit the groom with small sticks, after which the groom runs away. Umabo is a very important ritual in Zulu culture. Some people believe that a person is not properly married until they’ve carried out the ritual of umabo. For this reason couples who experience difficulties in their relationships, or struggle to have children, will sometimes go through the process of umabo years after they first got together, as a way of appeasing the ancestors – it is only through umabo that the ancestors will recognise the union. Source: ulwaziprogramme.org

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Emdoneni News

Nile Monitor Lizard

Nile monitors, the largest lizard in Africa, grow to about 180 – 210 cm in total length They have a muscular bodys, strong legs, powerful jaws and sharp claws for climbing, digging, defense, or tearing at their prey. Like all monitors they have a forked tongue, with highly developed olfactory properties. In fact they can identify prey, enemies or a mate by smell. Their nostrils are placed high on the snout, indicating that these animals are highly aquatic swimmers and divers (Nile monitors can remain underwater for more than an hour). But they are also excellent climbers (in particular when young) and quick runners on land (adults can easily outrun people over short distances). The body and tail color is gray-brown or dark olive with darker reticulation, and 6-9 yellowish bands or bands of yellow-gold ocelli. The belly is yellow with black spots.The Nile monitor lives in long self-made burrows os takes over abandoned burrows dug by other animals or abandoned termite mounds. It retreats to these burrows at night Mostly it lives solitary but if there is enough food other conspecifics are tolerated nearby. It prefers to lay its eggs into termite mounds: The female tears open the nest (in particular in the rainy season when the walls are soft) and deposits up to 60 eggs without attempting to cover them. The termites quickly repair the nest and the eggs are incubated safely, with constant heat and humidity, providing the mound remains occupied by termites. When suitable termitaria appear to be unavailable however, eggs are deposited in burrows, or holes in riverbanks or in trees along water courses Theincubation period lasts several months. Eggs collected in the wild or laid by wild caught females hatch after 141-150 days at 27-30.5oC, 120-137 days at 30oC and 92 days at 32oC During the dry season in tropical Africa and in the cooler months in temperate regions activity is reduced or suspended. Nile monitors will eat anything that fits into their mouth and can be swallowed as a whole, like fish, snails, slugs, frogs, toads, eggs (in particular crocodile eggs), birds, small mammals, young crocodiles, turtles, crabs, large insects, termites, caterpillars and carrion. Other common names African small-grain lizard, water leguaan, river leguaan, water monitor (Eng.); waterlikkewaan (Afr.); uxamu(IsiZulu); nkwahle (Xitsonga) Introduction The Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) is one of Africa’s largest lizards and also one of the continent’s most voracious predators (for its size). They are among the most interesting reptiles and they are beautiful animals, especially when young. They are amazingly strong, and it is quite difficult to hold one without being bitten. How to recognise a Nile monitor Nile monitors grow to about 100–140 cm (maximum 200 cm) in length (including tail); they have a stout body and powerful limbs and strong claws. Like all monitors they have a forked tongue. Their skin is tough and covered with small, bead-like scales. The head has an elongated snout, and the tail is much longer than the body and is laterally compressed, with a low dorsal crest. Adults are greyish-brown to dirty olive-brown on top of the head and back, with scattered darker blotches and light yellow ocelli and bands on the head, back and limbs. The belly and throat are paler, with black bars. Juveniles are beautifully patterned in black and bright yellow. Getting around On land, the Nile monitor walks with a sinuous swagger and will sometimes climb trees to bask, feed or sleep. Communication Nile monitors use both visual and olfactory cues when sensing the environment. Their eye-sight appears to be good. They perceive their environments through visual, tactile, auditory and chemical stimuli. Distribution Nile monitors are native to Africa and the species is distributed throughout the entire central and southern regions of the continent, including Sudan and a portion of central Egypt along the Nile River. They are not found in any of the desert regions of Africa, however, as they thrive around rivers. On the subcontinent , they occur through the eastern part of the region, extending along the Orange River to the Atlantic Ocean and Fish River Canyon, and along the South coast to Gamtoos River Valley, but is absent from the Western Cape. Habitat Nile monitors occur in a wide variety of habitats, wherever there are permanent bodies of water; this excludes deserts. This species has been found in most other habitats, including grassland, scrub, forests, mangroves, swamps, lakes and rivers. They live in long, self-made burrows or take over abandoned burrows dug by other animals, or abandoned termite mounds. Food Nile monitors are carnivores with an almost insatiable appetite, they are renowned for eating just about anything they can overpower or find as carrion. Consequently, their diet includes everything from arthropods, amphibians and fish, to birds, small mammals and other reptiles. Hunting strategies vary, but it is rare for the Nile monitor to shy away from a challenge. Sex and LIFE CYCLES Nile monitors are usually solitary, with only occasional intra-species interaction outside the mating season. When inactive, they bask or rest on waterside vegetation, trees, logs and rocks, often in a prominent position. In the colder parts of South Africa, they hibernate in big rock cracks or burrows. When walking and foraging, the Nile monitor holds its body well off the ground, and uses its long, forked tongue to sense potential food sources. Nile monitors are usually wary and if approached, will run away or jump into the water and swim underwater to the safety of the reed beds. While one monitor provokes a female crocodile away from a nesting site, another will dig up the unguarded eggs. Mating system Nile monitors are a polygynandrous species and will mate promiscuously. Life cycles They prefer to lay eggs in termite mounds, the female tears open the nest, particularly in the rainy season when the walls are soft, and deposits up to 60 eggs without attempting to cover them. Under fairly constant temperature and humidity, the unattended eggs are incubated over a period of 6 to 9 months before

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