 It's for real! |
|
|
The
Best Guide to what to do in Melmoth |
 |
|
|
| MAP OF NKWALENI VALLEY | ||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||
| THE KING SHAKA ROUTE | ||||||||||||||||
| Leave
Eshowe on the R66 towards
Melmoth and after about
5kms turn off to the right on the P230. The first point of interest
on this route is the imposing Mandawe Church which has panoramic views
of the Mhlatuze valley and Phobane
Lake. To visit Mandawe Church, drive along the gravel P230 for
7,4kms then turn left onto the rough track which leads after 2,2kms
to the church. This track may be impassable after rain, but if you
don't mind the bumpy ride, the excursion to the little church with
its panoramic views is well worth while. The church is built with local rock and the steeple is in the shape of an inverted wooden Zulu milking pail. Return to the P230 and just before reaching the prominent Tap Tap Liquor Store, there is small group of trees shading the single grave of a British solder buried here in 1888. The grave stone reads: "Erected to the memory of Private George Milne, D Company, The Royal Scots, who was killed by accident while on the march on the 19th of July 1888, aged 22 years. This stone was erected by his comrade soldiers." The Tap Tap Liquor Store -owned by former SA boxing champion in the Super Middleweight division, Elijah 'Tap Tap' Makhathini - is 300m after this grave site. If you need refreshments this is your only chance on this route. About 3,5kms after Tap Tap Liquor Store is a side road to the right. Shaka's mother Nandi is buried in a simple grave about 3kms off this road (asking for directions is probably the easiest way to find it). Nandi featured prominently in Shaka's life and it is believed that her death in early August 1827 from dysentery was followed by a prolonged period of mourning during which many people were killed for not displaying adequate grief. Henry Francis Fynn, a white trader and traveller in Zululand during Shaka's reign, heard - though he was not allowed to witness the burial of Nandi - that 'ten maidens' were buried alive with Nandi to care for her in the afterworld. |
||||||||||||||||
| ACCOMMODATION IN AROUND THE NKWALENI VALLEY | ||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
HOME l GETTING THERE l ESHOWE l MTUNZINI l GINGINDLOVU l NKAWLENI l MELMOTH l ULUNDI l SITE MAP l ABOUT US
|
www.visitZululand.co.za
is the official website of the uMlalazi Tourism Association © uMlalazi Tourism Association |