A fitting celebration of Landies
After a night of Zulu culture and dance at Shakaland, the 70th ‘Landies through the Ages’ expedition team was rudely awakened by Shakaland’s enthusiastic roosters trying to out-crow each other before the stars had faded
THE Zulus call the pre-dawn, ‘Mpondo zankomo’ – ‘horns of the cattle’, a poetic reference to the emerging silhouettes of cattle horns in the kraal as the darkness of night gives way to the emerging light of dawn.
After a night of Zulu culture and dance at Shakaland, the 70th ‘Landies through the Ages’ expedition team was rudely awakened by Shakaland’s enthusiastic roosters trying to out-crow each other before the stars had faded.
Early morning coffee on the campfire set the stage for an exciting community conservation day at nearby Ncemaneni Primary School to raise awareness of the unrelenting and savage poaching of Africa’s iconic rhinos through Rhino Art education and an energetic conservation-themed soccer match.
PHOTOS: Larry Bentley
It is important to instil a passion for wildlife amongst the youth, and the participation of learners of Richard’s Bay High School made this an unforgettable day of conservation education, provision of Rite to Sight spectacles for the poor-sighted, and early childhood development work with teachers and pre-school children of the Ncemaneni community.
Heading north
For those who like a road less travelled, there was the crossing the Phobane Dam wall, winding along dirt roads and over steep hills and through deep valleys rich in Zulu history and folklore, to the beautiful Babanango Valley with some of the most spectacular scenery in South Africa.
PHOTOS: Larry Bentley
The journey finished at the Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift battlefields of the Anglo-Zulu War.
After five days of adventure and great humanitarian work, this symbolic 70th anniversary expedition, that started with the creation of a big Land Rover-filled ‘70’ shape on the fields of Stonehaven Castle in the Shongweni Valley, came to an end as the hard-working Landy team wound their way home via the spectacular, twisting roads of Qhudeni to the Tugela River.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
