Watercolour in Moleskine Folio 200gsm watercolour sketch-book – 12″ × 8.5″

“Ukuph’ ukuziphakela.” (Giving is to dish out for oneself).
- Zulu proverb

As one descends down Van Reenen’s pass at Harrismith in the Free State, South Africa, you enter the hills and valleys of KwaZulu Natal, known as the Zulu Kingdom, home to the Zulu people. Here you will find traditional Zulu huts dotting the country side, set amongst peaceful, green hills, waving grasslands, abundant forests, with an unhurried lifestyle and a soil imbued with the strength of the Zulu nation who fought for this land. Here one can visit a Sangoma (traditional healer), watch a rural wedding ceremony and experience Zulu hospitality.

Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and all pieces of territory that made up the homeland of KwaZulu. In the 1830s the northern part was the Zulu Kingdom and southern part was briefly a Boer republic called Natalia (from 1839 until 1843). In 1843 the latter became the British Colony of Natal, though Zululand (KwaZulu in Zulu) remained independent until 1879.

Located in the south-east of the country, it borders three other provinces and the countries of Mozambique, Swaziland, and Lesotho, along with a long shoreline on the Indian Ocean. Its capital is Pietermaritzburg and its largest city is Durban.

This is done from memory of my numerous trips down to the North Coast through this beautiful part of our country.

1. 9th July 2010 – FEATURED in Art At its Best
2. 12th August 2010 – FEATURED in Fauna, Flora, Landscapes and Architecture of South Africa
3. 3rd September 2010 – FEATURED in Inspired Art
4. 25th October 2010 – this image is on the South Africa themed FrontPage of Redbubble today – Less than 3 in a thousand works make it onto the homepage!

1. 27th April 2011 – FEATURED in Image Writing