By: Jill Langley Photos by: Bevan Langley and Jill Langley
TRAVEL XXX
A Step into Venda Nelson at Lake Fundudzi: The drought-affected Lake Fundudzi.
W
e parked our
So, sunblock and hats on,
Maphaha, commented
The sound of drums that
car and, the
we climbed out into the
mournfully about the
echo out of stones and
moment the
sweltering heat. Walking
recent drought, comparing
ricochet around the rocky
air conditioner stopped,
over the hard-baked
what we saw with what
valley, and ancient human
we were assaulted by the
earth, the ground-hugging
was usually the view.
sacrifices. Finally reaching
blazing midday heat of
vegetation made it clear
Limpopo. Getting out of
that this area was usually
trudged on and he began
us to each select a stone,
the car was only marginally
under water. As we
to relate the history and
get ready to spit on it and
worse than staying in it.
walked, our guide, Nelson
mysticism of the area.
toss it backwards through
Nevertheless, we
the water’s edge, he told
our legs into the water to make the traditional greeting of the lake. So, where were we? In a land most famous for its Big Five wildlife and fossil-rich caves, we had come in search of a cultural adventure. Venda’s Vhatatsindi people inhabit the lush mountainous regions of northern Limpopo in the region of Thohoyandou. Under the
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Public Sector Manager • July 2022
