The information below has been provided for you by the supported placement organisation running the placement. You can contact the company for more information using the links at the bottom of this page.
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This placement would suit... Someone with an interest in culture, archaeology and conservation. Lovers of the outdoors with an interest in interacting with different cultures.
 The combination of Archaeology and Conservation makes this a fascinating project.
eMakhosini is known as The Valley of Kings because it is the home of the burial places of famous historical Zulu leaders like Chaka and Dingane.
You'll also be helping to create a brand new Nature Reserve - a rare opportunity!
You'll get direct exposure to the Zulu culture and history which has influenced the political and social structure of southern and eastern Africa. You'll also gain first-hand experience of biodiversity conservation in neighbouring Opathe Game Reserve. as well as practical application of surveys, including species inventories, mammal counts and practical reserve activities. For example, our last group of volunteers were involved in the release of black rhino into the reserve.
About eMakhosini
The eMakhosini is a microcosm of the history of southeastern Africa. In the valley one will find stone tools left behind by Stone-Age hunter-gatherers who were probably of the valley’s earliest inhabitants. 15th century stone-walled structures on the hillsides bear testimony to the formative settlements of the forefathers of the great Zulu Kingdom.
It was in this valley that King Shaka was born and where seven of the great Zulu kings lie buried. It was here that the Zulu’s defeated their archrivals, the Ndwandwe, an epic battle which had repercussions for the whole of southeast Africa. It marked the beginning of the creation of the most powerful, economic and military kingdom on the African sub-continent, the Kingdom of the Zulu. Young Shaka drove out clans who left their mark as far as Zimbabwe, Malawi and Tanzania.
 Later, Shaka’s successor and half brother, Dingane, established his Royal Residence in the eMakhosini. It was here where he clashed with the Voortrekkers who sought new lands in the Zulu Kingdom. The valley also contains the Hill of Execution, kwaMatiwane, where Dingane’s men put Voortrekker leader Piet Retief and his followers to death. These events have influenced the course of South African politics to this day.
The final battle of the Anglo Zulu war was fought between the invading British army under Lord Chelmsford here at Ulundi in 1879 on the eastern periphery of the eMakhosini.
There are several other sacred, ancient places in the valley. Such as Nobamba, the homestead of Shaka's grandfather Jama, which is also referred to as "the most sacred site" and "the place of unity and strength". Close by lies Makheni, a hallowed spot where men are not permitted to strike or even touch the ground with their sticks, lest they disturb the spirits of their ancestors.
The valley is not only a place rich in history, but is rich in ecological diversity, ranging from grassland to valley bushveld.
Your Work
Sometimes it's not as easy as it looks!
This project has two facets - Conservation with animals and plants, and Archaeology.
About the Conservation Segment
Exciting developments within this young heritage park provide opportunity for a wide variety of field based activities, such as the collection and recording of valuable base line data which will assist park management in making informed decisions based upon up-to-date information provided by our volunteers.
A fascinating part of your work will include compiling an inventory of the various species on the neighbouring Opathe Game Reserve. Opathe is remote and hot, but has giraffe, crowned eagle, black rhino and various other species.
A team effort and expertise provided by field managers, scientists, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) Honorary Officers and local experts will assist you in various activities, including biological data collections of both plants and animals. Recent records have identified the occurrence of the secretive Steenbok, the discovery of a Crowned Eagle nesting site along the Ophathe river, the first ever distribution records for a variety of invertebrate species such as the yellow-banded black millipede, six-angled slug, Mpanzi snout weevil and the Drakensberg pamphagid.
Vegetation surveys update current known plant distribution records for the park and ultimately the province of KwaZulu Natal. Rare and threatened plants are monitored and where possible plant recovery plans established. Aloe gestneri, an aloe species endemic to KwaZulu Natal, which was once abundant in the area, has become vulnerable as a result of land transformation, muthi and ornamental collections. This aloe has been re-established within the park where it will be safeguarded against illegal exploitation.
You will be trained to use Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to accurately capture the alignment of roads, trails, fence lines, the position of buildings, invasive plant distributions and biological data collections which ensure that good quality maps and relocation information are produced and stored in the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife database.
 About the Archaeology Segment
This part of South Africa is rich with a diverse variety of archaeological sites ranging from Early Stone Age deposits to historical farm houses. Historically this area has been researched by many archaeologists and we know the importance of especially the Late Iron Age sites associated with the rise of the great Zulu empire. You will assist in the excavation, documentation and management of several sites in this area.
The objectives to which volunteers are able to contribute are as follows...
- The conservation of ancestral burial places, historical battlefields and other sites of archaeological, historical and cultural significance
- The maintenance of an ecologically sustainable environment through participation in fauna and flora species inventory projects
- The linking of historical sites and placing them in the context of a thematic cultural-historical tourism attraction
Accommodation
There are plans to build Zulu huts for our volunteers to live in ... and you may even assist to build them yourself. It'll give you a wonderful learning experience in how these beehive-shaped Zulu huts have been constructed over the centuries.
Until the Zulu huts are built, you'll most likely live in a farmhouse or possibly in a camp in tents, with everyone mucking in with food preparation, barbecues (known as 'braais' in RSA), etc. The setting is beautiful and typically African bush.
Travellers' placements are very flexible & can be combined with any other Travellers placement & tailor made to you own requirements!
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0845 344 7585 |
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