Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg, also known as The Heritage City, owes its special character to its rich architectural heritage. Laid out on a grid plan, with a market square as the focal point, part of the city’s unique atmosphere and charm comes from the network of quaint, narrow pedestrian lanes linking Church and Longmarket streets. Regarded as one of the finest Victorian cities in the world, Pietermaritzburg’s numerous historic treasures include the imposing City Hall (1900) – the largest all-brick building in the southern hemisphere – the Legislative Assembly (1889) and Legislative Council (1899) buildings, Government House (late 1860s), Publicity House (1884) and the late-19th-century railway station.
Despite its overwhelmingly British colonial character, the city’s history is intimately linked to that of the Voortrekkers, who settled here in 1838. They named the settlement Pietermauritzburg after Pieter Mauritz Retief, who led the first trek into Natal. In 1938, it was decided to honour the leader of the second trek, Gert Maritz, as well and the name was changed to Pietermaritzburg. Among the buildings relating to the trekkers are the Voortrekker Museum, Voortrekker House (the only surviving double-storey Voortrekker house in Pietermaritzburg, dating back to 1846) and Welverdient, the house of trek leader Andries Pretorius.
Of more recent historic interest is the statue in Church Street Mall honouring Mahatma Gandhi, who developed the philosophy of satyagraha, or non-violent resistance, to achieve social and political reform in South Africa. Other major attractions include the Natal Museum, the Macrorie House Museum (furnished with Victorian period pieces) and Comrades Marathon House, headquarters of one of the world’s most famous ultra marathons. The Tatham Art Gallery has an extensive collection of South African art, as well as collections of 19th and 20th-century British and French painting. An interesting pastime is hunting down the more than 2 000 elephants that are depicted on buildings, arches, poles and windows in the city. The Natal National Botanic Garden covers 49 ha of landscaped and natural gardens focusing on the indigenous flora of KwaZulu-Natal. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the city’s Green Belt along several well-marked walks.
Source: http://www.southafrica.org.za/tour-sa-midlands-meander.html
Swaziland is a landlocked country covering 17 363 km2 of highlands, deep valleys, plains and lowlands. Along its eastern boundary, the Lebombo Mountains form a natural boundary with Mozambique and South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, while the western boundary with South Africa is demarcated by several high mountains. Although excavations have provided evidence that Iron Age people lived in the area some 1 600 years ago, the Swazi state was created in the early 1800s under Sobhuza I, who initially settled with his Ngwane people in the upper reaches of the Nkomati Valley after they were driven northwards by the Ndwandwe. Sobhuza later moved southeastwards, establishing his capital in the Little Usutu Valley. After Sobhuza’s death, the kingdom was ruled by a regent until 1845, when Mswati became king. He organised the Ngwane along military lines and his subjects became known as ‘the people of Mswati’. Various concessions for grazing and minerals and ‘friendship’ treaties with the Boers saw the kingdom’s territory reduced by half its original size. In 1894, Swaziland became a protectorate of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR), and in 1906 it was detached from the Transvaal and became a separate British colony. Swaziland became independent in 1968 and is ruled by a king, Mswati III, who wields both executive and legislative authority. The Swazi people are still deeply rooted in their culture and traditions and are known for their beautiful crafts, which include basketry, mats, pottery, printed cloth, jewellery and soapstone carvings, and for their reed dance, or umhlanga.
eMakhosini, or the Valley of the Kings, is the birthplace of the Zulu nation. Among its numerous historic sites are Mthonjaneni Spring, from where water was brought for the personal use of King Dingane, and the graves of Voortrekker leader Piet Retief and 69 of his followers. They were killed at KwaMatiwane near uMgungundhlovu on 6 February 1838 on the instructions of Dingane after concluding a land treaty. In the nearby Mkhumbane Valley is the royal village established by Dingane, who became king after the assassination of Shaka by two of his brothers in 1828. Named uMgungundhlovu (‘the secret meeting place of the elephant’), the Zulu capital consisted of between 1 700 and 2 000 beehive-shaped homesteads, and had a population of between 10 000 and 12 000 people. Eight regiments, each consisting of about 1 000 soldiers, also lived in the royal village. The village has been partially reconstructed and the site museum provides a fascinating insight into the life of its people. As well as occupying a central place in Zulu culture, the Valley of the Kings is also the burial place of Zulu kings, and contains the graves of Senzangakhona, father of Shaka, Dingane and Mpande, and Dinizulu, who ruled as king from 1884 to 1888 and 1898 to 1907.
