The Valley of 1000 Hills Route is one of KwaZulu Natal's best kept secrets. The Valley of a 1000 Hills forms around the majestic landscapes created by the Mngeni River. Many artists and crafters have been attracted to the beauty and tranquility of this area which is filled with cozy guest lodges, friendly pubs and tea gardens with sweeping views over the hills and dams. The seemingly eternal tranquility of these rolling hills belies the blood-soaked drama that unfolded almost two centuries ago with the arrival of King Shaka's unstoppable regiments. Immediately after his coronation in 1816, the 'Black Napoleon' set about subjugating all the tribes that today constitute the Kingdom of the Zulu, and the Thousand Hills clans folk were given no exemption those who did not flee either capitulated to the monarch of Africa's newest empire or stood, fought and were overwhelmed by Shaka's military genius. Today, opportunities abound to discover at first hand the intricacies of ethnic customs and beliefs that inform day-to-day life in the many welcoming, beehive-hutted villages that adorn these hillsides. |
