Trails

General

For exchange students from Germany based in Cape Town. Not for the faint-hearted.

Total duration: 10 days, the last two days are a visit to Tala Game Reserve.

Number of participants: min. 8, max. 12.

Accommodation and Food

Overnight stays in homesteads of local Zulu families. Students sleep on grass mats on the floor or camping mats if they bring their own along.

Facilities: No running water. No electricity. “Bathing” in plastic basins. Toilets are “long drops”

Food: Plenty! Mostly local food like sorghum porridge for breakfast. Samp and beans, and fresh vegetables from local gardens, etc. for supper, eaten around the fire together with the families in their kitchen huts. Also sandwiches, fruit and snacks. Bottled water is provided at the homesteads.

Features

Hikes: From homestead to homestead. Beautiful scenery, lots of uphills and downhills. The hikes are usually not longer than 8 km a day, but these 8 km are as flexible as “African time”… Sometimes we stay in the same homestead for 2 or 3 nights and do day hikes or projects.

Projects and activities: (will be decided, depending on what needs to be done). These include:

Working in community gardens

Building structures - a shed for garden tools, a pre-school, putting a thatch roof on a rondavel

Playing a soccer match and basketball - together with youngsters from the village against a formidable team from the neighbouring village.

Singing, dancing and playing with the local children

Visiting a school in the area

Possibly attending local events like a Zulu wedding or a sangoma celebration

Baking bread

Learning a bit of Zulu, including a Zulu song

Swimming in the river

Sleeping under the stars, keeping the fire going and taking turns doing night watch

Guides: 3 guides. Absolutely fantastic. Responsible and reliable! They are at home in the area, know the locals, give our students a huge amount of information about the people, the country, the weather, flora and fauna, culture and traditions.

Requirements

Students must be open, totally flexible, adventurous, helpful, patient, reasonably fit, and happy to rough it!!! They must be able to cope with heat, rain, mud, plans going wrong, programme changing. Most important: NO complainers please! In return, the Zulu Trail offers a life-changing experience. Awesome. Unforgettable.

Transport

Flight to Durban not inclusive. Shuttle is provided at R300 per round trip. Students get picked up at the airport by the guides and driven to the start of the trail - about a 4 hour drive. (The route and overnight stays change from time to time). At the end of the trail, transport is provided to accommodation at Sugarfields Lodge, near Tala Game Reserve, and from there to the airport.

Pricing

Zulu Trail Costs per student (a minimum of 8) : 65 Euros - excluding flights, transfer to and from airport (an additional R300 per student), and accommodation at Sugarfields Lodge, Eston. Includes accommodation in homesteads , game park entrance fee, all additional transport, food.)

Rough estimate for entire trail: between 800 and 900 Euro

General

For young corporate leaders seeking a deeper understanding of traditional Zulu culture in contrast to our pressured modern world. Our 3 to 4 day trails open up a world view and way of life that might lack material wealth but has much to teach about the richness of simple living. community, caring, connection and sharing.

We plan to launch the first corporate trail before the end of 2017.

If you are interested please contact us.

Accommodation and Food