This trip is a unique combination of :
Ecology and Geography
Local Venda Culture
Nature
History
A Botanist/ecologist who worked for 18 years in Botanical research, and lectured for 9 years at the University of Venda leads this specially designed program.
The location of this trip is in the far Northern portion of South Africa....it is the home of the Venda tribal group. This tribal group, is on the last tribes to migrate down from Central Africa. They came to South Africa, after the landing of the first whites in the South.
The breakdown of the local Africa healer and prophets, who play different parts, will be made clear to you as you travel. The local healers understand that you have questions and that you may be skeptical of there knowledge.. they are quite open about that.
Group Size:
While larger groups of up to 10 person may be possible, this type of trip is best suited for smaller groups or 2 to 4 persons.
Please note..this package is not designed to meet any travelers specific needs....the people visited are real, who live this lifestyle......if you cannot adjust to changing conditions of hygiene ie outside toilets when visiting some of the healers, local food, then this is not for you. The aim of the this package is people, culture, and nature. This is not a cultural tourist village. While they have there place, this is real people living out there lives.
Access to traditional tribal healers and to Sunday church services, African style, is due to the trust and connection of the tour guide. This aspect of local culture is usually closed of to the general public. However we have the permission to access the Sunday prayer service to experience the singing, dancing, drumming and prayer of this small African based church, or place of worship.
This tour is best done over 4 nights at a minimum....the distances covered make it to rushed to try and do 3 nights. See below in the notes section of different ways to package this trip.
Below is a synopsis of what is and could be covered....these are totally subject to change according to what happens as the trip unfolds. This means even if we agree to meet a healer..they may choose to do something else, and we go to option # 2.
Day 1 Arrive in to Pretoria( Tshwana) to overnite in Pretoria at a local guest house, late afternoon.....Introduction to the trip/general outline.
Day 2 Brief tour of Pretoria including historical buildings, Geography, unique plants, fauna, etc
Visit to a local African Herbal Muti Shop ( Muti local African word for Medicine) Explanation of traditional healing methods.
Optional experience of a session with a local healer.
Drive to Northern South Africa approx 5 hours with stops along the way to explain the geography, plants, etc, rest stops, eating etc.
Overnite Day 2 to Day 4 at a local guest house situated in the beautiful agricultural orchards of the
Soutpanberg Mountains...these mountains are in a partly tropical weather belt, and they grow lots of mangos, avocados, passion fruit, nuts in the area.
Break fast and dinner at the guest house....lunch on our own
Day 3 Drive to pick up translator, Visit to traditional healer, visit to Mission station, afternoon services, meeting with Betty the local Prophet, meal after services(traditional) return to guest house
Day 4 Drive to Kruger Park to visit the Thulamela excavations dating back to 1200ad, experience a brief walking Safari with a armed guard, drive to bead and pottery shop, to practice and or to watch local pottersThe local Venda people are well know for there pottery.
Part of the day free for unexpected add ons ie brief walk in the mountains, etc. Return to guest house for overnite.
Day 5 Drive to Hot Springs stopping of to visit a local rural clinic..afternoon at Hot Springs to soak and relax, and to reflect on the past 2 days.
Day 6 Drive to Mupangubwe, the United Nations most recent world heritage site, visit wild dog project, posible visit to the diamond mine and afternoon drive in the Mupangubwe Park with a sundowner by the 3 country border of Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Mupangubwe.....a tribal area dating back to 1200ad....this is a new park..with some wild game, and very different, scenic rock formations.
Day 7 Drive back to Pretoria/Johannesburg for the next step in your travel plans.
Note.....this trip above can be shortened by one night...by foregoing the guest house in Pretoria. However then you must be available early the next day in the Pretoria/Johannesburg area to begin.
Another day can be cut of from this trip by foregoing, the second day in Venda ie visit to Kruger etc. Therefore it becomes a 4N/5 Day trip…
Meals...All breakfasts, some dinners, and lunches will be inlcuded.. this gives you the freedom to experience some local restaurants as you travel, visit supermarkets....see and experience the country from a local perspective.
Driving...Distances are long, dirt roads are part of the trip.....Please be aware of this....
Lodging:
There is a possiblity that for one of the nights in Venda, you could stay in of the huts of a local healer.
Also for the last night at Mupangupwe, you can choose between a moderate lodge, that has the sacred rock of the Venda people on it( we usually take a walk/climb on it..not very strenuous) or stay at a more luxury newer lodge closer to the park.. the latter includes all your meals.
Rates for this trip depend on the time of year.. please ask.
This is a custom designed trip so please ask if you have ideas to modify this..it may work.
