I enjoyed very much this journey in the Kwazulu Natal: the discovery of the "Rainbow Nation" with all its efforts for a better life.
First of all the township of Inanda with the Ohlange Institute: the first school for Black people in South African founded by John Dube, a lawyer and educator (who later became the first president of the African National Congress). On April 1994 Nelson Mandela cast his vote a a polling booth booth in the school, then Mandela stood by his grave and sayed "Mr. President, I have come to report you that South Africa is free today":This school gives the opportunity to African boys and girls tof the township to staudy and become elite of their country.
An other example of excellent high school is the Drakensberg Boys' Choir School: some important South African singers have studied there.
Now two interesting experiences: Steve Honeysett has given training to young Zulu boys for the duty of of lifeguards in Durban and now there is a generation of very good Zulu lifeguards in South Africa.
And we have the "Umthombo association" : Lindela Ntombela explains that the street children can take their breakfast in the center, then they receive a basic education (writing and mathematics) and later they go to the beach where Sandile Mqadi, a professional surfer is teaching them surfing: some of the former street children have become surfing champions or are working now as lifeguards in the beaches of Durban.
Then I enjoyed the excursion to Lesotho with Chris Pin Holt, the unique access road from Kwazulu Natal to Lesotho through the Sani Pass: some informations about Lesotho: 2 millions of inhabitants living on 30.000 square kilometers: the lowest point of Lesotho is at 1.400 meters above sea lever,a country of shepherds breeding mainly goats and sheep, Belinda, the matriarch preparing papa a stiff porridge made from maize (like the ugali made in Kenya or Tanzania) and also localk beers.
Now some words about the Shakaland, a former film location transformed into a traditional Zulu village where péople live and receive tourists to explain them the traditional life of the Zulues: songs and dances: this villagers are very pround of their heritage.
We have also a little moment of French history, Elisabeth Durhan and Glenn Flanagan, two guides have studied the story of Eugène Louis Jean Joseph Napoléon, son of Napoléon III who was fighting with British troops against the Zulues and died in Kwazula Natal: his mother Eugénie madee then a 53 days trip through the Zululand to find his body. There is still a French presence in this arid area of Kwazulu, the Augustinian convent with its dispensary (Sister Madeleine).
Finally I enjoyed also the zoom about the Tsonga fishermen with their labirynth fishing technique: beautiful landscapes of lakes with crocodiles and hippopotamus.
I enjoyed the encounters of Jérôme with Vishen in Durban (the Indian South African community, the story of Durban, the Indian supper), with Karl (the Drakensbergsberg area with its grasslands and cave paintings), with Mabona in the Zulu village, with Françoie Malby at the Game Reserve of Thula Thula and with Promise and Victor the safari guides: very nice moments with very kind South African men and women.
First of all the township of Inanda with the Ohlange Institute: the first school for Black people in South African founded by John Dube, a lawyer and educator (who later became the first president of the African National Congress). On April 1994 Nelson Mandela cast his vote a a polling booth booth in the school, then Mandela stood by his grave and sayed "Mr. President, I have come to report you that South Africa is free today":This school gives the opportunity to African boys and girls tof the township to staudy and become elite of their country.
An other example of excellent high school is the Drakensberg Boys' Choir School: some important South African singers have studied there.
Now two interesting experiences: Steve Honeysett has given training to young Zulu boys for the duty of of lifeguards in Durban and now there is a generation of very good Zulu lifeguards in South Africa.
And we have the "Umthombo association" : Lindela Ntombela explains that the street children can take their breakfast in the center, then they receive a basic education (writing and mathematics) and later they go to the beach where Sandile Mqadi, a professional surfer is teaching them surfing: some of the former street children have become surfing champions or are working now as lifeguards in the beaches of Durban.
Then I enjoyed the excursion to Lesotho with Chris Pin Holt, the unique access road from Kwazulu Natal to Lesotho through the Sani Pass: some informations about Lesotho: 2 millions of inhabitants living on 30.000 square kilometers: the lowest point of Lesotho is at 1.400 meters above sea lever,a country of shepherds breeding mainly goats and sheep, Belinda, the matriarch preparing papa a stiff porridge made from maize (like the ugali made in Kenya or Tanzania) and also localk beers.
Now some words about the Shakaland, a former film location transformed into a traditional Zulu village where péople live and receive tourists to explain them the traditional life of the Zulues: songs and dances: this villagers are very pround of their heritage.
We have also a little moment of French history, Elisabeth Durhan and Glenn Flanagan, two guides have studied the story of Eugène Louis Jean Joseph Napoléon, son of Napoléon III who was fighting with British troops against the Zulues and died in Kwazula Natal: his mother Eugénie madee then a 53 days trip through the Zululand to find his body. There is still a French presence in this arid area of Kwazulu, the Augustinian convent with its dispensary (Sister Madeleine).
Finally I enjoyed also the zoom about the Tsonga fishermen with their labirynth fishing technique: beautiful landscapes of lakes with crocodiles and hippopotamus.
I enjoyed the encounters of Jérôme with Vishen in Durban (the Indian South African community, the story of Durban, the Indian supper), with Karl (the Drakensbergsberg area with its grasslands and cave paintings), with Mabona in the Zulu village, with Françoie Malby at the Game Reserve of Thula Thula and with Promise and Victor the safari guides: very nice moments with very kind South African men and women.