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Municipality, 2006). This study therefore recognises that though the Zululand area has
abundant water resources, however, pockets of settlements amongst which are Ulundi in the
sub-region, are facing relatively dry conditions. The transfer ofwater in this area is hampered
by setbacks as outlined above in the entire Zululand District.
5.6.2 Areas ofeDviroDmeDtal value aDd seDsitivity
Efforts have been made to conserve areas of environmental value and sensitivity [KwaZulu­
Natal Nature Conservation Service, (KZN-NCS, 2000)]. At a smaller scale, but of no less
importance is the conservation of cultural and historical sites and landscapes. Amafa
aKwalulu, (the heritage of the Zulu nation) is responsible for this function. Most of its
activities are focused in the Ulundi area and in Emakhosini, which is known as the 'Valley of
the Zulu Kings' (Figure 5.1).
Natural environment areas comprise those areas with indigenous forests. grasslands, game
and nature reserves. Most of these areas are conservation areas entrusted to the KwaZulu­
Natal Nature Conservation Service (NCS), whose function is to preserve the natural resources
and involve communities in the responsible management of their environmental heritage
(DEAT, 1996; Mwandla, 2002). Conservation. sensitive and cultural heritage areas are also
found in many parts of the Zululand District. Among the more famous are the Hluhluwe­
Umfolozi Game Reserve, Ophathe and Game Reserve, Emakhosini (Valley of the Zulu
Kings).
It is worthy of note that a number of tourism activities are located in and around Ulundi.
These include game reserves, historical and cultural sites and various battlefield sites of
cultural value. According to the Kwalulu-Natal Tourism Authority (KZNTA. 2000).
approximately 25% ofall foreign tourists who visit the province visit a Zulu cultural village
(ULCM, 2002). The concentration of historical sites in and around Ulundi as well as its
central location in relation to pristine game reserves provides the opponunity for the area to
become the tourist gateway to the Zululand region. As pan of the landscape and cultural
attributes in the study area, this study places more premium on the spatial developmental
attributes ofthe area to the community of Ulundi.
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