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View/Open - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

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• Opathe Emakhosini Heritage Park.<br />

• Mabedlane Mountain.<br />

• Umfolozi Game Reserve.<br />

• Umfolozi River.<br />

• Aloe plant.<br />

• Historical sites (e.g., Ulundi Battlefield).<br />

• Cultural Museum.<br />

• Ndonsa Art and Craft centre.<br />

• Transport network (e.g., Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Airport, R66, R34 and P700<br />

roads as well as the coal link railway).<br />

• The fonner Legislative Assembly and fonner KZN Provincial Administrative<br />

Building.<br />

• Accommodation facilities (e.g., The Ulundi Holiday Inn (Garden court) and other<br />

emerging bed and breakfast operations).<br />

(a) The Opathe Emakhosini Heritage Park<br />

Launched in 1999, the Emakhosini project is one <strong>of</strong> Amafa's most ambitious initiatives. It<br />

was in this area <strong>of</strong> rolling hills and well-watered valleys that Nkosinkulu Zulu settled three<br />

hundred years ago. The project focuses on developing the natural and cultural resources<br />

within the Emakhosini valleys and Amafa has identified a core area for development. The<br />

KZN legislature allocated a sum <strong>of</strong> five million Rand for additional land purchases in<br />

Emakhosini, while the Department <strong>of</strong>Arts, Culture and Tourism supported the venture with 5<br />

million rand for upgrading <strong>of</strong> infrastructure. Through imaginative and on-going consolidation<br />

<strong>of</strong> fonner farmlands by AmafalHeritage KwaZulu-Natal, the 28000 hectares Opathe<br />

Emakhosini Heritage Park was established. This encompasses the Emakhosini valley, where<br />

Zulu Kings were buried (wv.w.emakhosini.co.za, 2007).<br />

By the beginning <strong>of</strong> 2002, the Nguni herd in the Emakhosini stood at 100 animals and 26<br />

young bulls which were sold, raising R46253 to purchase 20 cows. About 68 head <strong>of</strong> game<br />

including 13 Zebra. 24 impala. six giraffe, 10 warthogs and 15 kudu were released into the<br />

park. Although the current inventory <strong>of</strong> the wildlife in the game is not readily available. the<br />

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