The Venda People

Today we took another tour, but this time we ventured a bit further from where we’re staying, into an area that showcases the Venda people.

We traveled by car with a local guide to the town of Nzhelele. Our first stop was a museum highlighting the region and the history of the Venda people.




Afterward, our guide took us to what one might call a pub. It’s actually the home of a woman who brews the local homemade beer, made from corn. This was the first highlight of the day, because not only did we learn how the beer was made, we also got to try it. And we got to spend a little time with a group of people who were quite literally as drunk as could be. It was so much fun, and they welcomed us with open arms. It’s the kind of stop a tourist would never make unless they were with a local who could take them there.




We then traveled to a river with some beautiful waterfalls, where we had a picnic lunch, and afterward we visited an artist.






It was then time to head back, and we took a slightly different route than the way we’d come. We passed through a heavily agricultural area where we saw lychee growing, as well as macadamia nuts, which is a major crop here.

The highlight of the entire day was definitely dinner. We asked if they could prepare a very traditional Venda meal for us, and they were thrilled to do so. They served grilled chicken, stewed tripe, beef shanks, chicken feet, two types of spinach, and two types of corn called samp and pap. Most of it was fantastic, in fact one of the best meals we’ve had since arriving in South Africa. Quick note: I’m not a fan of tripe, but I did taste it.







All of the people we’re meeting are just fantastic. They love to share their culture, and we love to learn about it.

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