Annual Royal Zulu Reed Dance

Depart from your hotel in Durban from 7am to start this fascinating 3.5 hour journey to Nongoma and King Goodwill Zwelithini's Royal Palace. Lunch, snacks and water included in the package.

As well as joining in traditional singing and dancing, the Reed Dance is an opportunity to school the girls in their culture. Older Zulu women teach the young girls, who have to be virgins in order to participate, about how they should act as grown women. As part of this, they promote celibacy until marriage and teach the girls respect for their bodies. While the lessons and ceremonies are steeped in Zulu tradition and culture, this mass gathering of young people is also an opportunity to discuss contemporary social issues that affect them, such as HIV and teen pregnancies.

For visitors, the highlight of the event is the reed-giving ceremony. Led by Zulu princesses, the young women make a sea of color in intricately beaded outfits as they each collect a cut reed and present it to the king. According to Zulu tradition, the original ancestor emerged from a reed bed, so the laying the reeds at the king’s feet symbolizes respect for the Zulu culture. The reeds are also used to build traditional Zulu huts and to craft the mats and baskets for which the Zulu people are famous. Zulu men also participate in this part of the ceremony, singing and mock fighting.