Homestays | Stay with a Zulu Family and experience authentic African hospitality

Our Zulu homestays give you the unique opportunity to step out of your own existence and into the world of a traditional Zulu family.

Your Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge guide (who remains with you for the entire stay) will take you to the Nkosi Family Home. The family will host you and invite you to join them in their daily tasks such as basket weaving, collecting thatching grass and wood and bringing the cattle home for the evening at sunset. You’ll also be able to visit local crafters or consult the sangoma (traditional healer).

As the sun goes down, you’ll gather with the guide and family around the open fire to enjoy the magnificent view over the hills of the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park while listening to stories of bygone times, asking questions, making friends and enjoying Zulu Beer, cold drinks and traditional snacks. A traditional Zulu meal observing all the rituals of the Zulu home is served in the dining hut. You’re then free to retire to your hut, listening to the soothing sounds of rural Zululand.

Sunrise heralds the new day with roosters crowing and the happy singing of neighbours’ in the distance. It is time to take the cattle out to graze and go about daily chores after enjoying a hot bucket shower. A breakfast of fresh, locally-grown fruit, farm eggs and traditional maize meal porridge is served at 8am. When it’s time to bid farewell to the family, it will feel like saying goodbye to old friends

Activities 

• Cattle herding with the father of the homestead
• Basket weaving
• Handcrafts and traditional Zulu mat making
• Traditional Zulu beer tasting
• Walk through the community
• Cultural sharing around open fire (weather permitting)  

Season Highlights 

• MAY - SEPTEMBER : Temperature ranges from 11°c - 24°c. Sunny days with cool mornings and evenings.
• OCTOBER - APRIL : Temperature ranges from 15°c - 35°c. Days are hot & humid with occasional afternoon & evening thunderstorms.

Clothing 

Comfortable, casual, cool, cotton bushwear of preferably neutral colours/bush tones. Hats, scarves, warm jacket/windbreaker year round. Comfortable sturdy walking shoes.