There are many reasons for studying Zulu, including personal interest in southern African cultures, research interests and fulfillment of foreign language requirements. In addition, Zulu has great political, cultural, historical and social importance in southern Africa. Zulu spread throughout large areas of southern Africa; the language served as a tool for unifying the many ethnic…

People and History The Zulu people live in South Africa, primarily in KwaZulu-Natal (formerly known as Natal). The history of the Zulus can be traced back to the 19th century warrior, Shaka Zulu. After the death of his father, Senzangakhona, Shaka conquered many ethnic groups and consolidated them under his reign, creating a huge Zulu…

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is situated along the east coast of South Africa. It is bounded to the north by Swaziland and Mozambique, to the east by the Indian Ocean, to the south by the Eastern Cape province, to the west by Lesotho and the Free State province, and to the north-west by the Mpumalanga province. KwaZulu-Natal is…

North West lies in the north of South Africa on the Botswana border, fringed by the Kalahari Desert in the west, Gauteng province to the east and the Free State to the south. It covers an area of 104 882km² and has a population of 3 748 436. Much of the province consists of flat areas…

The vast and arid Northern Cape is the largest province in South Africa, taking up nearly a third of the country’s land area. It covers an area of 372 889km² and has a population of 1 193 780, the least populous of South Africa’s provinces. It is bordered by Namibia and Botswana to the north, and…

Mpumalanga, the second-smallest province in South Africa after Gauteng, is located in the north-eastern part of the country, bordering Swaziland and Mozambique to the east. It also borders Limpopo, Gauteng, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal within South Africa. It covers an area of 76 495km² and has a population of 4 335 964, making it the sixth…

Limpopo, South Africa’s northernmost province, borders onto Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana. It also borders the Mpumalanga, Gauteng and North West provinces. Named after the Limpopo River, which flows along its northern border, it is a region of contrasts, from true Bushveld country to majestic mountains, primeval indigenous forests, unspoiled wilderness and patchworks of farmland. In…

KwaZulu-Natal is located in the south-east of South Africa bordering the Indian Ocean. It also borders on the Eastern Cape, Free State and Mpumalanga provinces, as well as Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique. The ‘Garden Province’ of South Africa stretches from the lush subtropical east coast washed by the warm Indian Ocean, to the sweeping savanna in…

The Free State is located in the geographical centre of South Africa, bordered by the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, North West, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, as well as Lesotho. The Free State is a rural province of farmland, mountains, goldfields and widely dispersed towns. Although the Free State is the third-largest province in South…

The Western Cape is located on the southern tip of the African continent between the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. It is bordered by the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape provinces. The Western Cape’s natural beauty makes the province one of the world’s greatest tourist attractions. The region is topographically and climatically diverse. It has a…