See Also
Dlinza Forest Aerial Boardwalk
The Karkloof Crane and Conservation Centre
Ongoye Forest Birding Camp
Thonga Beach Lodge and the Mabibi Campsite
The Wakkerstroom Wetland Reserve and Training Centre
Marutswa Forest Trail and Boardwalk
Southern KZN Birding Route
The Karkloof Crane and Conservation Centre
Ongoye Forest Birding Camp
Thonga Beach Lodge and the Mabibi Campsite
The Wakkerstroom Wetland Reserve and Training Centre
Marutswa Forest Trail and Boardwalk
Southern KZN Birding Route
Location Info
Special thanks for images
© Charlie MacGillivray (Gartmore Farm)
Michael Cowell
Ria Fokkens
© Charlie MacGillivray (Gartmore Farm)
Michael Cowell
Ria Fokkens
Marutswa Forest Trail and Boardwalk
Articles
Mats & Pots
Marutswa Forest Reed Mats
These mats are made using time – honoured
traditional methods, with some elements of modern
recycling so are very eco friendly to manufacture.
Once the reeds are dried, A skilled weaver will take
around two days to make one of these items and
often will be creating the mat at home whilst caring
for their children and grandchildren, or they may be
retired people welcoming the supplement to their
modest government grants.
First the weaver will go down to the river to select the Ncema reeds, these are usually at the right length and ripeness at Easter which is Autumn in South Africa, and at this time of year the reeds will only take a few days to dry out.
Then rolls of coloured and neutral carpet yarn, depending on the patterns of the mat, are wound around discarded torch batteries and attached to a basic handmade wooden jig with slits. Taking one or two strings together the weaver winds holding the yarn attached to the batteries and painstakingly overlaps the reeds to bind them which eventually creates an extremely beautiful and very useful mat which in Zulu culture is traditionally used for sleeping on.
Marutswa Forest Unkhumba - Clay Pot Manufacture
Clay pots which are often used for storing and
drinking beer are another popular traditional item.
The pots found in the Marutswa Forest shop are of
the highest quality, and are sourced from Potters
whose skills have been honed from generation to
generation.
The purest grade raw clay is selected from a range
of places either from Mountains or river, and may
still sometimes have to be dried out and any residual stones removed, then it may be ground finely before being made wet to make it pliable again.
Using the coil method the potter will wind and pinch the clay to make the shape and size required, and then using a smooth stone and knife they will etch on the pot to create inlaid patterns. If a raised pattern is decided on, then the clay is shaped and applied in the manner of pastry decoration.
Traditionally, pots were always fired in a pit, but these days they may also be fired by the use of indigenous plants selected for their intense heat giving properties when alight. The pots are then burnt until they redden.
A brown pot has probably been fired once and the darker pots are fired twice. To give the colour and wonderful burnish, dry cow dung powder is then applied and polished to give the deep warm glows of brown and silvery black.
Clay pot making is an ancient Zulu art and depending on the dryness of the weather a potter may create around 20 pots in a week.
Articles
Mats & Pots
Marutswa Forest Reed Mats
These mats are made using time – honoured
traditional methods, with some elements of modern
recycling so are very eco friendly to manufacture.
Once the reeds are dried, A skilled weaver will take
around two days to make one of these items and
often will be creating the mat at home whilst caring
for their children and grandchildren, or they may be
retired people welcoming the supplement to their
modest government grants.
First the weaver will go down to the river to select the Ncema reeds, these are usually at the right length and ripeness at Easter which is Autumn in South Africa, and at this time of year the reeds will only take a few days to dry out.
Then rolls of coloured and neutral carpet yarn, depending on the patterns of the mat, are wound around discarded torch batteries and attached to a basic handmade wooden jig with slits. Taking one or two strings together the weaver winds holding the yarn attached to the batteries and painstakingly overlaps the reeds to bind them which eventually creates an extremely beautiful and very useful mat which in Zulu culture is traditionally used for sleeping on.
Marutswa Forest Unkhumba - Clay Pot Manufacture
Clay pots which are often used for storing and
drinking beer are another popular traditional item.
The pots found in the Marutswa Forest shop are of
the highest quality, and are sourced from Potters
whose skills have been honed from generation to
generation.
The purest grade raw clay is selected from a range
of places either from Mountains or river, and may
still sometimes have to be dried out and any residual stones removed, then it may be ground finely before being made wet to make it pliable again.
Using the coil method the potter will wind and pinch the clay to make the shape and size required, and then using a smooth stone and knife they will etch on the pot to create inlaid patterns. If a raised pattern is decided on, then the clay is shaped and applied in the manner of pastry decoration.
Traditionally, pots were always fired in a pit, but these days they may also be fired by the use of indigenous plants selected for their intense heat giving properties when alight. The pots are then burnt until they redden.
A brown pot has probably been fired once and the darker pots are fired twice. To give the colour and wonderful burnish, dry cow dung powder is then applied and polished to give the deep warm glows of brown and silvery black.
Clay pot making is an ancient Zulu art and depending on the dryness of the weather a potter may create around 20 pots in a week.
Eco-tourism = Community + Environment
