Venda
To the west and north of Louis Trichardt lies the intriguing land of the Vha Venda people, a culturally and linguistically distinct African grouping known for their mystical legends, political independence and their arts and crafts. Venda was demarcated as a homeland under the apartheid system in the Fifties, and became one of three nationally independent homelands in South Africa in the late Seventies. Of all the homelands, Venda was one of the least compromised, keeping both its geographic and cultural integrity, and largely being left to mind its own business during the dark years of apartheid. Its boundaries have regained their former fuzziness, within Limpopo, but the region has retained its strong, independent identity.
Like most of the other homelands of apartheid South Africa with a bloated and inefficient bureaucracy. Despite the restructuring of the provinces and tightening of budgets, many difficulties have lingered.
The culture of Venda is a fascinating one, steeped in mysticism and vivid legend. One pervading theme is water - always an important concern in hot, seasonal climates, but in which Venda in unusually abundant. Lakes, rivers, waterfalls and lush forests all form sacred sites, while legends abound of zwidutwane, or water sprite, and snakes who live at the bottom of dark pools or lakes.