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founding of the Zulu nation, this region was peopled by the
Bhutelezi Clan; the great ruler of the Mtetwa Clan,
Dingiswayo who was at one time Shaka's mentor
almost certainly knew this area as he went about building his
Empire with his powerful iziCwe regiment.
Ndwande under their Chief, Zwide, were the sworn
enemy of both Dingiswayo and Shaka. Their territory
known as Ndwandweland lay here, north of the Black
Umfolozi. Dingiswayo's death at the hands of Zwide's
executioners was almost certainly in this area. Later
Shaka used these hunting grounds and here Mpande,
with the aid of the Boers was named King of the Zulus
on the banks of the Black Umfolozi on 10 February 1840.
Mzilikazi, once a General in Shaka's army and later founder
of the Matabele nation, is said to have traveled through
this area and indeed was born close by.
Years later, in 1879, Louis, the Prince Imperial was
killed in a skirmish in a nearby valley. This area could
without doubt
be named, the Valley of the Kings.