EMAKHOSINI OPHATHE HERITAGE PARK - HISTORY
The eMakhosini valley contains a microcosm of the history of south-eastern Africa. Alongside the sparkling streams and in its gullies the tools of Stone Age hunter-gatherers are to be found. There is archaeological evidence of a 1000-year history of interaction between Stone-Age Bushmen and the earliest Iron Age farmers, who settled in the valley some 1500 years ago. It was in this valley that King Shaka was born in about 1785. It is here in the eMakhosini that his forebears lie buried, and where Shaka herded his father's cattle as a young boy.

Later, after assuming the mantle of King of the Zulus, Shaka established his fIrst royal residence at KwaBulawayo. It is in this valley, at KwaGqokili Hill, just outside the present day town ofUlundi, that the Zulus first defeated their archrivals, the Ndwandwe.

King Shaka was succeeded by his half-brother, Dingane, who established his Royal Residence in the eMakhosini at uMgungundlovu. King Dingane clashed with Voortrekkers who sought new lands in the Zulu kingdom. This led to major conflicts which have influenced politics in South Africa to the present. Voortrekker leader, Piet Retief and his followers, were put to death at Dingane's Royal Homestead and are buried at Kwa Matiwane, the Hill of Execution, in the eMakhosini valley.

Mpande succeeded Dingane and reigned for 30 uneventful years. It was his son, Cetshwayo, who brought the name of Zulu to world renown. In the final battle of the Anglo-Zulu war, later in 1879, Lord Chelmsford defeated Cetshwayo in the battle of Ulundi, which is on the periphery of the eMakhosini valley.

For these reasons, eMakhosini is considered to be sacred by many Zulu royalists and traditionalists.

There are a number of museums and historical sites which can be visited. Ondini museum houses an outstanding collection of Zulu historical and cultural artefacts. 
Mgungundlovu, site of Dingans military village that was burnt leaving the original floors baked and where the reconstruction of Dingans homestead, associated buildings and cattle kraal can all be seen. Also the site where Piet Retief was executed and buried. A historical museum interpreting the Zulu Boer conflict, Copper melting sites, ancient bead work and a variety of cultural artefacts collected from that era. Interpretation sites located within the Ophathe section of the park highlight the events of the Ophathe and kwaGqokli battles which took place within the park.