Tour announcement! I am launching my new “Exploring Shongweni Farmers Market and PheZulu” day tour.
A few weeks ago a guest asked me to put together a bespoke tour (yes, I am happy to put together bespoke tours) which involved visiting Shongweni Farmers Market on a Saturday morning and then PheZulu Safari Park – it was such a fun day I have decided to now include this day tour from Durban as a standard tour.
** Please note that this tour only runs on a Saturday **
Shongweni Farmers Market
From a very humble start back in 1998 when the Standeaven family hosted 12 stands selling produce on a field near Hillcrest (Durban), the Shongweni Farmers Market has grown to become the largest and most popular outdoor market in South Africa!
Regular as clockwork, the market opens at 7am on a Saturday morning, rain or shine, and closes at 1pm. There are no entry fees and plenty of parking if you decide to self drive.
Handmade Local Arts and Crafts
There are around 400 different vendors at the market – all of them selling hand made arts and crafts.
On my most recent visit I saw jewellery makers, toy makers, knife makers, locally designed and handmade clothing, biltong makers (you have to try biltong), antique dealers, coffee brewers and far more than I can remember!
It took my guests a good 3 hours to peruse the market and the disappointment for them as that they couldn’t just buy everything they saw and take it home – pesky airline rules you understand. They did buy some smaller bits and pieces including same lovely macrame pot holders.
Amazing Food Options
If I were to be honest, one of the biggest draws for me at Shongweni is the food choices – even now, on a Wednesday morning writing this blog post, I’m salivating at the thought of going there this weekend!
The options at Shongweni Farmers Market are actually a little overwhelming – there are breakfast buns (egg and bacon on a fresh bun), pulled pork, pancakes, beer breads, pastries, biltong, taco’s; if you’re a foodie like I am, you’ll think you arrived in paradise.
Personally, I love the bacon and egg on mealie-bread (corn bread), it is quite simply the greatest breakfast option on earth – you have to try it!
Why You Should Visit the Shongweni Farmers Market
There are so many reasons to visit the Shongweni Farmers Market but here are my top reasons;
- You get to head out of the city of Durban into the crisp fresh air of the outer west,
- Best place to meet happy South Africans of all races in their natural environment (they don’t bite),
- You will be supporting “mom and pop” style traders rather than big box stores,
- You will be a happier person after (t’s & c’s apply).
PheZulu Safari Park
PheZulu Safari Park has to be one of the most popular tourist attractions in Durban, and there is no secret why – it’s the enthusiastic and passionate 30 min traditional Zulu dance show that makes it one on the best destinations to visit.
After you’re done at the market, you’ll head across the suburb of Hillcrest into the Valley of a 1000 Hills, a trip that takes around 30mins or so to PheZulu, just in time for the 11:30am show.
Zulu Dance Show
I personally believe that the Zulu people are the most musical and of all the South Africans. Their dancing and singing skills are legendary (some may remember the gum boot dancers) and at the Zulu show, you’ll get to see these firsthand.
The Gaza family who have been dancing at this show for 35 years will first take you on a tour of a model Zulu village where they explain some of the early lives of Zulu people. After that it’s time for the Zulu dance which depicts the traditional courtship of the Zulu people and explain the roles of the Sangoma’s (curators of the spiritual ancestors).
This is an amazing, fun filled Zulu dance which never fails to impress visitors with the high kicks and enthusiastic singing!
Reptile and Crocodile Park
It’s actually mentioned in the title of the tour, but included is a visit and tour of the Crocodile and Reptile Park at PheZulu.
It takes around 30min and you’ll get to learn all about these astounding eating-machines and their ability to adapt. For those that are brave enough, you can even purchase a burger from the restaurant and sit in one of the crocodile enclosures – are you brace enough!
PheZulu also has a fantastic and engaging snake display with an African Rock Python that is the star of the show – sometimes, if she’s in the mood, you can even get a selfie with her!
Booking This Tour
Booking this tour or any of the other tours I offer is really easy. You can visit the Shongweni Tour page itself or send me an email via the contact page.
And if you were wondering, payment is really easy, we accept credit / debit cards via our online payment portal Yoco.