Mythology Episode 2 - Lake Fundudzi and the Gariep Monster

Yeah, okay.

I think we explored a little bit the last time about snakes somehow being this universal, mythological... creature.

And there's a very, very interesting one in our most northerly province, the province of Limpopo.

And it's a story that belongs to the Bavenda people.

And it has its origins in the only freshwater lake in South Africa, which I find quite fascinating as well.

Now, if you're looking at a map of South Africa, find the little town of Louis Trichardt.

And it now has a new name.

I think it's called, oh, goodness, the name escapes me.

But it's just south of the border with Zimbabwe.

It's the last major town before you hit the huge mountain range.

And then you've got some flatlands.

You go over Byte Bridge and you're into Zimbabwe.

So if you find that on the map, it's about 50-odd kilometers off to the north, east of Luitrichardt.

And up in the mountains there, you'll see Lake Funduzi.

And it's an interesting, like, first and foremost, it's the only freshwater lake in South Africa.

And geologically speaking, it was formed when a river, the Mutali River, was blocked by a landslide.

And geologists tell us 20 or 25,000 years ago.

But it created this lake.

And...

It's one of the spots that very, very few tourists actually get to.

It's never been developed as a tourist spot.

You can visit it.

You need special permissions and you've got to have approval from the head man.

And there's a couple of rituals and obviously some manners that you have to learn on how to approach the lake and walk up to the lake and ask the gods of the lake to be there.

But it is possible, obviously, to go and visit the place.