A Little Piece of Ocean Paradise. Oudekraal beach offers beautiful sea views and calm waters. Oudekraal Beach, part of the Table Mountain National Park area, is one of Cape Town’s best kept secrets. Not far from the crowd favorites like Camps Bay and Clifton, this little beach is tucked away in a cove and offers a unique kind of experience.

This secluded beach, situated between Llandudno andn Bakove, has both historical and spiritual significance for the Muslim community. At the turn of the 18th Century, it was a refuge for slaves who had escaped from the colonial authorities and their masters. Among them were Muslim spiritual leaders who had been captured and brought to the Cape after leading uprisings against slavery in the Dutch East Indies. The Oudekraal ravines provided seclusion and safety for them and allowed them to teach their disciples and keep Islam going in the Cape. The spiritual, historical and natural importance of this Area has left this piece of paradise relatively untouched. The parking lot sits above the beach with a 'Boma' and braai area for functions. Just above the beach, to the left, is a grassy area with more braai sites for lazy afternoon picnics. Stake out a spot provided with privacy from others by the milkwood trees and build a fire whilst enjoying uninterrupted views. The small sandy cove is sheltered by boulders, creating a tempting swimming area with gentle swells that are easy to swim through. Lie on the beach, play some bat and ball, go for a dip or climb onto one of the boulders and soak up some sun.

This is one of those Cape Town spots that leaves you in awe of the natural beauty that we’re surrounded by. With the turquoise water, white sand and gorgeous granite boulders, you couldn’t ask for a more picturesque setting. Things to do: Take a dip – the water is nice and calm so it’s a great place to take the kids, who can splash around in the shallows if they’re not ready to take to the sea just yet. Although be warned, it’s cold! There is also no lifeguard on duty so you’ll need to keep an eye on your little ones. Bring a picnic or braai with and enjoy the unbeatable view of the ocean (you’ll have to leave that bottle of wine at home, though; there’s a strict no-alcohol policy here. This area is a popular diving spot because of the rich marine life, the colourful Justin’s Cave and the oldest wreck in the country - 'Het Huis te Kraaiestein', which sunk in 1670. Take a diving course – there are many beginners’ courses that are held in the area. Bring your goggles and have a snorkel, there’s plenty to see in the cove near the shore. Get snap happy – the stunning landscape and views means this is a gorgeous location for occasion photoshoots and your Instagram page, as well as a treat for landscape and nature photographers. Gather under the stars - Oudekraal is an awesome venue to have an event; from a party to a wedding or corporate function this stunning outdoor space will make it unforgettable. The Gazebo can accommodate 60-70 people and contains several braai areas, power points and lights for night time events. Prices vary depending on the nature of the event. (Call the events & film department on +27 (0)21 712 0527 to make a booking for a functional event) Opening times: Weekends and public holidays: 8am – 6pm | Weekdays: Closed except to function bookings Conservation fee: R30 per person, R15 per child and free entrance for Wild Card and Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) My Green Card holders. Beautiful corals and spectacular display of marine life is what now envelopes her. Excellent bottom topography and great site for photography. There’s even a seal colony called Strawberry Rocks nearby. Snorkeling and freediving are freely permitted, but you’ll require a permit for scuba diving! Oudekraal is a significant Historical and Spiritual Site for the Muslim Community. At the turn of the 18th Century, it was a refuge for slaves who had escaped from the Colonial authorities and their masters. Among them were Muslim spiritual leaders who had been captured and brought to the Cape after leading uprisings against slavery in the Dutch East Indies.

The Oudekraal Ravines provided seclusion and safety for them and allowed them to teach their disciples and keep Islam going in the Cape. Make sure you bring everything you need with you because there are no shops! There’s a strict no-alcohol policy here with the exception of the gazebo, which is available for hire for private events. (Read about the My Green Card: it entitles you to discounted entries to all Table Mountain National Park pay points. On the other hand, For one year of unlimited entry to various National Parks, Reserves and Resorts, you could look into getting yourself a Wild Card. Check out the Facebook album of this idyllic spot. For more information, call SANParks on +27 (0)21 712 0527 between Monday to Friday.)

The vhaVenda clans of northern South Africa, in present-day Limpopo Province, are among the nation’s most traditional, hewing to rituals and practices passed down from their ancestors. Among these clans, the Ramunangi are acknowledged as the traditional custodians of Phiphidi Waterfall, a small cascade that is central to the clan’s relationship with ancestral spirits. This custodial responsibility, however, is not legally recognized, which has limited the Ramunangi’s ability to protect their sacred site from tourism development. A rock above the waterfall — one of the site’s most holy areas — was recently destroyed as part of a road-building project, and for years, the Ramunangi have been denied full access to the site to perform their rituals and custodial duties. The clan is now turning to legal measures to restore full access to Phiphidi and receive official recognition as its custodians. Tshavhungwe Nemarudi, a custodian elder, said in 2008, “It is no longer possible to respect the sacred site as it should be respected. Members of our clan have become sick. The Earth is sick. We know that this is because we have not been able to conduct our rituals properly in the last years. What we request is simply that our sacred site should be allowed to remain a place of pure, untouched nature.”

Phiphidi Waterfall is located in rural Limpopo Province at the foothills of the Soutpansberg (Dzwaini), South Africa’s northernmost mountain range. The region’s isolation from the rest of South Africa has helped preserve the traditional cultures and belief practices of its indigenous inhabitants. Among the many tribal peoples living in Limpopo Province, about 12 percent of the population are members of the Venda linguistic group. The vhaVenda clans are widely regarded as the aboriginal peoples of the region. They share a cosmology and culture that shape their society today, including initiation rites for their adolescents, rich artistic traditions, and custodial responsibility for sacred lands. Among the vhaVenda clans, the Ramunangi are the acknowledged custodians of Phiphidi Waterfall. The Ramunangi are a dispersed people, with many members having left the region to work in larger cities; those who remain work in traditional agricultural, ranching or mining industries and are believed to number roughly 1,000. Despite their small numbers, generational memory is strong, and the Ramunangi feel a significant responsibility to continue their centuries-old commitment to the waterfall.

Phiphidi is located within a forested area on the Mutshindudi River and belongs to a cluster of nearby sacred sites that other vhaVenda clans care for, including sacred Lake Fundudzi and the Thathe Vonda sacred forest. At Phiphidi, the river, falls and surrounding forest are all considered sacred, and two specific sites are regarded as most holy: a rock above the waterfall, called LanwaDzongolo, and the pool below, Guvhukuvhu. A complex collection of laws and rituals, some of which are closely guarded by clan elders, govern clan practice and behavior at Phiphidi; the site has traditionally been off-limits to all but the Ramunangi. Traditional belief holds that the waterfall and pool are inhabited by ancestral water spirits who require offerings of grain and beer, which are made on LanwaDzongolo. These powerful spirits receive prayers from the people for rain, health, agricultural abundance and community peace. Traditionally, these offerings were made throughout the year, with one primary and complicated annual rite that lasted many days.
The waterfall is part of a Savannah bio-me in the Soutpansberg region, a biodiversity hotspot that supports hundreds of plant and animal species, some of which are endemic. Thirty percent of South Africa’s tree species grow in the Soutpansberg area, though it accounts for less than one percent of the country’s surface area. In addition, 60 percent of South Africa’s bird life, 40 percent of its mammals, and 30 percent of its reptiles call the Soutpansberg home. As traditional custodians of Phiphidi Waterfall, the Ramunangi clan has helped limit ecological damage to the Mutshindudi River and its surrounding landscape.
Current Challenges-
Development pressures; particularly tourism and infrastructure — that began in recent decades threaten Phiphidi Waterfall and the Ramunangi’s ability to access the site and perform the rituals central to their heritage and belief system. Today’s challenges are, in part, the legacy of a tangled political history that includes tribal allegiance, colonization, apartheid and democratization.
Until the late 1890's, what is now known as Limpopo Province was governed by tribal chiefs. It was the last uncolonized region to fall during the Boer Wars, eventually becoming part of the South African republic in 1898. In 1979, during the apartheid era, the region was proclaimed an independent Bantustan — one of 10 “homeland” states where the country’s black ethnic groups (in this case, the vhaVenda) were assigned to live and where they did not have South African citizenship rights. The apartheid government co-opted certain tribal leaders to run the state, while smaller clans like the Ramunangi were effectively dis-empowered.
In the 1980's, the Venda Bantustan government decided to develop Phiphidi Waterfall as a tourist destination, building roads and installing public restrooms and picnic areas, surrounded by a perimeter fence. This was done with the approval of the local tribal headman, a strong supporter of economic development, who ignored the protests of the Ramunangi. Since then, tourists have been permitted to freely wander the site — even the most sacred areas — leaving litter, trampling vegetation, playing loud music and, the Ramunangi say, disturbing the spirits. Of particular concern to the Ramunangi is that their sacred site is frequently used, in their words, as a “love nest” and the site is desecrated with condoms.
Tourism brochures, while mentioning the sacred nature of the site, do not identify the Ramunangi as the traditional custodians nor provide adequate details to truly encourage cultural sensitivity. The Ramunangi are permitted access to their sacred sites without paying the admission fee, but they have been unable to fully perform their annual September ritual — which traditionally lasted many days and required uninterrupted access to the waterfall, pool and rock ledge — because officials have been unwilling to close the site to tourists for more than a day.
With the end of apartheid in 1994, Phiphidi fell under the jurisdiction of a new provincial government, presenting the hope that the Ramunangi could re-establish the custodial rights that they had once enjoyed. But instead, tourism development continued — as did lack of official recognition of and consultation with the Ramunangi — despite the fact that Phiphidi is legally part of a tribal land trust that recognizes communal ownership of the property. In recent years, efforts by Ramunangi clan leaders to bring their concerns to their local tribal headman and to the provincial heritage and tourism authorities have been repeatedly rebuffed or ignored. A plan is now reportedly under way for the redevelopment of Phiphidi Waterfall; again, the Ramunangi have not been consulted and their requests to obtain copies of the development plan have gone unanswered. To make matters worse, in 2007, LanwaDzongolo, the sacred rock above the waterfall, was completely destroyed to quarry materials for a road leading to a new nearby hospital. Construction also damaged the surrounding sacred forest and polluted the river, over which the new road now runs. Once again, the Ramunangi were not consulted in the matter, and received no help from their headman or the provincial government.
Preservation Efforts-
The destruction at Phiphidi has been devastating to the Ramunangi, whose elders fear that the well-being of their community and the environment is threatened because of their inability to properly perform their traditional rituals, and thus preserve the protective power of the site. Driven to seek recourse outside the traditional hierarchy of tribal leadership, Ramunangi leaders in November 2008 drafted a legal claim of rights to the sacred sites at Phiphidi Waterfall. In it, they requested that the national, provincial and local governments officially acknowledge them as the traditional custodians, that the site be closed to the public, that tourism development and quarrying for the road project be stopped entirely, and that the sacred site be repaired and restored. Instead of immediately filing the claim with the provincial court, they presented it first to government officials, including the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment, and Tourism and the Limpopo Heritage Department. These two entities agreed to acknowledge, albeit unofficially, the Ramunangi as custodians of the site and to consult the clan prior to further development. These agreements are informal, however, and the Ramunangi may still file their claim in court if they are not honored. The ultimate protection of Phiphidi Waterfall may entail applying for protection under South Africa’s Cultural Heritage Laws, which place strict limitations on development. As yet, protection through these heritage laws has not been sought for any of the other Venda sacred sites.

In 2009, the Ramunangi and other vhaVenda clans participated in ecocultural mapping workshops to develop maps of their sacred sites and surrounding areas. These maps will be used to fortify their territorial rights claims and to determine the degree of future, public access to the sites as preferred by the clans.
What You Can Do? Support the work of the Gaia Foundation and the Mupo Foundation, which are working with the Ramunangi on mapping projects, youth-elder educational exchanges, and the recovery of traditional methods of farming and seed preservation.
If you visit Phiphidi Waterfall, obtain permission from the Ramunangi before visiting and do not litter or damage any of the trails. See “Ethics for Visiting Sacred Places” for more guidance!