Sept. 23 – Nzulezo Water Village

Typical craft to Water Village

Our tour today was the Nzulezo Water Village – a village about 2.5 hours drive from the ship. We arrived at the tour center for the village and got a short talk about the ecology of the area, given live jackets and sent down the road to the boat dock.  Even though these craft would hold up to seven people each, calling them boats is somewhat of a stretch.  They resembled more a dugout canoe than a boat and by the time we got each one loaded the gunnel was about even with the water line.  Not much free board above the water and on top of that they leaked, and the front passenger was given paddle.  These craft were really pole boats for 2/3 of the trip and then the guide and the front passenger paddled once we got to the lake.  It was an hour boat ride through canals and lake to reach the village.  About 10 minutes into the ride it started to rain slowly at first and then in a steady stream.  As the boats leaked in good weather, this made the job, given to those not paddling, of bailing water a bit more of a necessity.  We arrived at the village dripping wet, but still a float.

Starting the adventure to the Water Village



The village is built on stilts about 4 feet above the water and about 25 feet from shore or what looks like the shore but is likely a swamp.  Alligators do live in the area, but come and go according to whether the time of year is the dry or wet season.  Huts were built on these stilts and then walk ways were constructed between huts.  A few huts were larger and one acted as a village square and others were being used as schools for the children of the village.  The people of the village went on with their daily lives as we wondered through it.  Washing was hung out to dry and the cooking pots were bubbling with rice, curried chicken or fish, and some were roasting peanuts.  According to the history overview of this particular tribe, this village has been in existence for several hundred years.  The history appears to have been passed down as spoken tales and started before white men came this this area.  It was originally built as a way to protect the tribe from other warring tribes in the region.  The tours seem to be a source of income for the tribe, but the feeling we got as we walked through their houses was that the people liked the income the tour provided but were not that pleased to have strangers walking through their huts and walkways.  It was interesting but also nice to board our canoes and paddle back to the tour bus for the trip home.
 

Water Village Main Walkway



Water Village Walkway - cooking stoves at end





Children of the Water Village