Lakes and Waterfalls of Venda
Venda, NZhelele · 1981-05-06
Official first day cover (FDC) · South African philately
Click any photo to see it enlarged.
front
This cover is postmarked on 6 May 1981 in Nzhelele, with a special postmark bearing decorative botanical linework around the words "Lakes & Waterfalls". It carries the Venda lakes and waterfalls set, SAPO [number to confirm], four stamps depicting the Nwanedi Dam, Mahovhohovho Falls, Phiphidi Falls and Lake Fundudzi. Lake Fundudzi, pictured on the 25c stamp, holds a genuinely unique distinction as the only known natural inland lake in Southern Africa, formed when a landslide dammed the Mutale River centuries ago. It remains a deeply sacred site for the Vhavenḓa people to this day, alongside Phiphidi Falls, which the set's own text notes is regarded as the dwelling place of the Phiphidi people's gods and is seldom visited by the general public.
Description of the Cachet
The cachet is a fine pen and ink drawing of a waterfall cascading down a rock face, framed by tall fern fronds in the foreground rendered in dense, textured linework. The falling water is shown as loose vertical strokes against the darker shading of the surrounding rock, giving a sense of movement and mist. Below the illustration the cover reads "Lakes & Waterfalls in Venḓa" in green script.
Information Card
The Republic of Venḓa is a scenic country, lush and well-watered, with a subtropical climate. The Soutpansberg mountain-range, with peaks rising to a height of 1 900 m above sea-level, runs from east to west through the central and southern part of the country. This region has a high annual rainfall varying from 800 mm to as much as 2 000 mm in places, giving rise to most of the rivers of Venḓa. Venḓa is often referred to as "the land of a hundred streams." In these perennial mountain streams and rivers there is a myriad of waterfalls, some of which are breath-taking in their beauty. These spectacular waterfalls not only attract nature-lovers and tourists, but may in future become a major asset in the economic development of the country. 5c Nwanedi Dam The Nwanedi Dam on the Nwanedi River is a man-made lake with a capacity of 19 789 073 m³. It is situated in the Nwanedi Game Park and the surroundings have been developed into a picturesque holiday resort offering comfortable camping facilities. It is an angler's paradise because of the variety of fish found in the dam, such as kurper, yellow-fish, barbel, mudsucker and silver barbel also known as makriel. 15c Mahovhohovho Falls The Mahovhohovho Falls on the Tshirovha River are situated in the vicinity of Lake Fundudzi in the beautiful Tate Vondo forest. Here the clear mountain water divides into several streams that cascade over the high rocks into a deep pool. A recreational resort has recently been established in these peaceful surroundings. 20c Phiphidi Falls The legendary Phiphidi Falls are situated on the Mutshindudi River approximately 10 km from Sibasa. These falls play a significant part in the Vhavenda culture and are regarded as the dwelling place of the gods of the Phiphidi people. This revered place is seldom visited by the general public. The unspoilt dense indigenous forest surrounding the falls makes this exquisite natural phenomenon even more inaccessible. 25c Lake Fundudzi Lake Fundudzi is a scenic marvel, believed by many experts to be the only natural lake south of the equator, formed many centuries ago by a giant earthquake. It lies within a ring of mountains and hills and is steeped in Vhavenḓa legend. This mysterious lake is regarded as the abode of the gods of the Vhavenḓa. Lake Fundudzi is the source of the Mutale River.
Theme: Wildlife
Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.
Addressed: No
Signed: No
Stamp denomination: R0.65 (ZAR)
SAPO serial number: 1.12
Estimated value: ~US$0.1
This is a high-level, subjective estimate only, not a professional appraisal.
This first day cover (FDC) is part of Southern Covers, a private collection of 256 first day covers documenting the postal history and philately of South Africa and the homeland states. New to first day cover collecting? Read the guide to learn about cachets, postmarks, and stamp collecting terms, or browse the whole collection of Southern African FDCs.
