A group of 10 Emaswazini women in inland KwaZulu-Natal have overcome serious obstacles and established a successful bed & breakfast (B&B) business – and are enjoying every minute of their enterprising business.

Started about two years ago, the B&B operates from a member’s home yard, and includes a string of mud huts built by the women. “To construct them, we used readily available materials such as wood, stone, grass, branches, hides, and mud, using techniques passed down through generations, ” explains one of the women.

The traditional Zulu food served for breakfast, lunch and dinner is cooked with three-leg black pots (‘potjies’) on wood fires. “This is what makes us different from the other B&B’s in town,” exclaims one of the business owners, MamZangwa.

“I always thought running a business was a difficult and sophisticated venture. I was so wrong; what I do here is similar to what I do at home to take care of my family. The only difference now is that I’m making money from cooking and cleaning,” she adds.

World Vision (WV) in Okhahlamba helped the women establish the B&B, and continues to equip them with business skills, advice on issues such as access to finance, achieving a work-life balance and working from home.

Already these huts, with no beds and only mattresses, have become holiday homes for many international visitors who do enjoy the unusual experience of sleeping on the floor mattress as well as being treated to a variety of Zulu dishes, accompanied by traditional music and dance.

The next steps for the women include establishing a website for their B&B and growing their funding base to expand their operation.