Nongoma the royal City of Zululand, is home to King Goodwill Zwelethini, and is renowned for it's Royal Palaces. Filled with history and culture, they have become a major tourist attraction in South Africa. Nongoma epitomizes the traditional way of life, and visitors are enthralled by the rural simplicity of the community. Thousands of visitors from all over the country and the world flock to the annual four day Reed Dance Festival, which is held at the king's royal residence, Kwa-Nyokeni Palace. . Named after the riverbed reeds which are the symbolic part of the festival, the reeds are carried by about 25 000 maidens, who are invited to the palace for the traditional ceremony which celebrates their virginity and their preparation for womanhood. Enjoy the hiking trails and picnic spots of the Ngome Forest, which is adjacent to the Ntendeka Wilderness Area. In it flourishes many rare or localized plants and flowers, including orchids and lilies. Leopard, baboon, monkeys and bush pig also inhabit the peace and tranquility of the forest. The forests steep cliffs ('Ntendeka'), offer breathtaking panoramic views of the countryside.