Rural potters living close to high-density tourist destinations have taken advantage of the potential to develop new markets for their skills. The small, portable pot illustrated here was marketed on the outskirts of the Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park, formerly Hluhluwe–Umfolozi Game Reserve, in the 1980s.
The oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa, the Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park was established in 1895. By the early 20th century parks like these were drawing increasingly large numbers of visitors from abroad, many of whom acquired locally crafted souvenirs that could be wrapped up and transported home in their luggage.
About 45 km east of Makadho, in Limpopo Province, several villages are involved in producing pottery in large quantities for sale within the region and beyond.
The most well-known among these is Mashamba, where cooking and storage vessels are made, in addition to pots intended for the interior and exterior decoration of suburban homes. Mukondeni Pottery Project, which started in 1980, also makes clay ovens and clay beads.
