By Staff Reporter
GIYANI-In the heart of the Greater Giyani municipality area lies Baleni, a natural hot spring and small oval swamp steeped in history and tradition.
Declared a Natural Heritage Site due to its rich ecosystem, Baleni is much more than just a natural wonder; it is a sacred place where the indigenous Tsonga community has practiced the ancient art of salt extraction for over 2,000 years.
Surrounded by the vast savannah, dotted with acacias and mopane trees, Baleni stands as a testament to the resilience and deep-rooted customs of the Tsonga people.
The spring, about a hundred meters from the Klein Letaba River, is not only a source of mineralized hot water but also of a unique salt that holds both cultural and economic significance.
The salt is harvested during the winter months by a group of around 30 women, all members of the Baleni Salt Project association. These women live just a few kilometers from the spring, and they are the keepers of the ancient, inscrutable rules that govern every aspect of the salt extraction process.
For millennia, they have carried out this ritual in a secret language, known only to them.
As the winter sets in, the water level in the swamp recedes, revealing a white crust of salt mixed with mud around the edges. The women carefully gather this crust and mix it with river salt to soften it. They then construct a basin from wood, earth, and mud, with a central hole filled with twigs and weeds.
The salty sand is placed in the basin and soaked with river water, allowing the briny liquid to filter through the weeds and be collected.
The saltwater is then boiled over a fire until it thickens to a porridge-like consistency, requiring constant supervision to prevent burning. Once cooled, the damp salt is shaped by hand into cone-like forms and left to dry in the sun.
The final product is a mineral-rich salt, highly prized for its distinctive flavor. Historically, this salt was used not only for domestic consumption but also as a valuable trade item and by traditional healers.
Baleni is more than just a source of salt; it is a living link to the past, where the Tsonga community continues to honor their ancestors by preserving the sacred traditions of their heritage. The natural beauty of the site, combined with its cultural significance, makes Baleni a unique and precious part of Limpopo’s rich tapestry.
