Culture & Heritage
Encounter South Africa’s diverse cultures and traditions
Cultural Villages
Visit one of South Africa’s cultural villages and enjoy a unique, interactive insight into tribal ways of life. Zulu, Xhosa, Basotho, Tswana, Shangaan and Ndebele cultural villages enable the visitor to engage in everything from crushing maize to enjoying traditional dance and song.
A big part of what makes South Africa special is its diverse, unique cultures and traditions. To best give you an insight into this rich heritage, cultural villages in South Africa have been opened to visitors, where you can see people from various tribes living the way their ancestors lived.
Cultural villages in South Africa are home to the Pedi, Zulu, Xhosa, Basotho, Twana, Shangaan and Ndebele, who spend their days tending cattle, building and decorating their distinctive huts, moulding clay pots, weaving baskets, crushing maize, brewing beer, taking part in ritual dancing and occasionally consulting the local traditional healer. The beauty of South African rural villages is that travelers are invited to participate, giving you an authentic feel of what life was like in the past and, in some cases, what it is like in the present for those people who remain living in rural conditions.
Among the best known of these is the Basotho cultural village at the foot of the sandstone mountains in the Free State province, Shakaland and Simunye Zulu village in KwaZulu-Natal, and Lesedi cultural village in the Gauteng province. While traditional practices might be similar, each tribe enjoys its own customs in hut-making, hut decorating, dance, language and dress.
You will be told of the people’s history and culture, while being offered traditional food and brew. You can also have your fortune told by a witchdoctor throwing bones. Entertainment comes in the form of rousing tribal dance performances. At some of the villages, you can stay overnight, completing an authentic African experience worthy of many a dinner party tale back home.
Some of these South African villages are also excellent responsible tourism projects, as the money generated from tourism is ploughed back into the communities, enabling them to be self-sufficient and preserving their age-old traditions.
Sudwala Caves Cultural Vilage
Tel: +27 (0)13 733-3073
Fax: +27 (0)13 733-3077
Email: info@sudwala.com
Lesedi Cultural Village
Tel: +27 (0)12 205-1394 or +27 (0)87 940-9933
Cell: +27 (0)71 507-1447
Fax: +27 (0)86 515-0084
Gaabo Motho Cultural Village
Tel: +27 (0)12 706-0165 or +27 (0)72 122-6820
Email: info@gaabomotho.co.za
Postal Address: PO Box 911-1367, Rosslyn, 0200
Matsamo Cultural Village
Tel: +27 (0)13 781-0578
Fax: +27 (0)13 781-0306
Cell: +27 (0)82 457-8964
Bookings and Reservations: dudu@matsamo.com
General Queries: info@matsamo.com
Shakaland
Tel: +27 (0)35 460-0912
Fax: +27 (0)35 460-0824
Email: res@shakaland.com
How to get here
South Africa’s cultural villages are easily accessible by road.
Where to stay
A number of cultural villages can accommodate visitors overnight, in traditional-style huts, many with all the mod cons.
