|
Mantenga Nature Reserve includes the Swazi Cultural Village (Ligugu Lemaswati), a living museum of old traditions. Situated just outside of the main camp area, the Cultural village offers an opportunity to view traditional dancing and take a tour of the village giving you the experience and understanding of traditional life in a Swazi homestead.
Whilst sipping on an ice cold drink under the beautiful African sky, one can enjoy the sound of the Swazi drums playing for the traditional Swazi dance, Sibhaca, performed by teams of men (and sometimes women) at a vigorous pace. The dances are usually performed at the cultural village, but occasionally at the Swazi River Café is the weather is not favourable.
More on Mantenga Cultural Village: description and pictorial preview.
 |
 |
| Dancers at Mantenga Cultural Village |
|
Cultural Village
Mantenga Cultural Village
Pictorial Preview
Mantenga Nature Reserve
|
|
Visitors can explore the reserve by predominantly by foot and on mountain bikes, or drive to the falls by car. Those who simply want to relax can sit back in the restaurant and enjoy the tranquility of Nature, or visit the cultural village for a taste of the Swazi culture.
General public picnic areas are situated around the reserve by the falls and along the riverbed.
 |
 |
Accommodation
The Cultural Village offers luxury accommodation in three huts (2 to 4 people), and 20 tents (2 to 3 people). Walks to the beautiful Mantenga Waterfalls and guided hiking tours up to Sheba's Breast mountain will complete your stay at the village. Camping facilities are also available.
|
|
The luxury tents are found in amongst the indigenous vegetation or over looking the spectacular falls and surrounding scenery. The tents are tranquil and relaxing with sandy paths leading to and from the restaurant. There is occasional game in the area such as impala, warthog and nyala, walking between the facilities quietly tolerant of human presence.
The 20 luxury tents are scattered and all within walking access to the restaurant, and not to far from the falls. All tents consist of a single room area with an outside en-suite shower, toilet and basin, plus an outside sink. A total of 40 people can be accommodated in the luxury tents.
|
|
Restaurant
One of the attractive features of the reserve is the Swazi River Café Restaurant that overlooks the Little Usuthu, providing good, wholesome meals with a personal touch catering for all your group needs.
The restaurant consists of a spacious open aired wooden deck and an inside area with a bar counter. Please note that Mantenga is fully licensed and request that all alcohol be purchased at the reserve.
|
|
The Village Cafe offers breakfast, lunch and dinner in the romantic setting of the fully licenced restaurant. There are Sunday braais (starting at 10 am) at the waterfalls and every last Sunday of the month, there is a spit braai (starting at noon, bar available).
Functions, working lunches, weddings and conferences can be booked.
|
|
 |
Download (MS Word document, 28 KB) directions to Mantenga from the two main border posts into the country, (Ngwenya and Lavumisa) and the main tourist route (Matsamo).
The Mantenga entrance gate is open from 07h00 to 18h30 every day.
|
