Mantenga Nature Reserve & Cultural Village
Mantenga Nature Reserve & Cultural Village
Mantenga Nature Reserve & Cultural Village
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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Restaurants
11 within 5 kms
Attractions
6 within 10 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
88 reviews
Excellent
39
Very good
39
Average
8
Poor
2
Terrible
0
BDV
22 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
To be honest, was disappointing. Waterfall is small, pictures seem nicer. The walk is anticlimactic. Pretty though. No indication or comment from reserve on hiking trails, so also disappointing. Village tour interesting, but long in heat, and many huts had dancers sleeping with beer bottles by them inside. Fellow tourists were drinking on the tour, and that wasn’t nice for a family, especially as they were told they could keep drinking during the tour. Dance was so so, the dancers didn’t look happy. Was hard to watch them. I’d have preferred a day in Mliliwane.
Written 15 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Esteban_Esteban
Buenos Aires, Argentina68 contributions
Dec 2016 • Friends
I had the chance to see the performance where local people made a demonstration of tradicional songs and dances. It was super interesting.
Then they would explain their customs and traditions. And how was the life organized in a traditional village. After the show you can buy handcrafts.
Besides that, there's a short path that takes you to a waterfall which is pretty nice.
Then they would explain their customs and traditions. And how was the life organized in a traditional village. After the show you can buy handcrafts.
Besides that, there's a short path that takes you to a waterfall which is pretty nice.
Written 4 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bruno I
Brazil328 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
You pay 100R per person to enter the Reserve and that's it: you can access the waterfall, do a guided visit to the traditional village and enjoy the absolutely amazing typical dancing and singing show that happens daily, twice a day. Of course, tips are more than welcome after the show, so remember to bring some cash with you. It helps the villagers directly and you'll be so amazed by the beautiful dances - followed by a very touching coral - that the tipping will come naturally. After the show we ate at their pleasant restaurant: a (huge) chicken mushroom pizza and porc steak with chips. Nothing sophisticated but good enough and very cheap.
Written 23 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DazzlingSunflowerTravels
Johannesburg, South Africa344 contributions
Nov 2013
My cousin, Vuyo lives in Swaziland. I guess it's still an eye opener to see your country through new eyes. We had African lunch at the restaurant, lots to choose from and very yummy. I had a little bit of everything - beef, mutton, tripe and spinach. Lunch was nicely topped off with traditional Swazi song and dance. This was spectacular! Beautiful does not begin to capture my heart beating rhythmically to their drum and beat.
We took a drive and walk to the Mantenga Falls, oh wow thank You Lord for such a beautiful surprise. Trinkling power of the falls, rocks leading to it, soothing waters in this heat. I just wished there was a nicer picnic area to relax at versus the rocks.
Mantenga Cultural Village provides an authentic cultural experience. Visit for history, folk tales and for a Swazi cultural explosion. The village has a view of the Nyonyane Mountain, also called Execution Rock. According to legend, Swazi warriors would march their enemies and suspected witches up the Nonyane Execution Rock and made them jump to their deaths.
You can also buy the handmade intricate traditional beadwork on site after the cultural village tour. Have loads of FUN and give us some feedback how your experience was like.
No need to book, you just rock up during office hours.
Mantenga Cultural Village
Mantenga Falls Road
Ezulwini
Swaziland
We took a drive and walk to the Mantenga Falls, oh wow thank You Lord for such a beautiful surprise. Trinkling power of the falls, rocks leading to it, soothing waters in this heat. I just wished there was a nicer picnic area to relax at versus the rocks.
Mantenga Cultural Village provides an authentic cultural experience. Visit for history, folk tales and for a Swazi cultural explosion. The village has a view of the Nyonyane Mountain, also called Execution Rock. According to legend, Swazi warriors would march their enemies and suspected witches up the Nonyane Execution Rock and made them jump to their deaths.
You can also buy the handmade intricate traditional beadwork on site after the cultural village tour. Have loads of FUN and give us some feedback how your experience was like.
No need to book, you just rock up during office hours.
Mantenga Cultural Village
Mantenga Falls Road
Ezulwini
Swaziland
Written 19 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Garth J
Johannesburg151 contributions
Apr 2014 • Business
I really enjoyed this little outing to the Swazi Cultural Village at the Mantenga Nature Reserve. Don't go there expecting a "real" experience but rather just relax and enjoy what is on offer!
The tour starts off with a great exhibition of enthusiastic and powerful dancing by the young men, unmarried women and married women in traditional dress. Our guide, Angel, explained the dances and made the experience really a lot more meaningful. I have been to many traditional dances made for tourism and this one was so much more interesting because of this. The drummers were great and the whole experience really enjoyable.
This was followed by a visit to the village which seemed at first a little sterile but soon came alive and great. So, if you have your doubts about a "made for tourism" cultural village? Throw them away and visit Mantenga Swazi Cultural Visit - a really good outing and educational to boot.
The tour starts off with a great exhibition of enthusiastic and powerful dancing by the young men, unmarried women and married women in traditional dress. Our guide, Angel, explained the dances and made the experience really a lot more meaningful. I have been to many traditional dances made for tourism and this one was so much more interesting because of this. The drummers were great and the whole experience really enjoyable.
This was followed by a visit to the village which seemed at first a little sterile but soon came alive and great. So, if you have your doubts about a "made for tourism" cultural village? Throw them away and visit Mantenga Swazi Cultural Visit - a really good outing and educational to boot.
Written 14 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hdjtravel
New York258 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Beautiful walk to falls but may be difficult for older in heat or those with asthma. Can drive part way and walk down rock path but can be unsafe for those with difficulties.
Written 25 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter D
Fujairah, United Arab Emirates25 contributions
Jan 2020
Interesting dual waterfall but you were not able to get closer and see it from another angle. Make sure you take mosquito repellent when walking through the forest
Written 6 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tab W
Cincinnati, OH726 contributions
Nov 2018
The entrance fee covers a guided tour of the Swazi Cultural Village and a visit to Mantenga Falls, Swaziland’s largest waterfall by volume. Our guide suggested we go see the Falls first, so we drove up there.
It was a relatively short visit to the falls, and then we returned for our village tour. Set against the backdrop of the Nyonyane mountain, this replica mid-19th Century Swazi village, constructed using authentic materials and techniques, is one of the country’s most popular attractions.
Behind the village, a dance troop performs traditional sibhaca routines twice daily, and this was what we were most excited to see.
It’s a lively show, comprising vigorous high-kicking, pulsating drumming and some rousing singing. We saw the 3:15 dance show, and we both enjoyed it.
It was a relatively short visit to the falls, and then we returned for our village tour. Set against the backdrop of the Nyonyane mountain, this replica mid-19th Century Swazi village, constructed using authentic materials and techniques, is one of the country’s most popular attractions.
Behind the village, a dance troop performs traditional sibhaca routines twice daily, and this was what we were most excited to see.
It’s a lively show, comprising vigorous high-kicking, pulsating drumming and some rousing singing. We saw the 3:15 dance show, and we both enjoyed it.
Written 8 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mayank M
Vadodara, India70 contributions
Aug 2019 • Friends
A weekend well spent hiking the deep serene environs of Manzini Swaziland. The short climb amidst the wild is a must do! Much safe as there are no wild animals which come across. The traditional village and dance is a must see. The waterfalls are so beautiful and seen round the year. The entry for non Swazi nationals is E100. Memorable!
Written 2 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deb B
Sydney, Australia39 contributions
Jan 2019
By researching extensively prior to leaving Australia we wanted our friends (19 in total) to experience the best of swazi culture and we were not disappointed. It started with a truly magnificent performance by singers and dancers who took our breath away and then asked some of the young adults present to dance. The finale was the guided walk around the village and then a short walk to the Mantenga Falls. A big yes to add this to your trip in Swaziland.
Written 9 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Moet er op voorhand gereserveerd worden? En is er in de buurt iets om te gaan eten of best eten meenemen?
Written 15 June 2018
U hoeft niet van tevoren te reserveren. Er is een restaurant.
Written 6 July 2018
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