Matsamo Cultural Park

Matsamo Cultural Village

Description

The people residing in the various rural villages around Matsamo is predominantly Swazi in custom, tradition and language with a strong Sotho influence and has a well preserved and rich cultural heritage. They are part of the Shongwe clan, once a strong independent group with its own paramount King who in the time of King Mswati II swore allegiance to the Swazi King and helped defend the territory against intruders from the North. As part of the reward for his allegiance and loyalty, Chief Matsamo remained in control of the region as an important Swazi Royalty and absorbed the Sotho clans who lived in the area into his clan. “KA HHOHHO” a folk song, today still frequently sung by the community during festivities, tells the story about the Sotho Clansmen protesting against this Swazi absorption.

MATSAMO - AN OVERTURE OF EXCELLENCE

Our commitment to excellence in tourism resulted in our little village near the world famous Kruger National Park, being the overall winner in South Africa of the Imvelo Responsible Tourism Award as well as winner in the categories best Economic Impact, best Environmental management and best Social Involvement.

We strive to keep things African and authentic at Matsamo. To ensure that guests enjoy both real rural Africa as well as all modern comforts demanded sensitive innovation and artistic skills. We felt that the whole design should be representative of us and reflect our traditions and customs. To achieve this we designed and built the resort ourselves applying our own indigenous and artistic knowledge and skills. On technical matters we consulted wide to obtain the best professional advice available.

The buildings are all constructed in the time-honoured ‘hive’ style. Groups are hosted by tour guides who walk and talk visitors through Swazi culture and the significance of their traditions and customs. An arts and crafts shop where crafters from the area can market their products and an ‘African Theatre’ restaurant that has seating capacity for 300 people was added. The 50 seat restaurant Ekaya, doubles up as a conference room.

We receive guests from all over the world… and from every corner of South Africa. Visitors stay over and are entertained to African singing and dancing in a traditional Swazi village where traditional African cuisine is served.

Also our hospitality is true African. Although we maintain the highest level of professionalism, our service is rendered with African excellence from the heart, applying African protocol.

Spending time at Matsamo is to share quality time with South Africans in a real African environment enjoying the good things of life presented passionately with real South African excellence. The food, the folk music & dance, the atmosphere, all fuse together into a unique experience, African Quality at its best.

This is why our cultural village carries a 4 star grading from the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.

We see it as a partnership between our visitors and us – We give our visitors the best of Africa, - turning their holidays into a unique and wonderful experience - and with their support as tourists, sustainability of our cultural centre is ensured. This means a better quality of life for our community while conserving the natural environment for future generations.

During the fourth financial year more than 50 thousand foreign tourists visited Matsamo to interact with the local community and spent several million Rand on services and products.

Matsamo is the founder of the local tourism organization, Matsamo tourism Association, and member of the regional tourism organization, Wild Frontier, as well as a member of SATSA, FEDHASA, TOMSA and the TBCSA.

ACCOMMODATION

Imagine planning to spend a night in a traditional African village. On arrival a friendly South African villager shows you the way to your hut nestled amongst the other huts in the village, only to discover once inside that your hut are very special! It has it all – an ensuite bathroom with separate toilet, hot and cold water and air-conditioning – all tastefully wrapped in real African aesthetics.

Matsamo Village has 14 of these ‘en suite guest hives’ and can accommodate an additional 60 guests in traditional hives using central ablutions.

Each ‘hive’ has it own seclusion where guests can have a private barbeque or just relax in the rural village setting.

Also our hospitality is true African. Although we maintain the highest level of professionalism, our service is rendered with African excellence from the heart, applying African protocol.

 AT OUR RESTAURANTS

The alfresco restaurant “African Theatre”, set in true African aesthetics is nestled in a peaceful setting with cobbling water and a panoramic view. It has two covered wings, each seating 60 people and an open-air terrace seating 100+ people. For functions 300 people can be accommodated.

The restaurant setting provides for a natural stage where guests can be entertained with folk song and dance while enjoying a meal or something cool from the well stocked bar.

Buffet breakfast is served 7 days a week from 7h00 until 11h00 and buffet lunch blended with a taste of Africa from 12h00 to 15h30.

Dinner is served from 18h00 until late in the restaurant as well as in the village where the cultural evenings are hosted.

Ekaya, our indoor ala carte restaurant with its rural design and décor, caters for private groups and small functions.

Functions, conferences and traditional weddings are also catered for.

Infrastructure
We are easily accessible by good tarred roads (R 570) and approximately 45 kilometers from the National N4 Freeway. The Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and Nelspruit, the capital of Mpumalanga are within one hour’s drive.

Vegetation
Scenic South African Lowveld with unique bio-diversity ranging from mountainous forests to typical lowveld bush.

Climate
Warm sunny climate with temperatures varying from September to April in summer between 15 degrees Celsius t night and 36 degrees Celsius during midday. Winters, May to August are especially pleasant with temperatures varying between 5 degrees Celsius at night and 25 degrees Celsius during midday.

Attractions

Day Tours to our Village

Tourists visiting the park go on a guided tour through the villages, are treated to folk dance and other cultural performing arts and enjoy food and refreshments in the village or in the restaurants. Approximately one hour must be allowed for a tour and at least one and a half hours when a meal is included.

Day tours of the area and the local rural communities are arranged on request.

Guides
Our guides are well informed members from our community with extensive experience in hosting guests assuring that the time spent at Matsamo will both be interesting and entertaining.

Combos
Over the last few years a day at Matsamo became a don’t miss experience on the itinerary of virtually every tourist travelling in the vicinity of our village. To accommodate guests we introduced combo packages which include a tour, show and breakfast, lunch or dinner (refer tariffs)

A traditional African village is organised around family relationships and creates household activity areas and places for special occasions such as religious ceremonies. Traditions of our farming communities are central to our social life, settlement patterns, animal husbandry, agriculture, technology and trade.

Guests can wander through the village with its many huts and seclusions, each allocated for a specific social function and interact with the Villagers as they go about their daily activities. Traditional African crops are cultivated, the Nguni cattle herd can be seen, traditional food is prepared and ancient crafts are being practised.

We recall old customs and marvel at the harmony which exists between man and nature in Africa. For a moment in time you wiil be part of our family to be remembered by us long after you have gone.

The highlight is certainly the song and dance performed by the Villagers, which usually result in keen participation by guests.

At our Restaurant

The alfresco restaurant “African Theatre”, set in true African aesthetics is nestled in a peaceful setting with cobbling water and a panoramic view. It has two covered wings, each seating 65 people and an open-air terrace seating 70 people. For functions 300 people can be accommodated.

The restaurant “Edladleni” can seat 60 people and is available for private groups.

Buffet breakfast is served 7 days a week from 7h00 until 11h00 and buffet lunch blended with a taste of Afrika from 12h00 to 15h30.

 Evening Experience

A NIGHT IN A TRADITIONAL AFRICAN HOMESTEAD (UMUTI)

A night at Emvelo

On your arrival, you will be welcomed by one of our well groomed guides and accompanied to Emvelo, our traditional African homestead. Here we enjoy sharing a taste of Africa's own traditions and customs with our guests. Around the fire at the lidladla ( traditional kitchen), we recall old customs and marvel at the harmony between man and nature in traditional societies. Between the talking and laughter, we enjoy a taste of a variety of interesting traditional dishes.

When the night settles firmly around us it is time for the unforgettable folk dance and music.

Yes, you will experience the best of African Folk dance and music and join in the fun and dance with us. You will feel the rhythm, the joy and the passion with which Africans entertain and play.

After an entertaining hour, it is time for an African barbeque feast with a variety of meats, pap ( a thick porridge made of maize ), jack potatoes, salads and many more dishes to enjoy.

The evening is rounded off with desserts, cheese and biscuits with coffee or tea.

 Cultural Entertainment

FOLK MUSIC & DANCE

At the heart of our culture is certainly our music, yes, it is our identity, our ‘soul’ if you will. It is therefore not surprising that the development of indigenous performing arts and music is pivotal to the cultural activities at Matsamo.

Entertainment at Matsamo is more than a performance. Yes you will experience the best of African Folk dance and music but you will join in the fun and dance with us. You will feel the rhythm, the joy and the passion with which Africans entertain and play.

No matter where you come from or where you call home, Matsamo is where you will want to be.

A performance usually consists of around 40 members and is divided into two parts. The first part consists of a variety of dances performed by the senior ladies, the young woman, the girls and of course the men with their well-known African foot stamping dances. The second part consists of folk song and music with authentic African instruments followed by keen participation by guests.

The selection of dances and the passion and precision with which they are performed, insures interesting, colourful and exciting entertainment. Africans are known for their beautiful voices and natural sense of rhythm, displayed by Matsamo with enchantment. Vast exposure to tourists visiting their centre, offers the people from this rural community the opportunity to understand the importance of time management and good contact with audiences. It assisted Matsamo to develop outstanding entertainment and communication skills.

Accolades

:Tourism Council of SA Star Grading

Facilities

Facilities - Village

At the heart of our centre is our two Swazi Villages, authentic and alive with cultural activities A traditional African village is organised around family relationships and creates household activity areas and places for special occasions.

Guests can wander through the village with its many huts and seclusions, each allocated for a specific social function and interact with the Villagers as they go about their daily activities. Traditional African crops are cultivated, the Nguni cattle herd can be seen, traditional food is prepared and ancient crafts are being practised.

The village has a main hut (Indlunkulu) or grandmother’s hut, with her kitchen (lidladla) and storeroom (silulu). The first wife also has a similar cluster of her own. There are special huts for the children and for the master (mnumzane) of the homestead. Each seclusion has its own use and of course the cattle kraal (sibaya) is not to be forgotten as it resembles the wealth of the family.

Your Matsamo guide will explain all areas and there uses in detail in an interesting and educational fashion.

Facilities - Functions And Conferences

Matsamo is the host of several conferences and functions by virtue of its situation in a unique environment. To enhance your conference or special function, Matsamo staff spare no effort to add the extra touch on your request.

NO CHARGE

• Personalised welcoming notes in each room with a bowl of fresh fruit, biltong or 'dry wors'.
• Room drops supplied by the client.
• Welcome with the Matsamo choir with refreshing hand washing custom and refreshments.
• Company banner displayed on arrival or at a predetermined location.
• Pre-registration of guests.

• Traditional Swazi dances.
• Entertaining ensemble with African instruments such as Marimba
• Local Community choir.
• Special interest speakers e.g. (Profiles available on request)
• Selected items from our curio shop: for example 'township art', bead-dolls, wooden carvings, hats, scarves, peak caps, T-shirts or bags can be provided for guests upon checking into their rooms.
• All items have Matsamo logos. Client logos can also be imprinted if ordered timeously.
• A bottle of quality South African wine in each room on arrival - comprehensive wine list available on request.
• Sundowners in the village with African games
• Themed village barbeque.

• Venue Size: 10m x 12m
• Seating capacity:
  
  • Cinema: 120 delegates
  • Schoolroom: 90 delegates
  • U-shape: 40 delegates
  
  
• Equipment:
  • Video screen (2,4m x 2,4m)
  • Data Video Projector
  • VCR and sound with cordless microphone
  • Whiteboard and flipcharts.

• Venue Size: Two wings of 10m x 8m each and an open terrace under large umbrellas of 30m X 15m stretching in front of both wings;
• Seating capacity:
  
  • 60 guests per wing
  • 100+ guests on open terrace
  • Total of 250 guests can be accommodated

The courtyard at Emvelo

This area with its true African atmosphere can accommodate up to 300 guests in boma style with tables arranged in a half round around a centre point for entertainment like traditional music and dance. This area is only available for functions when the whole village is reserved.

Emkayeni

This village has an ambiance of its own and is available for private functions. About 100 people can be accommodated. The villages is suitable for boma style barbeques or traditional meals cooked at the lidladla (traditional kitchen) in the village.

Conference rates on request.

• a parcel delivery service;
• an information desk which provides information about the area;
• a convenience department;
• clothing department; and
• high standard clean toilets.

Directions