Mantenga Tented Camp

Note: It has brought to our attention that as of March 2010, Mantenga Tented Camp has been undergoing major renovations - tents are being converted to cottages and the restaurant is undergoing a refurbishment. Whilst the camp is still accepting bookings - it should be noted that this venue is far from its usual tranquil atmosphere... and if you are sensitive to this please wait until they are finished before staying here. Construction is expected through most of March and April.

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Restaurant - One of the attractive features of the reserve is the Village Café that overlooks the Little Usutu, 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. Functions, working lunches, weddings and conferences can be booked.

Cultural Village - The cultural village is a living museum of old traditions and represents a classical Swazi lifestyle during the 1850's. The building material is strictly traditional: poles, grass, reeds, leather stripes, earth and dried cow dung.

The Mantenga Cultural Village is a mini complex of sixteen huts, each with its own specific purpose, kraals and byres for cattle and goats, reed fences that serve as windbreaks, and various other structures. With the traditional artifacts on display, the village illustrates many facets of the ancient Swazi way of life: social, economic and religious.

The objective of the cultural village is to enable visitors from all over the world as well as Swazis from all corners of the country to visit it and to maintain a positive interest in the Swazi cultural heritage, including language, customs and practices, rituals, dance, music, folklore, arts and crafts. After the official opening, it was named "Ligugu Lemaswati" by his Majesty King Mswati III, meaning "The pride of the Swazi People".

On entry, the village people, often wearing traditional clothing, will warmly welcome you. The standard Swazi greeting to the family is "Yebo Nkosi". The village life is vibrant and energetic and your guide will not only talk you through how the huts and traditional items are made will might also teach you the Siswati words for them. Interaction is encouraged, so try your hand at grinding maize and plaiting mountain grass or join in the Swazi song and dance. An offering of a taste of local food and sometimes brew is made but forget about your cutlery and try it the Swazi way - with your hands!

This experience is both informative and memorable - a taste of true Swazi hospitality - and should not be missed. The Cultural Village is open to visitors every day from 8 am to 5 pm. The traditional dances are held at 11.15 and 15.15 every day.

Waterfall - The Mantenga Waterfalls are Swaziland's best-known falls, and the largest in terms of volume of water. This is despite the construction of the Luphohlo Dam some 15 km upstream, where water was diverted for electricity generation.

The Mantenga Nature Reserve / Tented Camp has no swimming pool, but swimming is possible in the large pool at the base of the falls (swimming permitted at own risk).

Late check out policy:
Check with reception upon check-in.

If there is no immediate requirement of room on the day of check-out, late check-outs are usually not a problem.

Policy on children staying with parents:

Subject to confirmation - new policy recently implemented

- Children under 7 years stay free and bed & breakfast basis, provided there are 2 full-paying adults.
- Children over 7 years, pay R60.00 inclusive of breakfast, provided there are 2 full-paying adults.
- Children of 18 years or above pay adult rates

Cancellation Policy:

- If cancelled within 0-14 days, 100% of the total price is either chargeable or forfeited if already paid
- If within 15-45 days, 50% of the total price is either chargeable or forfeited
- Cancellations 46 ore more days in advance will incur an administration fee of no more than 10% of the total price

Payment forms:
Visa, MasterCard, Cash

Check in time: 14:00

Check out time: 11:00