Lesedi, which is in seSotho means 'light', was initiated as a tourist attraction and today features five traditional dwellings, each representing a South African culture: Pedi, Zulu, Xhosa, Basotho and Ndebele.
Situated within the Cradle of Humankind, any visit to South Africa would certainly be incomplete without a visit to Lesedi, the cradle of living African culture. Lesedi Cultural Village was established in 1993 to display the full diversity of the South African rainbow nation. In an informative and entertaining way, Lesedi provides the visitor with a better understanding of the rich cultural background of the traditional peoples of South Africa.
The opportunity to be immersed in the traditional richness of African Culture is enhanced with 38 beautifully themed guest rooms to accommodate guests in first class comfort. Lesedi has offered the pre-eminent African cultural experience in South Africa for many years now.
Representatives of the various tribes facilitated the design of the cultural villages to ensure a historically representative portrayal of the cultures, highlighting aspects of the traditional way of life. Members of these historic communities live at Lesedi and continue to breathe life into their fascinating cultures. If you want to get an idea of traditional South African culture, then the Lesedi cultural village, less than an hour’s drive north of Johannesburg and set amongst rocky hills and bushveld, is a perfect outing.
Each of five featured families lives here permanently, looking after cows, chickens and tourists, and tours through their homes offer interesting cross-cultural comparisons of the customs and social organisation of the different cultures. The idea is quite fresh and refreshing. If you're staying overnight, you are welcomed by the family of the homestead in which you will be staying, and the head of the house then becomes your personal guide for the duration of your stay.
Day visitors also get to experience the origins of today’s colourful South African nation and receive a guided tour of the Zulu, Basotho, Xhosa and Pedi homesteads, after a multi-visual presentation. There are two 3-hour tours, one in the morning and one late afternoon, which is definitely the more preferable because of the atmosphere the traditional singing and dancing session, held in the boma right at the end of the tour, creates at night.
The Nyama Choma restaurant offers a Pan African Buffet in true African style, after which visitors are invited to gather around a fire to share in some ‘mamba juice’, a unique Lesedi drink, before the story telling and singing and dancing begin. Entertainment at Lesedi Cultural Village includes but not limited to; Daily Cultural Show, Dance Show, School Groups, Ketti shooting competition (slingshot), Cultural Quiz, Amazing Race and Interactive Drumming. Trust Travel2Africa to help ensure that you enjoy this experience to the fullest.
