Duration: 3 hours

As the sun sets over the mountains, guests are led by a guide through the bush towards the great Kraal of Chief Soshangana. As they approach, the beating of drums grows louder and warriors usher them through a passage of stone towers and flaming torches.

This is the great Kraal of Chief Soshangana, a dramatic fire-lit circle of royal huts under the boughs of ancient trees. The Chief and his family host the Evening Festival, where choirs, actors and dancers gather to tell the story of the Shangaan people. It is a spectacular and moving experience, which shows the enormous talent of the people from this region. During the show, traditional beer is passed around and great wooden trays with local delicacies are passed around.

Halfway through the show, the wives of the chief invite guests to divide into small groups to share a traditional feast in their houses with them.

After this, guests return for the second half, which tells the more modern story of the Shangaans, and at the end guests are led out through a tunnel of singing choristers, back into their more familiar world.

The songs have been specially written by renowned Shangaan musician Shalati Khosa, whose composition "Joy" was chosen as the alternative national anthem in 1993. The show is choreographed by Cultural Director at Shangana, Canny Hlatshwayo, and has been described as South Africa's finest traditional event, and is held on selected evenings.

"Spine-tingling - like entering a sacred world"
The Star

Evening festival sample menu
This is a sample menu and some ingredients may change according to what is freshly available in the season.

Starters
Starters are passed around on large wooden boards decorated with leaves and wild flowers.

Fire-grilled venison with coarse salt
Crocodile baked in groundnut sauce
Mopani worms pan fried in butter
Roasted corn wheels

Main course
Served from iron pots, clay bowls and grass baskets, the menu allow guests to taste a wide range of traditional flavours.

Pot-roast of beef stew
Honey-glazed sweet potatoes
Baked butternut
Wild spinach with crushed peanuts or fried cabbage
Traditional mieliepap
Samp with sugar beans
Freshly baked maize bread
Salad

Dessert
Desserts are based on the fruits in season, and served on banana leaves.

Skewers of chilled fresh fruit with lemon juice

Drinks
Drinks are served in handcrafted, glazed clay pots

Beer, wine, sodas, fruit juice, mineral water and popular spirits.

Featured in Gourmet Hideaways of Southern Africa 2001

For more information contact Shangana Cultural Village Reservations at (013) 737-7000 / (013) 737-6970 or e-mail us at chief@shangana.co.za