Lesedi Cultural Village tour: Five ethnic homesteads

Step inside five vibrant homesteads, taste age-old recipes, and join lively dance rituals

A guided tour of Lesedi Cultural Village near Johannesburg takes you through traditional homesteads of the Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele peoples. You move between each settlement with a local guide, watch live dance and music performances, and eat a buffet of traditional South African dishes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Lesedi Cultural Village

• Visit traditional homesteads
• Learn about ethnic customs
• Watch traditional dance performances
• Enjoy buffet of traditional cuisine

The experience

The village sits in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site outside Johannesburg and spreads across five separate homesteads, each one built and run by members of its own ethnic group. A local guide leads you through them in sequence, explaining the customs, rituals and daily life of each culture as you walk the grounds. The huts themselves are traditional structures. You see how they were built, what they contain, and how families actually lived in them.

Between the homesteads, you stop to watch live traditional dance and music performances. These are not staged for tourists alone. The dancers and musicians are performing their own cultural practices, and the guide explains what each movement and song means. Afterward, you sit down to a buffet lunch of traditional South African dishes: meats, vegetables and side dishes prepared using recipes passed down through generations. The meal is included, and it gives you time to absorb what you've seen before heading back.

An air-conditioned vehicle picks you up from your hotel and brings you back when the tour ends. The whole experience runs about four hours, which leaves the rest of your day open for other plans in Johannesburg or the surrounding area.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• lunch at the village.
• an air-conditioned vehicle for the duration.
• a local guide who speaks English.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 15:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 3

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Motleys Tours and Travel

Is this one for you?Four hours is enough to visit all five homesteads, watch performances and eat lunch without rushing, but leaves your morning or evening free for other activities in Johannesburg or the Cradle of Humankind.

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Top questions

What exactly do I see at each of the five homesteads?

Each homestead is a traditional settlement built and inhabited by members of that ethnic group: Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele. You walk through the grounds, see the huts and their interiors, and learn about the specific customs, rituals and lifestyles of that culture from your guide.

Are the dance performances part of the tour, or do I pay extra for them?

Traditional dance and music performances are included in the tour. You watch live performances at the village, and your guide explains the cultural meaning behind the movements and songs.

What kind of food is served for lunch?

Lunch is a buffet of traditional South African dishes prepared with authentic recipes. The meal includes a variety of meats, vegetables and side dishes, and it is included in the tour price.

How does the pickup work?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. The tour departs from your hotel in Johannesburg and returns you there at the end of the four-hour experience.

Is the village accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes. All areas and surfaces at Lesedi Cultural Village are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible as well. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller.