Southern Africa Culture

Getting to know and understand local culture is for many a highlight of travel to Africa. At almost all our Rani properties we offer opportunities to interact with local people, many of whom still conduct a subsistence way of life virtually unchanged over generations.

Around Victoria Falls you can learn about the spirit of the Zambezi river god Nyaminyami, view traditional dancing by masked dancers and visit local markets to buy hand-made wood and soapstone carvings. Along the coast of Mozambique you can watch boat builders repairing traditional sea-faring dhows, visit authentic markets where hand-made art and traditional silverware can be bought, or visit local fishing villages where houses are constructed from coral rock. Here you will discover a unique Afro-Asian culture; the result of generations of Swahili, Indian and Arab sea traders plying their wares along the east African coastline. In far northern Mozambique, explore the history of the mysterious Quirimbas islands, once renowned for cowries, turtle shells, ambergris and maluane cloth. And on Ibo Island, nearby Matemo, watch silversmiths crafting jewellery out of molten Portugese coins in the courtyard of an 18th century Portugese fort. Here too you can visit slave traders' ruins and contemplate the ravages of this devastating trade which saw millions of slaves shipped offshore in the 17th and 18th centuries.

At all of our Rani destinations we encourage our guests to show respect for local people and their customs. Our community liaison officers are happy to escort you into local villages if you wish to learn more about the local way of life and our community development programmes.