The Zaka Valley itself is very beautiful with green fields and trees, and is surrounded by high mountains. The Madenhire home is on a ridge, with very attractive views. There are many tracks linking the fields and villages, and you can move around freely - talking to the friendly local people, hearing stories from the elders, or chat with the youngsters about life in the communal lands. It is also possible to visit the nearby schools.

A walk to the top of nearby Dengeni Mountain, provides a breathtaking panorama of the whole district. Here you can explore old bushman paintings in a cave, and on the way you may be lucky and see a number of wild animals and birds.

Not far from the Madanhire home is a small dam in a mountain valley, where you can go for a refreshing swim.

You can also join us in making traditional food, from the harvesting of foodstuffs, collecting firewood, fetching water, preparing ingredients, and cooking on an open fire. Or help look after our pigs, goats, donkeys and chickens.

If you are lucky, there may be a traditional beer party. Everyone is welcome, and the drumming and dancing goes on all night long.

Food and Accommodation.

Most of the food is homegrown. For example, chicken and pork, with greens, beans, onions and other vegetables; bread, sadza, and rice; fruit; and honey from the hives in the mango tree.

The compound contains a number of traditional thatched huts. The family have also built a more modern building with a dining room / lounge area and two bedrooms.You can stay in this bungalow, where you can have your own room, or share with members of the family. If you prefer you can sleep in one of the traditional thatched huts.

There is neither piped water nor electricity. You will be given a bowl of water for washing. The lavatory is essentially a hole in the ground. A large pit is dug, and topped with reinforced concrete.

A circular concrete wall is built to provide privacy, and the hole is normally covered with a flat stone. Guests might wish to bring items to facilitate personal hygiene.

Health

Guests will be impressed at the level of cleanliness and hygiene achieved in a situation that is primitive by western standards.

Only safe drinking water is used, fetched from a nearby borehole. For additional safety this can be boiled and drunk as tea. Alternatively, you can buy minerals at a shop that is a two minute walk down the road.

One kilometre from the Madanhire home is a council clinic which can provide the most basic health assistance. Half an hour's drive away is the Ndanga District Hospital with more advanced facilities. A telephone is available to request medical help. So you're quite safe ...