Shangaan River Club: A Mpumalanga Cultural Experience to Remember
Based at Hippo Hollow Country Estate in Hazyview, The Shangaan River Club is a unique restaurant serving traditional South African and Shangaan cuisine. The restaurant offers a one of a kind cultural experience combining storytelling, entertainment and great food in an atmospheric setting that you won’t quickly forget. Keep reading for all of the juicy details below.

An African Feast at The Shangaan River Club
The banquet prepared at the Shangaan River Club boasts an impressive selection of Shangaan and South African-inspired dishes. Mouth-watering meals are served from traditional cast iron pots warmed over open fires to complete the delightful Shangaan experience. The River Club also offers a Chef’s Tasting Table with interesting local delicacies such as mopani worms – a traditional favourite.


The Boma Feast Menu
The menu at Shangaan River Club features starters and soups, mains from the pot and a selection of desserts. The highlight of the food is undoubtedly the Shangaan Tasting Station, where diners can sample four Chef’s choices as well as traditional homemade beer typically made from marula fruit.
Main meals include spicy chicken wings, a venison stew and traditional side dishes such as ‘pap’ with tomato and onion gravy. From the braai (or barbeque) you can also try mini beef steaks, kudu boerewors and crocodile steaks.
If you have any room left for dessert, on offer there is traditional milk tart, banana pancakes, koeksisters and more.

The Boma at The Shangaan River Club
The African feast at The River Club is held in a traditional ‘boma’ – a word used to describe an enclosure normally built out of branches to protect livestock. The boma is lit up with flaming torches, enclosing an amphitheatre where traditional stories and dances are performed for the guests.
During each evening in the boma, the local chief narrates songs or proverbs from tribal legends, entertaining diners with ancient and intriguing culture. Local performers from the surrounding community also demonstrate traditional songs and dances.

The Shangaan River Club is a fantastic experience for couples, families or groups travelling together. It also makes a fantastically atmospheric wedding venue which can hold up to 150 people. We welcome all local and international guests to the festivities under the thatched boma. Enquiries can be made online or via email at reservations@hippohollow.co.za. Reservations are essential. The feast starts at 18h30 in summer and 18h00 in winter.
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