rondavel

African dwelling

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

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A rondavel is a traditional African dwelling, most commonly found in Southern Africa. It is characterized by its round shape, with a cylindrical single cell and a conical thatched roof. These dwellings are typically constructed from materials like mud and grass.12

Variants of the rondavel exist throughout the region, featuring different roof shapes and construction methods, such as walls made of posts with mud plastering. While traditionally a single-cell, undivided space, some modern rondavels are used as guesthouses or tourist accommodations.21

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African architecture
Savanna kraals and compounds
… tend toward a consistent form—the rondavel, or cylindrical, single-cell house with a conical thatched roof. This type is prevalent throughout Southern Africa. Variants in the region include a low plinth or curb supporting a domed roof (some Swazi and Zulu), flattened domes or low-pitched cones on head-height cylinders, and high,…
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… tend toward a consistent form—the rondavel, or cylindrical, single-cell house with a conical thatched roof. This type is prevalent throughout Southern Africa. Variants in the region include a low plinth or curb supporting a domed roof (some Swazi and Zulu), flattened domes or low-pitched cones on head-height cylinders, and high,…
Read More