Product Description

The Ancient Game of Strategy from Africa. For thousands of years, Mancalas simple rules and challenging strategy have made it the worlds most popular game. This solid wood set features three sets of rules, glass beads, and a storage box. The object is to collect the most beads in your large mancala bowls by sequentially dropping stones around the board. Awards & Acknowledgements 1997 Kids Health Toy and Game Review Award Winner 2000 Parents' Choice Silver Award Winner Recommended Age: 8 and up

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29301 in Toys & Games
• Brand: University Games
• Model: 09916
• Dimensions: 5.75" h x 18.13" w x 1.19" l, 3.00 pounds

Customer Reviews

As a teacher
As a teacher this ancient game teaches not only math but culture. This game has been around in Asia and Africa for thousands of years and has many cultural aspects to go along with it such as in some places men only play with men and women only play with women. My students find this very interesting.
My students also enjoy playing with the beads and separating them into categories.

You're the MANcala!
I remember this game when I was younger, and never fully understood how to play. As an adult, I researched the rules 'cause I'm a nerd like that, and found it's actually pretty easy to get the hang of. It's a long wooden board (maybe I could have sprung for the folding one), but it still works. The only thing is maybe the grooves could be bigger. I don't know if it's true for any Mancala board, but sometimes you have like ten beads in one bowl and they just spill over. It's hard to drop them when you have a bunch in one hand, and you might have to keep a keen eye to which bowls just housed one extra bead.

I play it with my 8 year old nieces, and it doesn't bear much educational content, but you can invent a scoring system where when you count your beads at the end, each is worth 10 points and the first to 1,000 pts is the winner. So that's math, haha.

It's a fun game and if you get tired of the same old thing, you can invent new ways to play like the aforementioned. It comes with easy to understand directions, and a few times around, you can get really good at developing strategies. You could probably even make a game like this if you're hard up for cash. It's one of those creative games that doesn't require a lot of skill or concentration. I'd recommend it for a rainy day! :D

an old game that teaches new skills for all ages
I have purchased this game for myself and my husband (in our sixties), and for four children ranging in age from 7 to 12 - everyone is enjoying it and it can be played for as long as you like or you can drop it without losing "your place" - good for seeing consequences of actions while playing.