Mancala is thousands of years old, tracing its lineage to ancient Egypt. Legend has it that workers played the game during rest periods while building the pyramids. But the game is great for modern times as well–it has gained new popularity as one of the world's most intriguing and clever two-player games. Our special kids edition replaces gemstones with cute plastic animals. To start, place all the animals in the pockets of the board. When it's your turn, choose a pocket and scoop up all the animals in it, then drop them back into the pockets one-by-one as you circle the board. With just a few easy rules to follow, the object is to collect the most animals by the end of the game. All the pieces go back inside the game unit, which folds up for easy storage. For 2 players, ages 6 and up. Game Contents: 1 high-quality, solid wood hinged playing board, 48 colorful animal playing pieces, and complete instructions.