What first comes to mind when you think about our unique attributes as a country? Our rich cultural heritage! The melting pot of cultures has birthed amazing food, art and music which we still enjoy today. We cannot deny that South Africa has a distinctive flavour that can only be found in this beautiful country.
Heritage
noun · singular
Those features belonging to the culture of a particular society such as traditions; languages or buildings that were created in the past and still have historical importance.
On 24 September, South Africans observe National Heritage Day. This is a momentous day meant for us to reflect, share and embrace the many cultures that make the very fabric of our colourful and diverse nation. In celebration of this important day, we would like to share with you the special things about our Mabalingwe heritage that make us #proudlySouthAfrican.
THE ORIGIN OF OUR NAME
Our country has a catalogue of eleven beautiful languages which served as a source of inspiration for the unique name for our Resort. ‘Mabalingwe’ was created by melding together the Setswana words “mabala a nkwe”; which translate to the “spots of the leopard.”
INDIGENOUS FLORA
Our Nature Reserve is home to a vast variety of indigenous flora; from the popular acacia tree; the ever-green succulent aloe vera plant and the tall amber-hued grass that stretches across the horizon. Each plant, unique in form and function, serve an important part of our eco-system. Even though most of these indigenous plants need very little care, we work to protect them to maintain a well-balanced eco-system which gives life to the abundant wildlife and birdlife on the Reserve. Our Ranger Team lead the Eco-Tainment programme that teaches guests about the great outdoors and how each element in the wilderness is vital in the cycle of life within this unique South African biome.
SPECTACULAR WILDLIFE AND ABUNDANT BIRDLIFE
We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to be home to an array of indigenous animal and bird species. As a Nature Reserve, it is our responsibility to maintain a natural landscape that these species can live and thrive in. In doing so, we preserve a sacred part of our heritage that future generations will be able to enjoy. On a game viewing tour, you get to spot all sorts of beautiful wildlife species, dotted all along our Nature Reserve. Avid bird lovers have the opportunity to view over 250 bird species from Mabalingwe alone. Watching how they navigate in the natural surrounds is a fascinating experience that we cannot get enough of.
A #PROUDLYSOUTHAFRICAN TREAT
The Kalahari Oasis Pub is a guest favourite for that ‘local-is-lekker’ experience. Situated in the heart of the bushveld, this unique pub was once the set of a TV film and the iconic Castrol Oil Ads before it was converted into this distinctively South African venue. Evenings at the pub are filled with laughter; sizzling smells of flavour from braai’ing good food and families having an absolute ‘jol’ under the starry African sky.
On the topic of Heritage Day, our Team had to definitely oblige to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to take part in the phenomenon that has taken over the globe – the Jerusalema dance challenge. Check out our response to the challenge:
If you are looking for the quintessential bushveld experience, look no further than Mabalingwe. We bring you closer than ever to the essence of the exquisite South African wilderness for an amazing holiday experience. We love embracing our heritage and being able to share with this amazing slice of #proudlySouthAfrican pie with you. Share with us on our Facebook page how you will be celebrating your unique heritage this month!
To book an amazing getaway for you and your loved ones get in touch with us on contactus@mabalingwe.com or +27 (0) 14 001 7011.