blue-mango-lodge

You can't miss it if you've never traveled.

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 07:13:20 GMT

Last night we had the pleasure of hosting a group of American tourists, eye surgeons visiting South Africa for a golf and sight seeing holiday.

Searching on tripadvisisor for a unique food tourism experience they decided to dine at Okapi a la Carte restaurant to experience local food and game meats at their best.

Upon arrival they could not decide what to eat, so we served a small portion of everything from stuffed giant black Mushrooms to Giraffe tail potjie, pepper crusted fillet of Zebra, fillet of Giraffe, traditional Karoo Lamb bredie and Mozambique peri peri Chicken.

Our guests left happy and we wish them a wonderful holiday in our magnificent country.

Imagine my joy this morning when I was copied into a Whatsapp message, recommending Okapi restaurant to the agent in the States, with a suggestion that they consider sending customers visiting South Africa to Okapi a la Carte restaurant for an amazing food tourism experience, thank you Blair, we really appreciate it.

You can't miss it if you've never traveled, traveling is the number one best way to broaden your horizons.

Book your table today.

Renovations

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

Events director Daisy needed more space in the lounge area as it was not large enough to host medium size functions.

Renovation needed to be done quickly, after one week the venue was ready, here are the before and after photos, from start of work to a baby shower last Saturday.

Birding Hotspot

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 05:37:12 GMT

The Blue Mango Lodge is something of a Birding Hotspot with over 80 birds identified in the beautiful gardens.

Birds fall into several categories,

All year round

Summer visitors

Winter visitors

Occasional visitors

Nesting birds

Today we had a new visitor, two African Grey Hornbills , this is a common bird , seen regularly in the bush, but not one that I have seen in our garden.

It's always a thrill to see a new species and this siting brings us ever closer to 100.

Interesting Sign

Sat, 17 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

I came across this sign on a Facebook group and immediately downloaded it.

It just captures the essence of who we are as a species and who we are as hosts.

Come and enjoy your personal Blue Mango experience to understand why we are so highly rated and why so many return

The Best Eggs

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

Long before we started our guest lodge, I had been buying eggs from my friend and neighbour at Beaver poultry farm

Rob and Zelda offer the very best eggs available and we are so lucky to have them just around the corner.

I was often astounding by the size differences in the eggs which are graded from extra small to super jumbo.

Rob and Zelda very kindly save me their very best graded supers sized eggs which can only fit 15 to a tray.

Eggs are best eaten as fresh from the chicken as possible, so I make my daily pilgrimage to buy a half tray or full tray depending on how busy or what we are making that day.

Customers from all around the world comment on how good our eggs are, now half the secret is out, Beaver farm, the other half is how we prepare them.

In the photograph I show the sizes differences with a match box for scale, what you cannot tell however is the weight difference, the largest eggs possibly weigh 8 to 10 times that of the smallest.

Book your bed with breakfast today to see what all the fuss is about.

Major Announcement Due Soon.

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

In 2015 professor Lee Berger made a monumental announcement; the discovery of a previously unknown hominid which had been named Homo naledi.

The fossil discovery in the cave systems known as the Cradle of Humankind had been kept secret since being unearthed two years earlier.

Blue Mango Lodge offer a variety of professional tours from the well trodden to the bespoke and obscure, but one of my personal favorites is the Cradle of Humankind and Sterkfontien.

It not only gives tourists the opportunity to see real life South Africa on the 80 minute journey, but also allows one to look hundreds of thousands of years back in time.

Now, professor Berger is at it again, titillating our taste buds and taking us to the edge of our seats with talk of another huge development.

Lee was being coy on the subject yesterday but a major announcement is imminent.

This will make the Cradle of Humankind an even more interesting place to visit on future tours.

Keep your eyes on the major news channels or watch this space for further details.

School Groups.

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

Every now and again something or someone comes along to touch your ♥.

Going through some photos taken prior to covid I came across this cute photo of a creche graduation.

The Blue Mango Lodge Garden Venue is a wonderful location for hosting a variety of events from an informal lunch to a lavish wedding or black tie gala dinner.

Why not check out some of the amazing functions which have taken place here, then keep us in mind for future events. You will be glad you did.

Beans

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

We wanted to plant some green beans along an old fence, firstly because it's a great trellis for the beans to climb on as the beans grow vertically, and secondly it will create a screen and living wall.

Chatting with our neighbour through the fence he said that he has a type of Portuguese bean which is far better than green beans, the following day he kindly gave me some beans for planting.

They were planted about 5 days ago and are now starting to sprout, they are extremely fast growing and it would be a nice little scientific experiment for my daughter to measure their daily average growth.

Once they are about 30cm tall we will plant the next batch. I hope that they are as nice as me says they are.

Swapping Pots

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

The past few days have been baking hot and technically still in winter Spring fever is in the air with plant nurseries and garden centres overflowing with people browsing or loading cart loads of annual flowers such as marigolds into their cars.

Each year we shake dead heads from our three types of marigold, they then reseed themselves for next season at no cost.

At the moment we are cconcentrating on our entire garden but with emphasis on veggie production as well as training and growing flowering vines and creepers in our wedding venue.

We found a little Bay leaf tree at a small previously unknown nursery for the bargain price of R 50.00.

We had a decent sized pot containing thyme but nothing suitable for the bay leaf, which we did not want to plant directly into the ground.

We removed the thyme from the bigger pot and planted the Bay, then replanted the thyme into a smaller pot with new compost, we should now be self sufficient in Bay, Curry leaves and Rhubarb.

Renovations

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

The Blue Mango Lodge Garden Venue has an awesome reputation for hosting the best events & parties.

Here we can be seen expanding one of our party venues.

We have several Venue options at Blue Mango which host from the small and intimate up to 320 guests.

The venue photographed here hosted approximately 30 guests, this will increase to around 50 guests once renovations are completed.

Watch this space.

More Rhubarb

Sat, 10 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

We decided to dig up the rhubarb from the spot it had been in for so long, because plans are afoot to make changes to that area in the coming weeks (watch this space)

After carefully digging it up we saw that it was possible to cut the rhubarb into four pieces to get an additional three plants for free.

We planted the four rhubarb plants in their new home, I will post again as to how they are progressing.

Vygies

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

These little Vygie plants are indigenous to the Cape region of South Africa and herald the late winter and early spring with a blaze if colour for about six weeks only.

They are spectacular when planted in big groups or all along a driveway and come in several colours, here you see the red and pink varieties.

Rhubarb

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

Some years ago we planted Rhubarb, each year it grows huge, dying back during the winter months to just the corm which hibernates below the soil.

As the temperature rises in August / September the first shoots can be seen peeping through. Only one week ago there was nothing to be seen, yet in the photo the plant can clearly be seen at a decent size as it goes so quickly.

Rhubarb is classified as a vegetable, it makes the most fabulous desserts such as Rhubarb pie or crumble, it's great with ice cream or custard as well as for making jam.

We use it a lot inhouse in our Okapi a la Carte restaurant and it's very popular with tourists and locals alike.

Book a table at Okapi a la Carte restaurant and try some, you will not be disappointed.

Renovation & Upgrades

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

We always try to stay on top of things, on going maintenance and improvement is the order of the day.

We painted inside our family room to keep it looking clean, fresh and inviting.

Black Eyed Susan

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

Thunbergia, commonly known as Black eyed Susan is deceptive.

Looking very frail on an ultra thin stem, one gets the impression that a mild gust of wind would damage it beyond repair, but nothing could be further from the truth.

This fragile looking plant is highly invasive and can smoother other plants to death if you are not careful.

Here you can see our Susan is out of control.

Unusual Flowers

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

I don't know how these flowers got into our garden because I don't remember planting them.

Every year they appear as if by magic, flower for three or four weeks, then disappear until next year.

Today, after years of suspense, I finally got to identify them!

Commonly known as the paintbrush plant, it is an indigenous bulb which grows wild in four provinces of South Africa as well as other African countries up as far as Ethiopia.

Learning something new every day makes life more interesting.

Simply Gorgeous

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

I was struck today by this beautiful scene.

Whipping out my cheap cell phone to capture the moment just did not do it justice.

The pick rambling rose on the left with a yesterday, today and tomorrow to the right, against a backdrop of flowers on the apricot tree.

I thank the universe for this wonderful day.

Passion Fruit

Sat, 03 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

I was a little embarrassed making this post as the photograph is less than flattering.

This will be a before and after photo.

We planted a grenadilla, or passion fruit vine today, we will beautify this little corner outside our health spa and take regular pics to check on progress.

Blossoms

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

I always love it at this time of the year.

The cherry and apple blossom is in full flower and outstanding in its beauty.

Just four weeks and it's gone, but that one month in twelve is always so special and in our hearts.

Garden Art

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 04:30:00 GMT

Garden art makes for such an interesting topic.

We have a lot of interesting pieces in the garden, some are obvious and in your face, such as this old mini, reminiscent of Mr. Bean as well as more subtle pieces which one needs to look for carefully.

Whether subtle or in your face each piece is unique and special, making for wonderful photo and video opportunities.

Street View

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 04:51:48 GMT

Today was a major cleanup day on the outside of Blue Mango, it is so important to ensure that your shop window looks great.

I say shop window because this is the first thing people see before entering the property and first impressions count for a lot.

Here you can see the beautiful Banksia or rock rose starting to flower. We have both the cream and white varieties which grow in excess of 10 metres long.

We grow them over the fence and up trees for maximum effect.

Aloes

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 04:30:00 GMT

Aloes bloom in winter with huge orange or red flowers, very often the aloe is the only large flowering plant in bloom during the colder months.

We have a variety of aloes in the garden which attract beautiful sunbirds, there are two species of sunbird in the garden which are always a joy to see.

Roses

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 08:11:44 GMT

Winter is the time for pruning the roses. The harder you prune back, the stronger and more vigorous the rose will be.

There are some wonderful roses in our gardens, but ranking high on my list of favorites is Satchmo, a short floribunda rose with a riot of fire engine red flowers which flush several times throughout the season.

This weekend we were hard at work pruning and taking cuttings, we managed to take over 800 Satchmo cuttings with a further 300 to 400 planned for today for a total of 1200 cuttings.

Even if we only have a 10% success rate, we will have an additional 120 roses to plant out, but we expect about 50% will be successful.

After the Satchmo we will start on the other varieties.

Organic Ingredients

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 05:30:00 GMT

Blue Mango Lodge and Okapi a la Carté restaurant use only the finest, free range, wild and organic ingredients.

Leafy greens, picked from the garden and onto your plate within minutes, all the nutrients and flavour intact, nothing beats fresh garden produce.

No chemicals, no man made fertilizer.

Ornamental Bananas

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 06:33:23 GMT

The Highveld winter always Klaaps the frost tender leaves of our banana and ornamental banana plants.

Hidden inside the withered dry leaves are new, bright green leaves, curled up ready to open.

We take a bow saw to the plants, cutting out the dead, to make way for the new, very soon, these plants will be back to full glory.

Greek Feta Salad

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 09:41:37 GMT

We have such an appreciation for great food, we believe food should not just satiate but be a celebration.

Now the warmer weather is here, we offer the best seasonal options, such as this beautiful Greek feta salad, it's such a popular dish and with good reason.

Made from the finest locally produced, organic leaves, cherry tomatoes, peppers, and onions, the best-crumbled goat cheese feta, olives, then drizzled in our homemade secret dressing.

Book your event or private dinner now, you will be happy that you did.

Blossoms

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 08:04:03 GMT

I mentioned in an earlier blog that Spring has come one month early this year.

This morning as I was rambling around the garden, I marveled at all the fruit trees in various stages of blossom, with bees hard at work gathering pollen.

We have many fruit trees in the garden, apricot, peach, plum, mulberry, as well as brambles such as black currant, loganberry, and blackberry.

Other fruits grown here are Strawberries, Cape Gooseberries, and bananas, although interestingly banana trees are not trees at all, they are classified as herbs, and the banana itself is not a fruit, it's a berry.

Trees

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 07:51:20 GMT

have always been fascinated by the gnarled trunks and sillouhettes of old trees.

The lichen, moss and fungai growing on the bark or base of trees adds so much character.

We have several such trees in our garden, I took a few photos of them this morning, I dont know how much longer they will be around before giving back to the soil, this morning I decided to photograph some of them for posterity.

An Abundance Of Cuttings

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 08:32:10 GMT

The Blue Mango Lodge is famous for its beautiful, tranquil gardens which are home to at least 80 bird species.

As every gardener knows; the purchase of plants is an expensive endeavor so we take cuttings from the existing plants or we swap our cuttings with other gardeners in exchange for new varieties.

Last season we took over 3000 cuttings from plants such as star jasmine, hydrangea, hibiscus, azalea, lavender, etc, here are some of the successful cuttings starting to flower.

Once planted out and established, the gardens will grow to the next level.

Painting Our Flagship Venue

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 08:00:51 GMT

Today we are painting our flagship venue, it's called Meadowood.

Hosting groups of up to 320 guests, Meadowood is a breath of fresh air, full of positive energy, open on the side it leads out onto a small woodland and a boma fire.

Event Preparation

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 08:34:54 GMT

There is much that goes into the hosting of a successful function. It could be likened to an iceberg, only 10% can be seen the 90% happens behind the scenes. Painting and maintenance, cleaning, gardens, draping, decor, balloon art and welcome signs are just a few of the things that must be on point.

Add to the above the procurement and cooking, staffing requirements, laundry, load shedding, back up generators, adequate fuel reserves and other issues and we think you get the picture.

Here we can be seen preparing for Gogo Ndlovu's surprise 70th birthday party.

Paying attention to the small details and personalising each function is what makes the difference.

Events & Functions

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 08:10:35 GMT

There's never a moment to rest at Blue Mango Lodge, when we are busy serving guests we are devoted to our guests, offering the best service for which we are famous.

In-between we maintain and improve, here we are busy making tables, a stage and backdrop to make our events and functions extra special.

Cactus Corner

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 09:20:45 GMT

A giant cacti towered over a part of the garden which we called cactus corner.

Estimated to be 7 metres tall or 23 feet, it had stood majestically for over 70 years.

The rain fall last summer was well above average, softening the soil so much that the mighty plant toppled over. Hearing the crash, we rushed outside standing in disbelief at what we thought was the end of a giant, a giant which had been photographed 1000,s of times by customers from all parts of the globe.

The old plant weighed several tons, choping it into hundreds of pieces we put some pieces on the soil around the garden before moving the rest to the top of the plot with the other garden waste.

But low and behold, we were overjoyed to see new life sprouting from the giant old base.

The old makes way for the new, I wonder how many years it will take to reach its former glory?

Weavers Birds Nests

Sat, 13 Aug 2022 07:26:30 GMT

Southern Masked Weavers and Cape Weavers are a common site in the Blue Mango Lodge gardens.

This year there is more activity and more nests than we can remember since purchasing the property 27 years ago.

Many nests are also lower than usual, some are approximately 2.4 , metres or 8 feet from the ground, they are obviously becoming more confident.

Spring Has Arrived Early

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 13:05:26 GMT

Spring has arrived one month early this year, more than 800 Clivias are already in bloom, and the gardens are looking spectacular.

The sound of bird life is everywhere, we have so much to be thankful for.

Bird Watching

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 08:30:30 GMT

For those with a little more time to spend in the area, why not do something different, we offer outstanding bird watching in our magnificent gardens, in which 80 species have been observed. We also offer specialist birding tours which take from a day or two, up to fourteen days in which we not only take you to some of the hottest birding spots available, but also offer specialized tours in which we capture, weigh, measure and ring a variety of raptor species from Eagles, Owls, Buzzards, Kites, Falcons and Hawks, with mist netting for many other species, the data being logged on the data base.