Mabalingwe - The Oasis Update
Awards   |   Reviews   |   Resort Upgrades   |   Resort News   |   More Info   |   Notices
Another year of magnificent sunsets and sunrises has passed over the Waterberg and it has certainly been a year like no other! We have all faced challenges and hardships in 2020; but as the sounds, sights, colours and vibes of the summer season begin to get into full swing, we look forward with renewed hope to what the New Year will bring.
 
It is comforting to know that, whatever is ‘up’ in the world, your home-away-from-home bushveld haven – with its incredible views, abundant birdlife, stunning indigenous vegetation, wide variety of wildlife and endless sense of peace and tranquillity – is always here for you. Let’s take a moment to review the 2020 year with all the latest news from your favourite Nature Reserve.
Cabin-Fever-Blue bygones!

You have been following this competition from day one – figuring out each of our competition challenges and entering in your answers. The time has finally come and we cannot hold back the excitement. It gives us so much honour to announce the

GRAND PRIZE WINNER...

 

 
Congratulations
 

Congratulations to
Cliff Putterill

for snatching up ONE FULL WEEK BONUS BOOKING in our lucky draw!

Thank you for staying up-to-date with all things Mabalingwe, throughout this tough season, as well as partaking in this awesome adventure!

 
A round of applause for a job well done!
 
RCI
Mabalingwe once again retained Gold Crown Status at the annual RCI Awards, and placed seventh in the Top Check-In and Check-Out Category (Large) and in sixth place in the esteemed Top Housekeeping Category (Large). Congratulations to the Mabalingwe Team!
 
TripAdvisor
Mabalingwe also received the prestigious Certificate of Excellence Award from TripAdvisor for consistently proving to be a favourite holiday spot; as is evident from the numerous reviews left by happy travellers and our guests. Thank you!
Go to TripAdvisor
Through thick and thin

Your ongoing support during this time is so valuable to us. Thank you for continuing to choose Mabalingwe as your preferred holiday destination. A few of our guests who were able to visit Mabalingwe this year shared their memorable Mabalingwe moments:

Mabalingwe visitors
“The food is delicious and the spa treatments are far above superb. The staff members in the Restaurant and the Spa are professional, yet friendly and very kind. A pleasant experience in total. And a special "shout out" to Freddy the chef. Good cooking, sir!”
- ANLI STEPHANS
Mabalingwe visitors
“During my stay, I thought I would treat myself to an Indian head massage. What made me feel safe and comfortable was the sign on the door that said: 'no mask, no entry'. There was hand sanitiser as you walked in and I was welcomed by Nicky and Charmaine, who wore their Perspex screen and face masks.”
- ANONYMOUS
Mabalingwe visitors
“We really had a most pleasant stay - we have nothing to complain about. It was nice, relaxing and enjoyable - we had not one incidence of unfriendliness or lack of interest from the Resort staff, everyone, even to a driver who showed us to the entertainment facility near the gate. You really are doing a great job!”
- VERNON VILJOEN
Mabalingwe visitors
“A really great place to get away from all the hustle and bustle of city living. Beautiful views, tranquil settings; you really feel part of the nature surrounding you. Also great and friendly staff.”
- HEINRICH BASSON

Leave your memories and favourite moments about Mabalingwe on TripAdvisor.

New Improvements and Upgrades at Mabalingwe

We may have been in lockdown, but our small onsite Team has been hard at work to make sure that your home-away-from-home is in superb shape, and ready for your return. Take a look at the upgrades we managed to complete in this time:

LE FERA
  The Farm Shop was deep-cleaned; and the shelves and walls have been painted to give it a new fresh look.
  The Le Fera Team assisted with maintaining the gardens at the R516 Resort entrance, as well as after a recent visit from the elephants.       Hein and his Team repaired the thatch roof at Buffelswatergat.
HOUSEKEEPING
  All linen was disinfected and cleaned.       Training was done with all housekeeping staff as needed.
  All Chalets and Resort facilities were deep-cleaned and sanitised.
GENERAL UPGRADES
  All Chalet garden lights have been painted.       All front and patio doors were sanded down and re-varnished.
  General maintenance and repairs were conducted in the Chalet interiors.       All braai areas have been repainted with heat resistant paint.       All Chalet carports poles have been treated with linseed oil.       Ladies Bar Deck has been treated with linseed oil.       New laundry water tanks have been installed.        All Chalets were fumigated.
 One of Mabalingwe’s favourite family-friendly facilities, the Squash Court, was under construction in November 2020. The Maintenance Team gave the Court a fresh new coat of solid white paint, removed the wooden strips and replaced them with new smooth wooden planks.      The Kalahari Bush Camps’ thatch was removed and replaced with a brand new thatch roof.    
 The Maintenance Team fitted beautiful, grey woven carpets in the Self-catering Chalets on the second-floor loft area. The grey compliments the brown and caramel-coloured furniture beautifully.
Dec/Jan Holidays
 

Warmest welcome to our new Management Team!

We are elated to announce the arrival of our new Resort Manager, Johan Lamprecht and Assistant Resort Manager, Natasha Lamprecht. Johan and Natasha joined the Mabalingwe family at the beginning of December 2020. We are absolutely thrilled to have them on board as the new Management Team! With their wealth of knowledge and experience, they will definitely be an asset at Mabalingwe Nature Reserve.
Christmas Day
 

A farewell to Juan Viviers

It’s with a sad heart that we say goodbye to Juan Viviers; our wonderful Resort Manager. Juan, who has been part of the Mabalingwe Team for some time, transferred to Mount Amanzi, one of our sister Resorts, at the end of November 2020. We would like to pencil a sincere thank you note to Juan for his hard work and dedication, and for leading the Team in such a way that helped Mabalingwe scale to new heights. Thank you and all the best on your new adventures at Mount Amanzi!
Welcome to our Team!
Welcome aboard! We are excited to have these new members as part of the Mabalingwe family. Together we will work towards achieving new heights! The following people have joined the Mabalingwe Team:
Interior Upgrades
Jeanne Scheepers
Commercial Manager
Started: August 2020
 
Exterior Upgrades
Bradley Wessels
Maintenance Manager
Started: September 2020
 
Additional Upgrades
Isak Viljoen
Public Relations Officer
Started: October 2020
Interior Upgrades
Carel Swartz
Game Ranger
Started: October 2020
 
Exterior Upgrades
Nikkie Osnabrugge
Assistant Housekeeping
Started: November 2020
 
Additional Upgrades
Schalk Willem Liebenberg
Game Ranger
Started: November 2020
Meet the new Reception Team
We would like to take a moment to welcome our new Reception Team as the ‘new face’ of Mabalingwe Nature Reserve. The Team comprises of some new and a few familiar faces. These ladies are always ready to greet guests with a warm smile and help them check-in with no hassles. The next time you are at Mabalingwe pop in to say ‘hi’ to the new Team.
Mabalingwe visitors
Louisa Loryn Moletsi
Front Office Supervisor
Started: September 2020
Mabalingwe visitors
Andrea Coetsee
Receptionist
Started: October 2020
Mabalingwe visitors
Dorah Kotu
Receptionist
Started: March 2019
Mabalingwe visitors
Grace Nomsa
Receptionist
Started: April 2019
Hygiene First
The health and safety of our guests and staff is important to us. As we follow the regulations set out by the government and implement our own COVID-19 safety protocols, know that Mabalingwe Nature Reserve remains committed to providing you with the most comfortable stay. We continue to uphold the highest health and safety standards, in-line with the government-communicated COVID-19 protocols and recommendations.
Interior Upgrades
 
Exterior Upgrades
 
Additional Upgrades
Our Team, together with VRS HygienicHospitality, has implemented and is maintaining essential health and safety protocols to ensure a comfortable stay for you and your loved ones. All over our Resort, you will notice the VRS HygienicHospitality markings, disinfectants, social-distancing guides and seals for a safe environment to enjoy.
VRS HygienicHospitality protocols

Celebrate special occasions the Mabalingwe way!

HERITAGE DAY 2020

This year, Heritage Day came right in time to uplift everyone’s mood. With all safety pre-cautions observed, we (of course) had to braai to commemorate a day that celebrates our beautiful culture as a nation!
President Cyril Ramaphosa encouraged the nation to take part in the Jerusalema Challenge to celebrate the Heritage which has taken South Africa and the globe, at large, by storm! The Mabalingwe Team could not miss out on the opportunity to showcase their dancing skills.

Celebrate Christmas at Mabalingwe Nature Reserve

One of our favourite times of the year is the Festive Season!

This year is no different; the Resort has been turned into a scene from a Christmas movie. The Resort Team sprinkled decorations all around to remind everyone that Christmas had made its advent. As part of the December extravaganza, Le Fera will be hosting their annual Christmas lunch in celebration of the holidays.

You might ask ‘what’s on the menu’; well, delightful canapés like melt-in-the-mouth white cheddar and bacon crostini bruschetta, mouth-watering mains such as succulent herb buttered turkey drizzled with a classic cranberry sauce, and delectable dessert like sticky toffee pudding with rooibos custard. Let’s celebrate the holiday season in true Mabalingwe fashion!

All Things 'Mabalingwe'

Mabalingwe is an oasis for travellers, a variety of wildlife and the incredible biome which encapsulates it all.
Delve deeper into the world of Mabalingwe by reading our latest blogs:
Dec/Jan Holidays
 

Heritage Day

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…
Read more
Christmas Day
 

Inter-provincial leisure travel

The news that we have been eagerly anticipating has finally arrived. We have been given the green-light to open our doors to welcome inter-provincial leisure travellers and we couldn’t be happier! On Saturday, 15 August, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the country will be moving from lockdown level 3, to level 2 as of Tuesday…
Read more
Valentine's day
 

Holidays are Food for your soul

This year so far has been one for the history books. Since the novel pandemic COVID-19 hit our shores, we have all been trying to adhere to the safety regulations and adjust to the new normal. Having to come to terms with the impact that this virus has had here at home as well as…
Read more
Guest experience in pictures!
“I do love to capture beauty in this world. And photos can last the test of time.” – N Buzolic
We enjoy receiving images of you and your loved ones enjoying the peace of a Watergberg sunset, having a blast at the Jumping Pillow or even getting up-close-and-personal with nature. It brings us joy to see you letting your hair down with us!
Mariska Cilliers, who describes herself as “an amateur photographer who loves nature”,
shared the following images during her stay. What lovely photos!
Interior Upgrades
 
Exterior Upgrades
 
Additional Upgrades
You, too, can share your amazing pictures with us.
Email us at yourresortstory@mabalingwe.com
More Information

UniVate Properties

Expand your holiday horizons through a range of available ownership weeks. Simply visit the Uni-Vate Properties website and browse to find your perfect match. Secure an additional home-away-from-home week at one of South Africa’s finest Resorts.

The bushveld, the wildlife and the beauty of South Africa

 
UVP
Welcome to the leopards lair
 
UVP
Hear the roar of the Kruger
 
UVP
A close escape
 
UVP
The gem of Mpumalanga

UniVate Properties

 

If you would like to explore more destinations, click here

African Blessings

AFRICAN BLESSINGS
As our Jochebed Children’s Village continues to grow, so do our laundry loads! We are raising funds to purchase an industrial washing machine that will go a long way in helping us manage the big task of keeping the Village’s linen and little King’s clothes clean and fresh, while reducing the cost and the time spent on managing the loads of laundry. Read our blog to find out how you can contribute to our cause.

 

Read our blog
VRS Options

OPTIONS
As the custodian of your preferred holiday destination, Vacation Recreational Services is consistently looking out for your best interests, as they relate to important and quality holidays. Consequently, VRS recently teamed up with Options. Options (previously VRS Options) is an independent exchange organisation that provides you, as a valued Shareholder, the opportunity of exchanging your week for an alternative holiday in any given year, should you like to. For more information and for exchange enquiries, please contact Options directly on info@holidayoptions.co.za, or visit their website below.
Happy holidaying!

Go to the Options website

Take the pressure out of planning the journey to your favourite home-away-from-home: our partners at ACT Travel are here to plan your flights, car hire and so much more to ensure you have the most relaxing vacation.

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Travel Packages and Tours
Domestic and International Flights
Car Hire
Travel Insurance
VISA Advice
Foreign Exchange Assistance
Airport Shuttles and Transfers
Accommodation and Packages at Mnarani Club in Kenya

For more information and assistance, please contact us on:
info@actravel.co.za | +27 (0) 12 941 8522
Important Notices
2021 Calendar > Download here
 
Instruction Letter > Download here
 
VRS Website > Visit here

Keep in touch with us on social media:

Mabalingwe website   Mabalingwe Facebook   Mabalingwe TripAdvisor   Mabalingwe blog    
In Closing
As we leave 2020 in our rear-view, we would like to thank you, our valued Shareholders, for walking side-by-side with us, on this journey. This year has taught us patience, diligence and perseverance, but most importantly to have faith and believe in a brighter tomorrow.
 

We do believe that 2020 has made us stronger, together, and we look forward to the 2021 year ahead, as we work diligently to create the environment for everlasting holiday memories and provide you with well-deserved rest and relaxation at your ‘oasis’.

We wish you all a wonderful Festive Season and a safe, healthy and
happy New Year. From the Mabalingwe family to your own:
“May the spirit of love gently fill your hearts and homes.”

Happy holidaying!
Marjorie Forssman
VRS – Managing Director 
VRS