Condé Nast Traveler has announced the results of its 31st annual Readers’ Choice Awards with both AtholPlace Hotel & Villa voted as the number 15 Best Hotel in Africa and Morukuru Family Madikwe the 10th Best Resort in Africa and 24th in the world. Nearly half a million Condé Nast Travelerreaders submitted a record-breaking number of… [Read More]
The 5th of October is International Teachers’ Day and we commemorate this important date on our annual calendar by underscoring our commitment to investing in the future by supporting teachers and their ongoing work of education. The Morukuru Goodwill Foundation (MGWF) advocates for better education for the Madikwe community by supporting two schools in the… [Read More]
Celebrated English poet of the Romantic Movement , Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 – 1861) penned the words How do I love thee? Let me count the ways (Sonnet 43)…which sums up how we feel during September when we celebrate Heritage month here in South Africa. There are just so many great ways to experience this… [Read More]
On September 22, wildlife lovers around the world join in solidarity to mark World Rhino Day! Morukuru Family stands allied with conservation organisations and members of the public to pledge our ongoing commitment to rhino protection. Dr. Susie Ellis, executive director of the International Rhino Foundation said in a recent interview “This year, we’re at… [Read More]
Gloria you are one of the longest serving staff members at AtholPlace Hotel & Villa. You must be very proud of this achievement….? Yes, I am very proud! I’m lucky to be able to call AtholPlace my second home and I have been fortunate to receive so much encouragement from everyone here. Tell us where you are… [Read More]
There is something magical about falling in love. You think about that other person almost obsessively and you feel excited and happy all the time. Science has yet to completely crack this phenomenon, but research does show that being in love triggers chemical reactions in the brain that produce a range of emotions and physical… [Read More]
It is Canola season in the Overberg and now is the perfect time to ignite your Instagram feed with magical images of nature’s own patchwork of luminous gold – dramatically contrasted against blue skies and purple mountains. On your drive to Morukuru Ocean House and Morukuru Beach Lodge you can immerse yourself in kilometres and… [Read More]
Our chefs are passionate about developing their own recipes and dishes. Chef Funi created this decadent breakfast dish: Sundried tomato waffle, served with a poached egg, wilted spinach, guacamole, and wholegrain mustard hollandaise. We hope you enjoy cooking it as much as you enjoy eating it! Recipe Serves 4 Sundried tomato Waffles Ingredients 210g Cake… [Read More]
Wildetecture is the creative force behind the extraordinary whale chandeliers and outdoor whale sculpture commissioned for Morukuru Beach Lodge. The Whale series was developed by the three member Wildetecture team, with Dean Hoffman as the lead designer responsible for directing the collaborative layout and design towards fabrication and installation. Hoffman carved some time into his busy… [Read More]
The 9th of August is Women’s Day in South Africa which commemorates the 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on the 9th August 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women. Morukuru Family is blessed with beautiful, bright and brave female colleagues and we celebrate our Women of Madikwe… [Read More]
Where are you from originally? I was born and raised in Pretoria, the Jacaranda City (Jacaranda Blog). And am from a close-knit family – my parents still live in the same house I grew up in! You have been involved in the travel and tourism industry for 12 years – tell us how you got… [Read More]
Today is World Ranger Day (31 July) – on this day we acknowledge and celebrate the contribution that rangers all around the world make protecting our wildlife. The relationship between a Ranger and Tracker is a vital and special one. The trackers, most of whom have grown up in the surrounding areas the lodges they work for,… [Read More]
We believe holidays should be about relaxing, recharging and reconnecting but that doesn’t mean you can’t get moving and stay active. When travelling it can be a challenge keeping up your exercise routine but we suggest you look beyond the gym and take up any of our personalised, complimentary activities and stay on the move… [Read More]
When you visit Morukuru Beach Lodge and Morukuru Ocean House our Chef Hope will treat you to her delicious, hearty menus showcasing the freshest and best of local ingredients. One recipe she will always recommend is her special creation of Crusted Rack of Lamb…with lamb sourced from the Karoo which is about three and a… [Read More]
The new Morukuru Beach Lodge is built with the same principles of sustainability, eco-design and environmental sensitivity as Morukuru Ocean House (Off the Grid). This new property opening in July has been created to accommodate smaller family groups and couples and has five luxury suites. (Welcome to our family Morukuru Beach Lodge blog). We find… [Read More]
This is your second project at de Hoop Nature Reserve – as you also assited in the décor of Morukuru Ocean House together. Did you have a different approach when working on an exclusive use house versus Morukuru Beach Lodge which is individual luxury suites? I got involved with Ocean House quite near the end… [Read More]
Awaiting the delivery of a new member of a family is always exciting …and we are thrilled to announce the imminent arrival of the new Morukuru Beach Lodge which will be an exciting addition to our special Morukuru family. Scheduled to open in July, the team is busy making all the final preparations to welcome… [Read More]
Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, the great Russian poet, playwright, and novelist , born into nobility and recognised as the founder of modern Russian literature once said “Ecstasy is a glass full of tea and a piece of sugar in the mouth”. That sums up teatime in the bush, although your tea will be in a cup and… [Read More]
Morukuru Family De Hoop is one of the most exciting land based whale watching locations along the Southern Cape Coast, where you will be able to witness daily displays of raw power and elegant water acrobatics. South Africa’s oceans are known to have at least 37 species of whales and dolphins with the Southern Right… [Read More]
After much thought and deliberation you and your family have made the decision to book a safari holiday in South Africa and you want the experience to be fun and trouble-free. Here are our tips to prepare for a trip of a lifetime. Choose your destination wisely: Travelling with children can be challenging and the… [Read More]
Have you touched down in Johannesburg and looking to explore beyond the verdant suburbs, (Jacarandas, the Purple Haze) vibrant city (Out & About in Johannesburg) and world class shopping malls? Why not take a short drive north to Maropeng which is the official visitor centre of The Cradle of Humankind where our human ancestors have lived for… [Read More]
De Hoop Nature Reserve is home to over 260 bird species which makes this the perfect destination for birding enthusiasts as well as general nature lovers. The African Black Oystercatcher has been named the bird of the year for 2018 by BirdLife South Africa. In honour of this, here are some some interesting facts and… [Read More]
Conde Nast Traveller has opened the voting for the 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards and we would like to invite all our guests to cast their votes. The Morukuru Family has been created out of love and offers guests the opportunity to experience our unique Freedom Concept which is the choice of doing “whatever you want, whenever you want”… [Read More]
South Africa is well known for wonderful Big Five game viewing opportunities and Morukuru Family in the Madikwe certainly offers that. Less known is that South Africa is also home to the Little Five and with each member having a name connected to one of the Big Five. The Little Five is made up of… [Read More]
World Art Day is the international celebration of the fine arts which promotes the awareness of creativity across the globe and this year it is commemorated on Sunday 15th April. Morukuru Family is delighted to be able to pay homage to art and artists on a daily basis as our portfolio is the privileged setting… [Read More]
Never go on trips with anyone you do not love – Hemingway Multigenerational travel has emerged as one of the defining travel trends for 2018 and is a great choice for families who want to reconnect whilst on holiday. Travelling together as a group, made up of mixed ages and extended family can be challenging… [Read More]
Did you know that there is a World Sleep Society? And according to them, on an individual level, sleep is essential for good physical, emotional and psychological health. Here at Morukuru Family we are all for sleeping, napping and dreaming and offer guests plenty of opportunity to indulge in this ultimate form of relaxation. World… [Read More]
South Africa is a multilingual country with eleven official languages and South African English is littered with words and phrases from Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa and other African languages. This linguistic diversity has resulted in locals borrowing words and phrases from each language creating a unique lexicon of South African slang. To help you understand some… [Read More]
A South African safari may be a once in a lifetime experience and one that can be really fun for photographers. If you are planning a trip to Morukuru Family in Madikwe, take a look at these tips from our ranger Stefan de Weerd who is very experienced wildlife photographer. What to do before you… [Read More]
Many of our AtholPlace Hotel & Villa guests have limited time available to really get a feel for Johannesburg due to being in transit to another of our properties or are spending a few days with us before heading out to another destination altogether. Whilst we endorse just relaxing at AtholPlace and enjoying the sparkling… [Read More]
Ocean House is situated within the 36 000-ha De Hoop Nature reserve which is recognised as one of Africa’s primary marine conservancies. Calvin du Plessis, General Manager at Morukuru Ocean House talks about the brilliant marine walk experience and how creating a greater understanding of this protected habitat is vital. “Setting out on a… [Read More]
Going on an African Safari appears on bucket lists everywhere and for good reason. A once in a lifetime trip featuring long flights to Africa, drives in open game vehicles and up-close sightings of wild animals in their natural habitat. What could be more exciting? To help you prepare for your bush holiday we have… [Read More]
Here in South Africa our Summer holiday season is in full swing and the countdown to splendid Christmas entertaining has definitely started. Northern hemisphere menus are made up of all those gorgeous , rich, indulgent delights suited to freezing temperatures and time spent in doors. But under hot African skies we take a different view… [Read More]
Enoch Banda our Duty Manager at AtholPlace Hotel & Villa, has been part of our team for 5 years and is a crucial cog in our well oiled management machine. We caught up with Enoch to find out more about his role and experiences. To become a hotel Duty Manager, it is necessary to know… [Read More]
Stefan de Weerd, who has a Diploma in Tourism Management from the Vaal University of technology is one of our rangers and has eight years of ranging experience. He has spent the past two years at Morukuru Family Madikwe Game Reserve and describes living and working in the bush as a “dream job.” Many have… [Read More]
The other day our team sat down to browse through some of the amazing photographs we have amassed at Morukuru Family. Those snaps guests have so generously shared with us. Pictures taken by professional photographers visiting our properties and images captured by our staff. We quickly noticed a strong, common thread. So many of the… [Read More]
Taking an environmentally friendly position is very much part of global consciousness and intriguingly there is an exclusive, 5 star Villa at the bottom of Africa playing its part in supporting this essential philosophy. Selecting a holiday destination “off-the-grid” usually means trekking to a geographically remote area with your insect spray, anti-malaria medication and other… [Read More]
November 7 is International Merlot Day which is indeed a cause for celebration in itself. Although here at Morukuru Family, we never feel we need need an extra special occasion to open a bottle of wine and simply embrace the saying that life is too short to drink bad wine! Ed Zeeman owner, a dedicated… [Read More]
A visit to Morukuru Family in the Madikwe is an opportunity of a lifetime and the signature bush breakfast is a highlight for many guests. As Winston Churchill said: “Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential.” And planning for a bush breakfast is just the start of the fun. Eating outdoors surrounded by… [Read More]
After the long dry winter months in Johannesburg and Pretoria, locals desperately crave the arrival of the summer rains, bringing great relief to parched gardens and souls alike. Nothing announces the onset of summer in Johannesburg quite like the first dramatic thunderstorms and the anticipation that the Jacaranda’s will soon be in bloom. Traditionally the… [Read More]
Johannesburg Restaurant Week 2017 is in full swing, running until 5th November and AtholPlace Hotel and Villa are on the list of participating establishments. This year sees Restaurant Week celebrating their five year anniversary which is a triumph in itself , as is the inventive menu created by Executive Chef, Willie Malherbe. We caught with… [Read More]
Spring in the Southern hemisphere officially falls between the beginning of September until the end of November, mirroring the Northern hemisphere Autumn, and is always welcomed at Ocean House with a real sense of perpetual astonishment Now is a time when De Hoop Nature Reserve reveals its secrets of true abundance. Sitting Bull, one of… [Read More]
Lemon Pavlova with a Triple Berry Curd Served with a berry coulis, almond flavoured cream and caramel popcorn Serves 4-6 Ingredients for Lemon Pavlova 3 egg whites (40g an egg white) 190g Castor sugar 1 ¼ teaspoon corn starch ½ a lemon’s zest 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice Method Preheat oven to 180°C and line… [Read More]
Meet Chef Sikelela Ntintili 1. When did you realise you have a passion for food & cooking? I used to cook with my mother and grandmother, especially on Sundays when we all came together. When I was 10 years old I realised that this is my passion. 2. Did you have training in Culinary arts?… [Read More]
Meet Chef Hope 1. What is a piece of practical advice regarding ingredients or cooking that you were given by a mentor and still use in the kitchen today? Don’t Forget the Old School Cooking “Wherever you go or whenever you try new things” by Marcia Esobeka. I’m still using Italian methods of cooking that… [Read More]
Executive Chef, Willie Malherbe 1. What do you love most about AtholPlace Restaurant? I personally enjoy the team that we work with – they have a great energy and constantly strive to better the product that we offer. For example, in the kitchen we have guys that started as scullers, but because of a willingness… [Read More]
José Carvalho 1. Where did you train and in what did you specialize? I’ve trained at FBI School of Pastry in Randburg and got an Advance Diploma in pastry. 2. What do you prefer to cook? Savoury or sweet and why? Even though I’ve specialised in Pastry, I like cooking savoury because it gives me… [Read More]
Esmaralda Leonard 1. Who inspired you to become a chef and why? I grew up on a farm where most of my family stayed on. My Family are all foodies and if my mom did not teach me how to cook something in her kitchen I went across to my grandmother’s kitchen. If no one… [Read More]
Asion Mathebula 1. Did you get your culinary talent from someone in the family? No, my culinary talent was awakened by Robert Bowman & Shon Monroo, who then also trained me what I know today. 2. Do you still see yourself as an active chef in 10 years? Yes of course! As we all know,… [Read More]
Meet our butler, Admire Question 1: For how long have you been a Butler? 1 ½ Years Question 2: What do you enjoy most about your Job? Having a one-on-one experience with the guests during service and activities. It helps me to learn about other countries and cultures. Question 3: Do you have a favourite… [Read More]
