We have chosen to end 2021 by acknowledging everything that is important to us, what makes us who we are and the work we will continue to do in 2022 - we hope you enjoy the A-Z of Morukuru Family, the experiences we offer, our people, our wildlife and our beautiful regions.
A: is for Amarula. This is a cream liqueur made from the Marula fruit and pairs perfectly with a deep, smooth coffee. Whether it is on an early morning game drive or an after-dinner nightcap - treat yourself to a decadent Amarula Coffee.
B: is for Beach Lodge in the De Hoop Nature Reserve. One of our favourite places on earth. And for our brilliant Butlers who make sure our guests have everything they need help with creating our magical experiences like bush-dinners and bush-breakfasts.
C: is for Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards! Morukuru Family Madikwe scooped 4th position in South Africa (11th in the world) and Morukuru Family de Hoop retained its 1st position as the Best Resort in South Africa (2nd in the world). C is also for conservation which is more than a word to us - it is a way of life that we live every day through our Morukuru Goodwill Foundation.
D: is for De Hoop Nature Reserve with 34000 hectares of Fynbos, beaches, dunes, vlei wetlands and the Potberg Mountains. And Dune Boarding, which is exhilarating fast fun. Experts tell us it is easier than snowboarding, wakeboarding and surfing and the most fun you can have in the pearly white sand of De Hoop.
E: Is for elephant and exclusive use. We love this quote about ellies, “We admire elephants in part because they demonstrate what we consider the finest human traits: empathy, self-awareness, and social intelligence. But the way we treat them puts on display the very worst of human behaviour.” – Graydon Carter, Editor of Vanity Fair. Morukuru Family has gained a reputation as the specialist for exclusive use stays in South Africa. We are proud to have pioneered this concept in South Africa and our ‘Morukuru Freedom Concept’, allowing guests to do “whatever they want, whenever they want”.
F: is for Fynbos and Flamingo. Ocean House and Beach lodge are surrounded by The De Hoop Nature Reserve, a geographical area of vast diversity - fynbos, a rugged coastline, forests, and an impressive vlei. De Hoop Nature Reserve has the largest conserved fynbos area in the Western Cape with an estimated 1 500 species. The 16-kilometre vlei is famous for being home to The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), the only locality in South Africa where The Greater Flamingo has bred successfully.
G: is for our Goodwill Foundation and G & T. The Morukuru Goodwill Foundation
( MGWF) is dedicated to finding vital solutions to ongoing conservation challenges contributing to the Madikwe Reserve’s diverse wildlife. We thank our guests for generous donations, which are invested in ongoing initiatives. We think a classic gin and tonic is the ultimate cocktail. It is simple, delicious, and refreshing.
H: is for Hyena and Honeycake. This year we were privileged to welcome some super cute Hyena cubs into the Madikwe. Spotting cubs of any species is always a highlight, and this pack of little guys pulled at our heartstrings. But, as with all things at Morukuru Family Madikwe, tea is a leisurely event taken whenever and wherever the mood grabs you. In fact ….anytime is tea time, and our famous Honey Cake is the perfect accompaniment.
I: is for Impala which is one of the most common and most graceful of all Africa's antelopes. The impala is an animal that you shouldn’t have too much trouble spotting as they’re pretty common with their nonchalant looks and elegant yet epic high jumps. Did you know, that males are known as rams, while females are referred to as ewes?
J: is for Johannesburg and her magnificent Jacarandas. In Johannesburg, we have two separate exclusive-use houses, namely AtholPlace House & Villa, situated in Atholl, one of the city’s most prestigious neighbourhoods with large properties and elegant tree-lined streets. Johannesburg is believed to be the largest cultivated urban forest in the world with over 10 million trees, and the Jacaranda’s contribute substantially to this number, AtholPlace has a couple of magnificent examples right on-site. Why not take tea in the garden, relax and bask in the purply glory.
K: Kids and Kudu. Kids are central to Morukuru Family and we welcome children of all ages. We support exploring, learning and discovering and believe immersing children in nature is the way to go. Here’s a fabulous fact - the Kudu got its name from the indigenous Khoikhoi language. They are highly alert and notoriously hard to approach.
L: is for lion. Our MGWF works closely with the Predator Research Project in Madikwe. Under their leadership, excellent conservation work is carried out including a contraception programme for female lion. This prophylactic will prevent unwanted cubs for up to a year and will assist in maintaining a healthy lion population in the Madikwe.
M: is for Madikwe Game Reserve and Marine-walk. The Madikwe Game Reserve is the fifth largest game reserve in South Africa and is also one of the lesser-known parks. This makes it a hidden- gem and the home of Morukuru Family Madikwe that offers three individual bush properties; Farm House, Owner’s House and River House. A marine walk is a very popular activity at Morukuru Family De Hoop, and guests get to enjoy everything from the fynbos to the dunes to the rock-pools to the actual beach and ocean. We love organising marine walks - there is so much exciting stuff going on.
N: is for night drives. A night drive safari has a unique and exciting atmosphere; different types of animals (nocturnal) are active at night, from the big cats to smaller mammals. With varying behaviour, nocturnal animals are bolder at night and shy during the day; this increases your chances of witnessing that elusive Leopard.
O: is for Ostrich. The De Hoop Nature Reserve is a birder's paradise and home to over 260 bird species, including Ostrich. Here’s a fun fact, Spring is ostrich mating season and the male ostrich's beak and legs turn bright pink or even red to attract the female. If all goes to plan, under natural conditions, a female ostrich lays 12–18 eggs.
P: is for Pack-with-a-purpose. Morukuru Family is an official supporter of Pack with a Purpose! This international initiative makes it easy for our guests to make their trips even more meaningful. The concept behind Pack With A Purpose is very simple; use a small amount of space in your luggage to pack supplies needed for community projects near our Morukuru Family locations.
Q: is for Quality time with family and friends. Multigenerational travel has emerged as one of the defining travel trends and is a great choice for families and friends who want to reconnect whilst on holiday. Travelling together as a group, made up of mixed ages and extended family, can be challenging but heaps of fun too.
R: is for Rhino. Statistics reveal that Rhino are currently being poached at a rate of three per day which translates into the terrifying prediction that this species will be extinct by 2023! Our Morukuru Goodwill Foundation ( MGWF) invests substantially in combating rhino poaching within the Madikwe game reserve by supporting and assisting with many critical initiatives.
S: is for South Africa. We are ready, we are open, and we are committed to showcasing our unique destinations to the rest of the world. Wamkelekile! Let us welcome you.
T: is for Thank you. Thank you to our Team who have worked so hard this year to make sure our guests had the most wonderful stays across all our properties. Thank you to the Travel Trade for your continued support. It’s true - teamwork really does make the dream work!
U: is for ubuntu. This word defines the essential human virtues; compassion and humanity. Morukuru Family strives to live the values of Ubuntu every day.
V: is for vaccinated staff. We are proud to confirm that we are 100% vaccinated!
W: is for Whales and Wildogs. During the South African Winter, guests at Morukuru Family De Hoop can enjoy land-based whale watching when our expert rangers introduce daily displays of raw power and elegant water acrobatics. The African Wild Dog ( Lycaon pictus) which also goes by the names Cape Hunting dog or Painted Dog, is a highly endangered species. Spotting Wild Dog is very special, and many reserves do not have this species. But there is a resident pack on our backdoor in the Madikwe Reserve.
X: is for Xmas blessings from our Morukuru family to yours.
Y: is for YOU! Thank you for visiting our Morukuru Family. We hope you treasure your #morukurumemories and look forward to welcoming you back.
Z: is for Zebra and we are lucky to have two Zebra ambassadors. Moru & Kuru are cheer-leaders for nature conservation and they are all about creating environmental awareness - one of MGWF’s main goals - and helping our young guests develop a passion for our natural world.
