Merry Christmas

We wish all our guests, friends and their families a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and successful New Year.

Your Abangane Guest Lodge team
Luxury Lodge accommodation in Hazyview/Mpumalanga/South Africa

Marriage Proposal at Abangane

Yesterday we arranged a special set up for 2 special people at Abangane Guest Lodge in Hazyview. The table was laid at the Gazebo in the middle of the garden, away and secluded from our other guests. A very romantic atmosphere with roses, candle light, lanterns and a good bottle of Champagne set the scene for Mark to propose the marriage to Bianca.

Her answer is written in her face!

Wavin' Flag, 2010 World Cup song

Wavin' Flag by Somali-Canadian K'naan Warsame has been chosen as the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. A remixed version of the song will be released in 150 countries next year in support of the event. Warsame has been touring Africa on the FIFA World Cup Trophy tour by Coca-Cola for the past two months.

To listen to the song click here

I am sure we at Abangane Guest Lodge in Hazyview will be playing this song for all the soccer fans who overnight at our Lodge when following their team's games at the close by Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Interesting facts about crime in South Africa

I recently came across an interesting article with regards to crime in South Africa.
As this is often a topic discussed on travel forums, not only in connection with the World Cup 2010, I thought to share this information with you. It really serves for some interesting reading:

http://www.larktours.com/truth-about-crime-south-africa

In 4 years of operation, all our guests arrived back home safe and sound, have not had any of those "BAD" experiences and would love to come back to South Africa and Abangane Guest Lodge any day!

FIFA 2010 Worldcup draw done!

The long awaited final draw has come to it's conclusion. The unknown factor of where and when your team will be kicking JABULANI, the official FIFA World Cup soccer ball, is solved. The show was spectacular, portraying true South African style and culture, overshadowing even Charlize Theron.
We have been interested in where Germany will be playing and even more who will be playing in Nelspruit/Mbombela at this beautiful stadium featuring Giraffe and Zebra in design and architecture.

The scheduled games for the Mbombela Stadium are as follows:
16.06.2010 Honduras vs. Chile
20.06.2010 Italy vs. New Zealand
23.06.2010 Australia vs. Serbia
25.06.2010 Korea DPR vs. Cote d'Ivoire

Germany will be playing (besides the finals as we hope):
13.06.2010 in Durban vs. Australia
18.06.2010 in Port Elizabeth vs. Serbia
23.06.2010 in Johannesburg vs. Ghana

With app. 60 km distance to the Mbombela stadium, Abangane Guest Lodge still has got availability and would love to accommodate you during your trip to South Africa, following your team and enjoying this unique country.

To check our availability and rates please click here.

FIFA WC 2010 Mascot "ZAKUMI"

Zakumi (born June 16, 1994) is the Official Mascot for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He is an anthropomorphised leopard with green hair, presented September 22, 2008. His name comes from "ZA", the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code for South Africa, and "kumi", a word that means ten in various African languages.
Zakumi's birthdate coincides with a day known and celebrated as Youth Day in South Africa and their second group match. The year 1994 marks the birth of democracy in South Africa, meaning that he joins the ranks of South Africa's born-free generation. He will turn 16 in 2010.[1]
The green and yellow (gold) colours of the character match the colours used in South African sport uniforms and can also be seen in the South Africa national football team's kit.
Andries Odendaal, from Cape Town, created the original character design.
The official motto of Zakumi is: "Zakumi's game is Fair Play," which was seen in the digital advertisement boards during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and will also appear in next year's FIFA World Cup.

Fair play is also on top of our list. At Abangane Guest Lodge you will find accommodation close to the Mbombela Stadium at "Fair play" rates. Click here to check rates and availability.

Security upgrade

Abangane Guest Lodge upgraded the Security force at the Lodge.

We welcome Baloo to the team!

Not that it was necessary, but he is soooooooooooooo cute.

Lion cubs at Kruger National Park

OMG, he is watching us!!!!

(photos taken by German Guests of Abangane Guest Lodge in Kruger National Park, September 2009)

Lion cubs at Kruger National park

I am watching you!!!!

Reviews on Tripadvisor for Abangane Guest Lodge

Tripadvisor is a trusted forum, used worldwide by million of travellers planning their holiday.

We are proud of the reviews visitors of Abangane Guest Lodge feel worth sharing with the international community.

Please click here to see all independent reviews.

Tips for 2010, helping to understand South Africans

Tips for 2010 - helping you understand South Africans:

1. Braai
What is a braai? It is the 1st thing you'll be invited to when you visit SA. It's a backyard barbecue and it will take place whatever the weather. So you will have to go even if it’s raining like mad. At a braai you will be introduced to a substance called mieliepap.

2. Ag
This one of the most useful South African words. Pronounced like the "ach" in the German "Achtung", it can be used to start a reply when you are asked a tricky question, as in: "Ag, I don't know." Or a sense of resignation:"Ag OK, I'll have some more mieliepap then." It can stand alone too as a signal of irritation.

3. Donner
A rude word, it comes from the Afrikaans "donder" (thunder). Pronounced "dorner", it means "beat up." A team member in your rugby or soccer team can get donnered in a game, or your wife can donner you if you come back from a braai at three in the morning.

4. Eina
Widely used by all language groups, this word, derived from the Afrikaans, means "ouch." Pronounced "aynah". You can say it in sympathy when you see your friend the day after he got donnered by his wife.

5. Hey
Often used at the end of a sentence to emphasize the importance of what has just been said, as in "You're only going to get donnered if you come in late again, hey?" It can also stand alone as a question. Instead of saying "excuse me?" or "pardon me?" when you have not heard something directed at you, you can always say: "Hey?"

6. Lekker
An Afrikaans word meaning nice, this word is used by all language groups to express approval. If you enjoyed a braai thoroughly, you can say: "Now that was lekk-errrrrrr!" while drawing out the last syllable.

7. Ja well no fine
Another conversation fallback. Derived from the four words: "yes", "well", "no" and fine", it roughly means "OK". If your bank manager tells you your account is overdrawn, you can, with confidence, say: "Jawelnofine."

8. Izit?
A great word to use in conversations. From the 2 words "is" and "it", great for when you have nothing to contribute at a braai. For instance, if someone would say: "The Russians will succeed in their bid for capitalism once they adopt a work ethic and respect for private ownership." It is quite appropriate to respond by saying: "Izit?"

9. Saamie
This is a sandwich. For generations, school- children have traded "saamies" during lunch breaks. In South Africa you don't send your kid to school with liver-polony saamies. They are impossible to trade. Yuck!

10. Howzit
This is a universal South African greeting, and you will hear this
word throughout the country. It is often accompanied with the word
"Yes!" as in: "Yes, howzit?". In which case you answer "No, fine."

11. Now now
In much of the outside world, this is a comforting phrase: "Now now,
it's really not so bad." But in South Africa , this phrase is used in
the following manner: "Just wait, I'll be there now now." It means "a
little after now (or somewhen in the future)".

Hazyview weather during the year

This is the weather you can expect during your visit in Hazyview/Mpumalanga and Abangane Guest Lodge.

For a detailed weather forecast, please click here.

A recipe from a set menu, main course

A lot of our guests enjoying dinners at Abangane Guest Lodge are taken by our Ostrich fillet with a creamy port whole grain mustard sauce on top of Parmesan potatoe mash and caramelized carrots.
We often get asked for the recipe and thought the blog would be a good place to share it with those who enjoyed it at our Lodge or to water the mouths of those that have not visited us yet.

Recipe for 2 people. Ingredients:

2 Ostrich tournedos (fillet) 200-250 gr. each, 4 medium sized potatoes, 4 big carrots, 1 cup creme, 1 cup Port (Allesverloren 2006 vintage), 1 cup beef stock (Ina Paarman’s),1 Tbsp sugar, 2 tsp whole grain Mustard, 1 Tbsp honey, app. 250 gr. Butter, Parmesan, Nutmeg, Salt, Pepper

Wash and dry the meat an marinate it in a tray for some hours with a bit of olive oil, salt and crushed black pepper and store in fridge (turn now and then)
Preparation incl. cooking times in brackets.

Potatoe mash (app. 30 minutes if you are a quick peeler):
Peel potatoes and quarter, boil with salt until soft. Mash with 50-100 gr. of butter and heated milk till nice and soft (not runny), season with salt and pepper and nutmeg, add Parmesan to your taste.

Caramelized carrots (app. 15-20 minutes depending on how quick you can slice them)
Peel and slice carrots, melt 50-100 gr. butter, add 1 Tbsp sugar, when melted add sliced carrots, season with nutmeg, salt and pepper, turn down heat and let simmer with lid on low heat for app. 10 minutes till soft (depends in thickness of slices)

Creamy port whole grain mustard sauce (30 minutes)
Reduce 1 cup of Port to a 3rd, add each 1 cup creme and beef stock, 2 tsp whole grain Mustard, one Tbsp Honey and reduce on low heat till it reaches a nice saucy consistency. Just before serving whisk a 1 tsp butter in

Ostrich tournedos (5-10 minutes)
Heat grid pan till it starts smoking (any other pan will do as well), seal the tournedos for app. 2 minutes on each side, take out of the pan and slice in 4-5 slices. Seal slices in hot pan on each side for app. 1 minute (the meat is supposed to be medium rare when done), let rest a bit before serving.

We serve this menu with a Springbok Carpaccio with fresh rocket and Peccorini shavings starter and Austrian Mousse au Chocolat dessert.

The presentation is up to your imagination (see picture as example).

Enjoy the preparation and cooking, but more so the eating!

Accommodation Rates rip-off for FIFA 2010?

I just came accross an interesting article in the "Times LIVE" dated 12. September 2009 with regards to accommodation rates during FIFA World Cup 2010.

Yet another good reason that proofs that we were correct to NOT sign up with MATCH and keep our capacities open for the individual self-planning traveller.

To read the full article in Times LIVE please click here.

To check rates at Abangane Guest Lodge please click here.

To check availability at Abangane Guest Lodge please click here.

Our new Certificate

Here it is, the renewed star grading certificate for Abangane Guest Lodge!

We are graded in the category "Lodge" which means an accommodation facility located in natural surroundings..... (for more info please visit the TGCSA website).

The word Lodge in an establishment's name does not necessarily mean that this establishment is graded in this category. It can be graded as Bed & Breakfast for example. Should you be looking for natural surroundings, views, space etc., to stay at a Lodge would be the right decision to make.
If it is important to you making your decision based on the star grading, ask the establishment you are interested in for the latest certificate. Certificates have to be renewed yearly.

Accommodation at the borders of Kruger National Park

I often read that during FIFA World Cup 2010 the Sanparks accommodation as well as private game reserves are at certain times already fully booked.
But there is no need to panic. Why not stay at the borders to the Kruger National Park, such as Hazyview where lots of accommodation is still available?

This also has got the advantage of often cheaper lodging than inside the private reserves with the same or better comforts, standards and luxuries.
Staying outside the park furthermore minimises the risk of contracting malaria.

To check availability at Abangane Guest Lodge please click here.

Star grading results

When we opened Abangane Guest Lodge in Hazyview we had some very high goals that we have set for ourselves.
I used to stay at hotels where high standards were maintained and because of the many business travels I did, got quite accustomed to it. Abangane, we thought should be exactly that way, it should be a place where we would want to stay even if countless others were available. One of our goals was to obtain a four star rating from the TGCSA.

You must understand as I will admit, I would not be Klaus if noticable improvement is not made and the bar is not constantly raised.So we've achieved our four stars three years in a row and every year we've managed to improve our score by 1%. This time, being our fourth TGCSA assessment we've had sight of our "not yet official" assessment result and again we have scored 1% better than last year.
That means we have achieved a 95% score which is sufficient to be awarded 5 stars. However, as we have only applied to be assessed for 4 stars this is the official result that we will gladly accept.

We are very proud that our Lodge meets the requirements for 5 stars and promise that you will always get 5 star hospitality at Abangane Guest Lodge at 4 star rates

Star grading renewal

On Monday the yearly TGCSA (Toursim Grading Council of South Africa) renewal assessment will be conducted. Last year we achieved 94% (thats just 1 % short of a 5 star rating). We are very proud of the fact that Abangane Guest Lodge's accommodation and services are now already 3 years in a row graded 4 Star.

With choosing a star graded establishment for your stay in Hazyview, Mpumalanga and anywhere else in South Africa, you know what you can expect and are pretty safe from bad surprises, spoiling your holiday or weekend get-away.

We will keep you posted in a few weeks time what this years results are.

(The TGCSA's star grading is an independent assessment of what guests can expect to find at an accommodation provider. It's based on the overall quality, but also takes into account the services and facilities you'd expect to find at that particular star graded establishment.)

Guest Book @ Abangane Guest Lodge

It seems we are doing something right at Abangane Guest Lodge! We capture all our guestbook entries on our website (click here to view) and we are proud to say that in the meantime we have captured over 400 entries of guests who have stayed with us and felt the need to comment on accommodation, food and services offered at our Lodge in Hazyview. The two entries above are our favourite ones and we would like to share those. Maybe someone will be able to help us translate (we hope it was a happy guest, lol)?

Booking terms for FIFA Worldcup 2010

Seems 2010 keeps us accommodation providers on their toes already now.
To avoid possible travellers from shopping around and blocking available world cup accommodation for "just in case" we had to introduce special payment and cancellation terms for that specific period.
Please note as follows:

Special terms for a stay during World Cup time June /July 2010

For bookings placed up to 31.12.2009 a deposit of 50% is requested.
The balance is due for payment by 31.12.2009.
For bookings placed from 01.01.2010 a non-refundable deposit of 100% is applicable.

We thank you for your understanding that deposits paid for a stay during the World Cup time
June and July 2010 are non-refundable!

After all the talking about Fifa 2010, the world cup, available accommodation near a soccer stadium, places to stay and see, international and domestic flights, etc. that’s going on all over the world, we thought to tell you a bit more about Abangane Guest Lodge.
The Lodge is located just outside Hazyview, app. 1.5 km from Perry’s Bridge on the Road to Sabie. Right opposite of our main gate is the Sabie River Sun Hotel with a beautiful 18 hole golf course, open to play for visitors.
We offer B&B (Bed and Breakfast) as well as dinner, a 3 course set menu, to be ordered in advance for your day of arrival. Should you opt to go out for dinner, there is a number of very nice and good quality restaurants not more than 2-3 km from the Lodge as well as cultural entertainment close by.
The surrounding, scenery and ambience is quiet and relaxing with beautiful views giving you the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere. From the pool and garden you will often have the opportunity to observe Zebras, Impalas, Giraffes and more, right at our fence as our 22 hectare property is on one side bordering a private game farm. Click here to visit our photo gallery.
With only 5 rooms and owner run, we ensure the service and personal attention you can expect from a 4 star graded Guest Lodge/Guesthouse/B&B. We always try to over achieve your expectations and make your stay not just a so called “bums in beds” experience.
There is no need to mention a 15 km distance to the Phabeni gate access to the Kruger National Park.
If you like to know more, just contact us.

Activites and attractions

Besides the obvious, "The" Kruger National Park, there are activities from A-Z on offer in and around Hazyview. Here are some in no particular order:

Activities:

game drives, hot air ballooning, quad biking, abseiling, river rafting, aerial cable trail, horse back riding, elephant back ride, canoeing, microlight flights, helicopter flights, geckoing, tubing, big swing/high wire, Golf course (Sabie River Sun, KPL, Skukuza, White River, Nelspruit)....

Attractions:

Kruger National Park, Sabie Sand Game Reserve, Panorama tour, Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes, Three Rondavels, God's Window, The Pinnacle, Mac Mac Falls, Lisbon and Berlin Falls, Pilgrim's Rest, Sudwala Caves, Reptile Park, Botanical Garden Nelspruit....

There is so much to do, that your holiday can just not be long enough (and your wallet not full enough)!

All is easily reachable within comfortable driving distance from Abangane Guest Lodge.

Mbombela Stadium, Gateway to Kruger National Park

The Mbombela Stadium a 2010 FIFA Stadium in or near Nelspruit.

The Mbombela Stadium is one of the new stadiums to be constructed for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Located just 8 km north of Nelspruit, the closest venue to the hugely popular Kruger National Park, it promises to be a popular and convenient location for a football safari. The brand new elevated stadium will be able to seat 40,000 people and have excellent views from all positions.

Gateway to Kruger National Park! The bustling boom town of Nelspruit in the heart of Mpumalanga is a busy commercial centre with excellent facilities, shopping malls and air links with e.g. Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. It’s a major stopover for traffic along the N4 for people en route to Kruger National Park, Swaziland and Mozambique. It promises to be a popular venue for a football safari, perfectly situated and close to Hazyview. With only 60km distance Nelspruit-Hazyview, Abangane Guest Lodge is the ideal base for a "football safari".

TGCSA Star Grading

To put your mind at ease, it is always recommended to book with a star graded establishment.

The TGCSA's (Tourism Grading Council of South Africa) star grading is an independent assessment of what guests can expect to find at an accommodation provider. It's based on the overall quality, but also takes into account the services and facilities you'd expect to find at that particular star graded establishment.

The higher the star rating the better you will say, but do you really know what to expect in each category? To familiarise yourself with the difference between Lodges, B&B, Guest House etc. and the requirements for each star grading, please read this link, categories and grading criteria.

By the way, the grading has to be renewed on a yearly basis to be allowed to advertise accordingly. If in doubt, ask your establishment for the latest grading certificate or check it on the TGCSA's website

QE2 to be moved to South Africa

The QE2 owners are in final talks to move the ship to Cape Town in South Africa to become a hotel in time for the 2010 football World Cup.
Cunard sold the Southampton-based liner for £50m to the United Arab Emirates real estate developer Nakheel. It had planned to refurbish the ship and open it as a floating hotel in Dubai but that has been put on hold. The QE2 will now go to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, where there is a shortage of hotel rooms. To read the full story click here.

Our accommodation in Hazyview, close to Kruger Park and only app. 60 km to the Mbombela Stadium is a little bit more "grounded" and available for direct bookings also during the World Cup.

Brilliant Big5 from Abangane

The guests at Abangane Guest Lodge had some brilliant days. On Thursday a couple from the UK had great Big5 sightings and the same happened to another couple, also from the UK, on Friday. The attached pictures are from 2 german business travellers who visited us for a weekend get away with 4 of our guests from Mozambique, who were as fortunate. They were taken on a night drive into the Sabie Sands Private Game Reserve by the very same guide, Andre Theunissen, who captured the video "Leopard killing Porcupine".

World Cup 2010 South Africa

There are a lot of controversial discussions around accommodation availability and rates increases for the World Cup 2010. If you have a look at the South Africa Forum of Tripadvisor you can keep yourself busy a whole night just reading what people have to say and experience.
A lot of establishements have signed up with FIFA/Match and therefore their availabilities are block booked even though the rooms are not neccessarily sold yet and can be booked only via Match
We at Abangane Guest Lodge have decided to keep 100% capacity to the individual traveller who wishes to book direct with the establishments. You can check our availability by clicking here.
Our rates have only been increased based on CPIX and for the WC time by 10% for additonal cost to be expected (extra staff, overtime payments etc.).

Cape Town, 2nd best city in the world

As most of our international guests also visit Cape Town while being in South Africa, I thought sharing the following with you:

The influential US Travel + Leisure magazine has just published their 2009 World's Best Awards compiled from reader's votes and Cape Town came second in the category cities.
Here the link to read more:
Travel + Leisure

Another good reason to spend your next holiday in South Africa.

Happy reading
Abangane

Another sunny day in Mpumalanga

Another sunny day in and around Hazyview!
Some of our guests left early morning for a full day game drive into the Kruger National Park, picked up at the Lodge. Others are using the clear winter day to explore the Panorama Route, Graskop, Harry's Pancake, the Bourkes's Luck Potholes, God's Window, the three Rondavels, the Pinnacle , Berlin and Lisbon Falls, Sabie and Pilgrim's Rest.
Winter day's are ideal for various activities offered manyfold in Hazyview and in short distance from Abangane Guest Lodge.

Black Mamba ritual combat

Something one does not see that often, not even at the Hazyview Reptile Park! These photos were taken just outside our gate by our German Guests Anne & Sven. But NOT TO WORRY, we have got boards at our gate "SNAKES, NO ENTRY"!

We are back!!!!

After 4 days of no phone and ADSL lines we are now back to "life". We hope we managed with our cell phone connection (thanks to modern technology) to satisfy all enquiries and other communication. Let us know if not!!!!!
The World Cup 2010 starts keeping us busy with bookings and enquiries. Seems a lot of soccer fans are combining their passion with our's, the Kruger Park, Wild life, Panorama Tour, Bush, game, Big5 .... etc etc.
The best would just be if Germany would play in Nelspruit, at the Mbombela Stadium (wishfull thinking?).
Fuer alle deutsch sprechenden, wir haben auch eine deutsche Website http://www.abangane.co.za/

Klaus
Abangane Guest Lodge

Telkom lines are down, please contact us on our cell phone

At the moment Telkom is letting us down badly. The phone lines as well as ADSL are down since Thursday afternoon. Luckily we could divert our landline to one of our cell phones. Should you nevertheless experience any problems getting hold of us, try our cell phone. This should work 24/7.
We will therefore also not be able to answer to all enquiries as quickly as usual. In the meantime please make us of our "check availability" function for up to date rates and availability.

Thanks
Klaus
Abangane Guest Lodge
Hazyview

inniBOS Arts festival is on again, 01 July to 05 July 2009. Please click here to see the daily programme. Should you be looking for accommodation near inniBOS Nelspruit, we may still be able to help you from the 3rd of July arriving.

Winter Special in Mpumalanga, Hazyview

I think we can agree that we are in a world wide recession.
Therefore ABANGANE GUEST LODGE, the first time since opening December 2005, has introduced a "Winter special" to enable those who have to cut down on expenses to still enjoy a get away during the beautiful months. The special ends for bookings arriving 31.07.2009

Photo of the accommodation we offer in Hazyview, Mpumalanga

For those who do not know our lodge, here is one picture. For more pictures of the lodge please see our gallery

Luxury Accommodation/B&B in Hazyview has got a new blog

Welcome to the blog of ABANGANE GUEST LODGE and welcome for us to the world of "bloggers". This is very new to us and we are still in the stage of experimenting. So please, if you see anything funny, let us know.