Mawingo Cottages

03/07/2024

Join Jacques Nel for “Life at Mawingo Farm – a walk to the Donga” at Mawingo Farm (Venue C) on Saturday 6th July at 9h00 and on Sunday 7th at 11h00.

This is a lovely exploratory walk for the whole family, there will be an easy pace to accommodate any children or elderly - the walk is relatively easy with a moderately challenging staircase down into the donga and back out again. The purpose of this walk is to enjoy the ambiance of the different habitats along the way, chat with landowner Jacques Nel and family about "Life at Mawingo Farm'. Everyone brings different knowledges to the group and you are invited to share your own interests, be it of birds, plants, animals, ecology, history or culture, during moments of interest along the way. Do wear closed shoes and suitable clothing for a close encounter with the bushveld along the way, sun hats and water bottles. You are also very welcome to take this walk any time during the Festival from 6am as a self-guided trail. Enjoy!

Spend a day in nature with the whole family at the Ashburton Aloe Festival with five venues open as a meander over the weekend of the 6th & 7th July. Experience the peace and tranquility of this beautiful bushveld area, enjoy being amidst its wilderness landscapes and wildlife for a programme of conservation and environmental talks, guided and self-guided walks and activities for the whole family in the beautiful Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy, in Ashburton East, just 10km east of Pietermaritzburg

Five venues are open in a meander, Ashburton Market @ The Ashburton Training Centre, Galago Farm, , Impala Bend, Rocky Wonder Aloe Nursery.

Cost is R50 per person, R30 for pensioners and R20 for children, under 6 are free. Strictly no dogs allowed. All funds raised go to support the anti-poaching activities of the Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy and Mpushini Protected Environment. The full programme with presenters, times and map is pinned to our page. For more information contact Pandora on 072 6928124 or Heather on 083 665 8010.

03/07/2024

“Equine & Animal Iridology” a talk by Mary Carey on Sunday 7th July at 14h00 at Mawingo Farm (Venue C) is a fascinating talk about Mary’s work with animal healing.

Mary Carey pioneered the Equine and Animals Natural Healing Touch (E & A N H T) modality in May 2005 and completed the works in May 2006. The Equine and Animals Natural Healing Touch (E & A N H T) modality involves doing “hands on” the animal and learning the “hows” and “whys” of the reactions and processes to be able to understand the animal. It has the most amazing results and changes the animal’s emotional, mental, and physical states.

Mary Carey was born in Zambia (Northern Rhodesia) in 1952 and has been involved with animals all her life. Her father, Dickie Dickinson, was a Natural Animal Healer and she was brought up with domestic and wild animals; owls, warthogs, birds, cats, dogs, horses, and mice, to name a few. Mary Carey feels her life would not be right if her time was not filled by helping these most amazing creatures.

Mary’s work with the K.A.T./HT takes her around the world to places including Ireland, UK, France, Norway, Finland, Germany to work with animals and to teach her practice. Mary has qualifications as a Specialised Kinesiologist, Reiki Master Healer, Kinesiology Animal Talk Expert, S.A.N.E.F. instructor, Bowen Practitioner, Equine Touch Practitioner. She is also a qualified, small and large animal Iridologist.

Spend a day in nature with the whole family at the Ashburton Aloe Festival with five venues open as a meander over the weekend of the 6th & 7th July. Experience the peace and tranquility of this beautiful bushveld area, enjoy being amidst its wilderness landscapes and wildlife for a programme of conservation and environmental talks, guided and self-guided walks and activities for the whole family in the beautiful Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy, in Ashburton East, just 10km east of Pietermaritzburg

Five venues are open as part of the Aloe Fest meander and act as gateways to the valley, Ashburton Market @ The Ashburton Training Centre, Galago Farm, Farm, Impala Bend and Rocky Wonder Aloe Nurseryder Aloe Nursery.

Cost is R50 per person, R30 for pensioners and R20 for children, under 6 are free. (Cash for ticket sales and venue stalls please as signal for electronic devices is limited) Strictly no dogs allowed. All funds raised go to support the anti-poaching activities of the Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy and Mpushini Protected Environment. The full programme with presenters, times and map on this page.

For more information contact Pandora on 072 6928124 or Heather on 083 665 8010.

01/07/2024

We are super excited to present our full programme for the Ashburton Aloe Fest 2024! Hereunder please find the rundown of talks, walks and activities. Hope to see you over the weekend of the 6th & 7th July at the Ashburton Aloe Festival in the Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy. Take the N3 exit 69 at Ashburton, turn right to Ashburton East and follow the signs. Five venues open for a meander "A Day In Nature".

Aloe Festival Programme 2024

Saturday 6th July

6h00: Take a self-guided birding trail on Galago Farm (Venue B) and Mawingo Farm (Venue C)
8h00: Birding Walk with Adam Cruishank of The Birding Life – Galago Farm (Venue B)

9h00: Ashburton Market stalls & activities opens and closes at 16h00 (Venue A).

9h00: Watch live bird-ringing in progress all day with Jonah Gula at Rocky Wonder Aloe Nursery (Venue E)

9h00: View the aloe display garden in flower at Rocky Wonder Aloe Nursery (Venue E) open till 16h00

9h00: “Life at Mawingo Farm – a walk to the Donga” led by Jacques Nel at Mawingo Farm (Venue C)

10h00: “Fun Facts Nature Walk” – an easy guided walk with Debra de Wit & Conservancy Game Guard, Lucky Makuyana aka Hardlife – Ashburton Training Centre (Venue A)

10h00: “Let’s talk beads” a talk/demo with local beader, Thobile Ntshingila at Galago Farm (Venue B)

11h00: “The Craft of Basket Making” a talk/demo with local basket maker Thembi Mbeko, at Galago Farm (Venue B)

11h00: “Snakes – Respect over Fear” a talk and demo with Lance Jeffery and Rebecca Rasmussen – Impala Bend (Venue D)

12h00: “The Art & Craft of Making Soap” with Shirley Bradshaw at Galago Farm (Venue B)

12:00: “Environmental rehabilitation and social responsibility” a talk by Francois Chamberlain of Afrimat Quarries at Impala Bend (Venue D)

13h00: “Majestic Aloes in Watercolour” a painting demonstration with Pandora Long at Galago Farm (Venue B)

13h30: “African Raptor Centre – Our Move” a talk by Ben Hoffman of African Raptor Centre – Impala Bend (Venue D)

14h00: “Dog Agility” a display with Lindsay Dunsmore and dogs at Mawingo Farm (Venue C)

14h00: “Terrestrial indigenous orchids of the Midlands” a talk by Lance Rasmussen at Galago Farm (Venue B)

15h00: “40 years of being a Wildlife Vet” a talk by Dr Oliver Tatham at Mawingo Farm (Venue C)

15h30: Wildlife feeding hour and sundowners on the deck – Impala Bend (Venue D)

16h00: “Campfire Stories – Funeral Earth by Herman Charles Bosman” with Howard Bradshaw at Galago Farm (Venue B)

17h00: Night Walk with Pandora Long – Galago Farm (Venue B)

Sunday 7th July

6h00: Self-guided birding trail opens – Galago Farm (Venue B) and Mawingo Farm (Venue C)

9h00: Ashburton Market stalls & activities opens and closes at 16h00.

9h00: Watch live bird-ringing in progress all day with Jonah Gula at Rocky Wonder Aloe Nursery (Venue E)

9h00: View the aloe display garden in flower at Rocky Wonder Aloe Nursery (Venue E) open till 16h00.

9h00: Anti-poaching talk & snare sweep (all morning - moderate terrain) with Snare Aware & LMV Conservancy Game Guard, Hardlife aka Lucky Makuyana at Impala Bend (Venue D)

9h00: “Discover the wonders of the Earth” a geology safari lead by geology & nature guide, John Roff Galago Farm (Venue B)

10h00: “Starting out with bonsai” a demonstration by Glen Meaker at Mawingo Farm (Venue C)

10h00: “Fun facts nature walk” – an easy guided walk with Debra de Wit – Ashburton Training Centre (Venue A)

11h00: “The life of a bee” a talk by Dieter Meyer and the KZN Beekeepers Association - Galago Farm (Venue B)

11h00: “Life at Mawingo Farm – a walk to the Donga” led by Jacques Nel at Mawingo Farm (Venue C)

11h00: “Environmental rehabilitation and social responsibility” a talk by Francois Chamberlain of Afrimat Quarries at Impala Bend (Venue D)

12h00: "Of fish and men: fishes in the uMsunduze River" a talk by Dr Matthew Burnett at Galago Farm (Venue B)

11h00: “Discover the wonders of the Earth” a geology safari lead by geology & nature guide, John Roff Galago Farm (Venue B)

13h00: “Growing special (mainly South African) succulents” by Alison Young at Galago Farm (Venue B)

13h00: Anti-poaching talk & snare sweep (all afternoon - moderate terrain) with Snare Aware & LMV Conservancy Game Guard, Hardlife, aka Lucky Makuyana at Impala Bend (Venue D)

14h00: “Equine & Animal Iridology” a talk by Mary Carey at Mawingo Farm (Venue C)

14h00: “The Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy – Stories-so-far” a talk by Pandora Long at Galago Farm (Venue B)

15h00: “Music under the trees” at Galago Farm (Venue B)

15h30: Wildlife feeding time and sundowners on the deck – Impala Bend (Venue D)

Cost is R50 per person, R30 for pensioners and R20 for children, under 6 are free. Ticket takings are cash only - limited signal for electronic devices. Because this is a Biodiversity Nature Reserve strictly no dogs allowed. For enquiries: Pandora 072 6928124 or Heather 083 665 8010.

Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy
Ashburton Market
Galago Farm

Impala Bend
Rocky Wonder Aloe Nursery
Heather Poulsen

16/06/2024

Happy Father's Day 💝

14/06/2024

Happy to be a part of International Bath Day 😁

03/06/2024

12/05/2024

Blessed Mother's Day to all the Mom's ❤️

07/05/2024

How interesting is this trail of Caterpillars just below the Cabins by the water point.
More than 7m long... I stopped counting at 250 🐛
Hope the Leader knows where they are going 🤔 😬

04/04/2024

29/03/2024

When you feel like stretching your legs there as a beautiful 20min walk into the Dongas.

28/03/2024

Wishing everyone a Blessed Easter 💖🙏🏻

05/03/2024

Nice to see some baby 🦓

12/01/2024

This time of the year we are always spoilt with so many animals to observe.

23/12/2023

Today's visitors 🤗

17/12/2023

Thank you guys, hope to see you again soon 🤗

18/11/2023

Although a common w**d, the Verbena looks pretty after the good rain we've had.

09/11/2023

Dung Beatles making the best of the cooler misty weather 😁

This Dung Ball is the size of a Tennis ball 🙃

30/09/2023

27/09/2023

Ceres Cabin got a little upgrade making sleeping arrangements more comfortable 🤗😴

24/09/2023

Happy Heritage Day 🎉

20/09/2023

A little bit of maintenance, beautiful sunset and wildlife 💝🙏🏻

26/08/2023

A few random recent pics taken at Mawingo Farm Cottages. Come stay for a few nights and see for yourself 😁

09/08/2023

Happy Woman's Day 💝🤗🙏🏻

05/07/2023

01/07/2023

Very successful day hosting a bush Walk at Mawingo Cottages 😁👣👨‍🦯👩‍🦯

29/06/2023

It's all happening in our Valley 😁

11/06/2023

If you love nature it's well worth the effort to come out and enjoy our environment.

11/06/2023

🏆Well done Nathan 🏅
We are super proud of your great effort today doing a time of 9:36

Fantastic Achievement 💪🏻

Looking forward to you and your family staying with us again next Comrades 🙏🏻