06 Jun 2023

 The pool area at Avani Gaborone Resort and Casino has been renamed Moruleng in celebration of the Morula tree, one of the country’s indigenous plants.

The hotel’s General Manager, Mr Willem Van Heerden, said this during the unveiling of the pool area which he performed  together with the area Member of Parliament, Mr Tumisang Healy.

Underscoring the importance of preserving cultural heritage, Mr Van Heerden said the new name is a way to tell the Botswana story, especially to tourists who would want to know the meaning of Moruleng.

Further lending significance to the new name is the big Morula tree that greets guests at the hotel’s terrace.

Van Heerden said in recognition that the Morula fruit, known for its high Vitamin C content and a protein-rich nut, has been a source of nutrition for generations, Avani will soon introduce a Morula fruit cocktail.

“We will also harvest the fruit from the tree at the hotel entrance and make use of it for the morula cocktail,” he said.

The hotel’s Public Relations Officer, Ms Samantha Bogopa, said the renaming followed a radio call-in competition in which listeners were asked to suggest the pool area’s new name, and Moruleng was decided upon as a celebration of Botswana’s culture.

She also encouraged guests to take themselves pictures by the Morula tree at the hotel’s entrance as part of the celebration of the tree. ENDS