All Roads Lead To… Mango Guesthouse and Restaurant

IT is just a little after 07h00 at Mango Guesthouse Restaurant, and I am welcomed by the sound and smell of sizzling bacon, scents of buttery toast and fresh garlic.

The tap-tap-tap of a knife cutting and mincing onions, tomatoes and fresh herbs from the kitchen can’t be ignored. Sitting serenely under the thatch roof, the calming sounds of birds chirping instantly relaxes.

This restaurant definitely stimulates all senses.

Mango Guesthouse and Restaurant is situated about a kilometre from the main C46 route that runs from Ondangwa to Ongwediva, in Oshana region in northern Namibia.

Owned by John and Sandra Dapilashimwe, it succeeds with its relaxed atmosphere, decor that is strong in ‘Okavango chic’ and other rich local cultures which create a unique and energising environment.

A bit of a haven, Mango Guesthouse and Restaurant is tucked away but still accessible enough to attract clientele from all walks of life who wine and dine there, tempted by the menu and gourmet-bistro style.

Salads and light meals are well-priced with a strong focus on Angolan-style chicken, which on any given summer night would be the ideal choice to start your meal on a high note.

Their ‘out of the sea’ section of their main menu is perfect for both lunch and dinner – opt for the prawns fried (or grilled) in garlic butter and lemon juice or the sumptuous pan fried red snapper which will have you coming back for more. Other seafood options include the cod a la braz, kingklip and kabeljou.

Perhaps most famous on the menu is the traditional chicken cooked in omwai (traditional white sauce) and the Moamba chicken cooked in peanut butter sauce.

Owner John Dapilashimwe says they started very humbly and are proud of what they have achieved.

“We had just finished renovating the house and already had a tenant. Then one evening, we decided to take a walk on the property. As we held hands, my wife stopped and said to me, ‘my love, what if we turn this into a house for our old age? A place that is still home to people, when our children grow up and leave home?’ We started with four bedrooms, a small kitchen and a dining room. We were so excited that on the weekends, we would invite friends, cook for them and have great conversations. With time, we had to give the guesthouse a name. We remembered the mangos from Zambia that were planted by a group of disadvantaged people from the Oshana region. The mangoes were sweet and memorable – everything our guesthouse was and what we wanted it to grow into. The name was settled – Mango House,” he recalled.

Today, Mango Guesthouse has grown from a small, cute property to one with a fully equipped kitchen, restaurant with catering services, 24 operational rooms, a laundry room and salon.

While busy with the interview, I already had one eye on the dessert menu. The malva pudding with a Don Pedro is just what you would expect, but there is just that extra little something in the taste.

A secret the owners guard closely. A cosy home away from home, Mango Guesthouse and Restaurant offers friendly, professional service and a tasty, uncomplicated menu.

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