Mongongo, a large spreading tree grows 15-20 meters tall. It is found on wooded hills and amongst sand dunes, and is associated with the Kalahari sand soil-types.

The leaves are distinctively hand-shaped, and the pale yellow wood is similar to balsa. It is both lightweight and strong. The yellowish flowers occur in slender, loose sprays.

Known as mongongo fruit / mongongo nut / manketti nut, the egg-shaped, velvety fruits ripen and fall between March and May each year. They contain a thin layer of edible flesh around a thick, hard, pitted shell. Inside this shell is a highly nutritious nut.

The fruit and nuts of the mongongo tree that they have even been described as a “staple diet” in Botswana and Namibia.

Archaeological evidence has shown that they have been consumed amongst San communities for over 7,000 years. Their popularity stems in part from their flavor. They store well and remain edible for long periods.

Dried fruits are first steamed to soften the skins. After peeling, the fruits are then cooked in water until the maroon-colored flesh separates from the hard inner nuts. The pulp is eaten, and the nuts are saved to be roasted later.

Alternatively, nuts are collected from elephant dung! The hard nut survives intact through the digestive process. The elephant is allowed to do the hard work of collecting the nuts and getting rid of the pulp!

Reminds us of the fox-dung-coffee sold at an astronomical price! Man can stoop to any level for taste, flavor and to save time and labor!

During roasting of the nuts, direct contact with the fire is avoided, using sand to distribute the heat evenly. Once dry, the outer shell cracks easily, revealing the nut, encased within a soft, inner shell. The nuts are either eaten straight, or pounded as ingredients in other dishes.

The oil from the nuts has also been traditionally used as a body rub in the dry winter months, to clean and moisten the skin, while the hard, outer nut-shells are popular as divining “bones”.

The wood, being both strong and light, makes excellent fishing floats, toys, insulating material and drawing boards. More recently, it has been used to make dart-boards and packing cases.