Mashovhela Lodge is situated in the Morning Sun Nature Reserve which is a natural Heritage site. This Hidden Treasure lies in the heart of the Soutpansberg Mountains in the Limpopo Province.
The theme of the lodge is based on the Venda Culture and all the materials and patterns in the rooms and restaurant are from the Venda Culture. Their award winning Drumbeat restaurant serves delicious pan-African cuisine.
Accommodation is in 10 en-suite, dome shaped chalets resembling Venda huts. The lodge also has a safari tent and a Hammock Camp where you can sleep under the southern night sky.
During the day explore the reserve whilst following our Venda guide on a walking trail through indigenous forests, along streams to waterfalls and to the sacred Mashovhela Rock Pool. The reserve is registered with Birdlife South Africa and is categorized as Birder Friendly. Our Venda guide will accompany you on a scenic drive and tour into Venda land fur a truly authentic cultural experience.
Minimal Impact
Mashovhela Lodge strives to minimise impact on the environment, spread benefits throughout the local economy and promote community wellbeing. The lodge is entirely detached from Eskom’s power-grid and in order to minimize the emission of greenhouse gases, the lodge runs on alternative, renewable and sustainable energy. The hot water is heated by solar energy, supplemented by (alien) wood-fired boilers. For electricity they rely on photovoltaic solar energy, supplemented by diesel generators.
Awareness
Mashovhela Lodge is aware of the negative impact that tourism can create and are committed to spreading the benefits of tourism to previously disadvantaged communities by sharing their skills and knowledge, connecting communities with opportunities, funding and facilitation. The lodge also has a local community development element to it, through employment of lodge staff and dancers, education and supporting local arts and craft producers.
Promoting Tourism
Mashovhela Lodge appreciates that promoting tourism, increasing linkages, planning initiatives and investments will contribute to the broader economic development for the area and states that their knowledge and skills in eco-friendly accommodation and living are being passed on through training to the local community, and that they are readily available to educate communities and resorts elsewhere in South Africa.
