Mashovhela Lodge Louis Trichardt

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Email Mashovhela Lodge Reservations: booksa@madbookings.com

Let our warm and friendly staff pamper you whilst you relax in our cozy Venda style lodge, which is recognized for its eco-friendly principles, sustainable energy usage all at an affordable rate.

Mashovhela Lodge Accommodation

Unwind in the tranquil atmosphere of our intimate and unique Venda styled lodge surrounded by African bush. Tucked away in a steep valley, surrounded by impressive rocky outcrops, on the site of an abandoned Venda settlement, lies our small lodge which gets its name from the sacred Mashovhela rock pool, "Place where the drums beat".

Be pampered by our warm and friendly staff that offer excellent, attentive and concerning service.Our ten cozy rooms, restaurant, cocktail bar, conference venue, boma, swimming pool, arts and crafts shop where all built to minimize the ecological footprint and are run on a sustainable energy program.

Mashovhela Lodge offers comfortable, eco-friendly accommodation in the Louis Trichardt and the Soutpansberg Mountains of South Africa.

Our 10 intimate en-suite chalets, decorated by Ingrid Hahn, have a unique ethnic feel, whilst offering complete comfort and privacy. Children are accommodated in our family friendly units.

The call of bush babies, the hooting of Giant Eagle Owls and chirping of cicadas and frogs will break the silence of the night whilst you stretch out on our luxurious "king size" or twin beds.

From your own private veranda surrounded by "magube" walls you can enjoy a cocktail under the African sun, whilst watching the Black Eagles returning to their nest.

Hammock Camp
Spend a night in our unique Hammock Camp and enjoy a breath-taking view of the southern hemisphere night sky.
Listen to the noises of the African bush, from the cry of Bush Babies to the hooting of owls.

Relax on a hammock whilst taking in the beauty of the Milky Way, Southern Cross, Orion’s Belt, constellations and the signs of the Zodiac. Join our astronomer, Kos, for a "The Night Sky Safari" to discover more about the night sky, constellations and Southern African Star lore (mythology).

Experience the African Bush in a Safari Tent
There is no better way of experiencing a night in Africa than sleeping in one of our en-suite safari tents. The bush feels much closer and the night noises all that louder. Even though there is nothing more romantic than a night under canvass our Safari Tent can sleep up to 4 people, making them ideal for families as well.

A private outside porch allows you to relax and take in the beauty of our reserve and the sounds of birds going about their day to day lives.

Drumbeat Restaurant
Experience a wide variety of traditional and exciting new flavours in our pan-African cuisine in an ethnic environment
Our excellent service and warm atmosphere is culturally inspired by the Venda people and will make the dining experiences a special occasion to remember.

The restaurant, terrace, boma and even the bush, as well as the fully licensed bar guarantees not only variations in food, fine South African wines, cocktails or a drink of your choice, but a different setting for various occasions.

Beautiful year round weather allows you the opportunity to breakfast in the bush at one of many archaeological sites, shadowed by a magnificent old, Baobab tree.

An individualized lunch is planned according to the day's activities. The memorable dinners start as the sun sets and the drums call you to our African boma to join in a Venda dance to honour the chef for the creative and delicious meal to be served under the star filled sky.

Maklhado / Louis Trichardt Conference & Function Venues

Get married, celebrate, conference, launch products, end of year functions or reward your staff. Our multi-purpose venue set in un-spoilt natural surroundings makes it the ideal facility for any function, corporate or personal.We can make your next out-of-office corporate event both professional and enjoyable.

Flexibility in the bush is the key to successful conferencing, team building, inspiring and revitalizing your staff. From weddings and anniversaries to celebrating birthdays, your special occasion can be arranged by our management team.

Louis Trichardt Weddings
"Happy marriages begin when we marry the one we love, and they blossom when we love the one we married".

Mashovhela Lodge, with its romantic and tranquil atmosphere makes it an ideal venue for small and private weddings. Let us make your wedding the special day it should be. Our Drumbeat Restaurant and our Venda clad staff will give a subtle African feel to proceedings, whilst our chef will provide you with cuisine that will complement the importance and the joyous day.

The restaurant, terrace, boma and large gardens as well as the bush make us very flexible in positioning "chapels" and receptions.

Our fully licenced bar has a wide range of fine South African wines and it is well stocked with beers, spirits, liqueurs and cool drinks catering for all needs. Let our efficient and accommodating staff help you plan and recommend ideas that will make the day extra special and one that you and your guests will remember forever.

Being situated on a nature reserve, with waterfalls, streams, indegenous forests and nestled into the scenic Soutpansberg Mountains allows for an abundance of photographic opportunities for those special photographs. Arrive or leave the ceremony on the back of an open 4 x 4 game drive vehicle, the options are endless.

For more information on how we can make your wedding a special and rememerable day and for quotes contact us.

Activities
Nature Walks
Explore and investigate the diverse fauna and flora of this magnificently beautiful natural heritage site on foot. Marked trails take you across scenic valleys, along sparkling streams and through indigenous forests.

Guided Walks and Scenic Drives
Let our guide bring the bush alive whilst sharing his knowledge on the natural wonders of the bush and the use thereof to man.

Venda Dancing
The African night gets filled with the beat of drums and singing by our local Venda dancers.

Venda Village Visit
Experience day to day life in an authentic Venda village, buy crafts directly from the craftsman and learn about local beer making.

Venda Cultural Tour
Visiting Venda is a truly captivating experience filled with mystical forests, sacred lakes, water spirits, stunning scenery and world famous crafts. Our one-day tour guided by a professional guide takes in a number of attractions in the area.

Venda Arts & Crafts Tour
The Venda culture is steeped in the spirit world and finds expression in their arts and crafts. Being highly creative people the Venda people produce many fascinating works and many of the craftsmen being well known worldwide.

Star Gazing
Our reserve is the ideal setting for an out of this world stellar experience whether you are a seasoned observer, starting out or just want to enjoy the night sky.

Horse Trails
From a local Venda village the trail heads up a beautiful Soutpansberg Valley to the sacred Mashovhela rock pool.

Hammock Camp
Away from the lodge is our hammock camp which allows for a unique experience to sleep under the amazing southern night sky.

Birding
With over 540 recorded species, and the majority residents, the Soutpansberg Mountains makes for an all year round birders paradise.

1-Day Venda Arts & Crafts Tour
The Venda culture is steeped in the spirit world and finds expression in their arts and crafts. Being highly creative people the Venda people produce many fascinating works and many of the craftsmen being well known worldwide.

The best known of these arts and crafts are clay pots distinctively marked with angular designs in graphite silver and ochre. Also growing in status are woodcarvings which range from abstract to practical. Our Arts & Crafts day tour is an adventure as craft villages are scattered and some roads poor, so Venda life in general can be experienced in between visiting some of the area's best craftsman.

The one day Venda Arts & Crafts tour includes:

· A visit to Elim market to experience vibrant rural life of the Venda and Tsonga people: taxi busses arrive and leave for rural villages; there is a bustling fruit and vegetable market, a hair dresser, local eating places and many other fascinating places to explore.

· Leaving Elim we head out to Twananani Textiles, where women make stunning batiks with traditional patterns, bead work and embroidery.

· John Baloy’s rural art gallery is the next port of call. John was a famous wood carver who passed away by a car accident some years ago. His gallery is still in place and houses his artwork and sculptures from other wood carvers in the area.

· From there it is on to another wood carver, Thomas Kubayi, who makes traditional music instruments such as drums and mariba, as well as carving traditional and contemporary sculptures. At his workshop, Thomas also teaches young people woodcarving skills. This is also the ideal spot to stop for a light lunch as there is a good chance that you will be treated to youngsters in the village making music.

· We then visit the Mashamba potters, which is a huge workshop where 50 women make traditional Venda pots and more contemporary pots. All of these pots are naturally fired.

· Depending on time and interest you can include Hlamarisa Vuma who is well known for her bead work; David Murathi a woodcarver; Noria Mbasa; or Johannes Maswanganyi and sons who are Tsonga woodcarvers with a completely different style to the Venda.

The Surounding area
From sacred lakes, mythical forests and the world's largest Baobab to Mapungubwe and Kruger National Parks this un-commercialised area is wonderful to explore and an experience that you will always return to.

Reserves and Farms
Northern Kruger National Park
The Kruger National Park is world known and its northern reaches are arguably the most beautiful and least commercialised. This area offers outstanding birding and it is often described as the "botanical garden" of the Kruger.

Mapungubwe National Park & World Heritage Site
Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site is rich in biodiversity, great scenic beauty and the cultural importance of the archaeological treasures of Mapungubwe.

Musina Baobab Nature Reserve
Famous for its high number of Baobab trees.

Wild Dog tracking
Track down this endangered animal at Venetia Mine Nature Reserve.

Ratho & Parma Crocodile Farms
An operational crocodile farm with on average 4,000 - 5000 crocodiles on the farm, including a very rare 'White Crocodile'. They have a Croc Shop where croc meat and hand made crocodile and other leather items are sold.

Blouberg Nature Reserve
View the largest colony of Cape Vulture.

Nzhelele Dam
This beautiful dam is surrounded by a nature reserve plentiful in plains game. It is also recognised as an excellent fishing area.

Muthavhasindi Nature Reserve
This nature reserve has been established to protect the Brakenridgia zanzibarica trees or ‘Magic Tree’. It is the only place in South Africa where these trees are found and its bark is used by traditional healers. There is usually a local guide that can give you an informative talk.

Gundani Brachystegia Woodland
This is the only known patch of Miombo (Brachystegia) woodland in South Africa. Miombo woodland is common in Zimbabwe and further north and are considered to be rich in biodiversity and most rural communities depend on their resources.

Nwanedi Nature Reserve & Waterfall
This beautiful reserve surrounding the Nwanedi Dam is well stocked with game and boasts an impressive waterfall.


Bergpans Salt Pans
The Soutpansberg Mountains derived its name from these large salt-pans, which have probably been used by game since time immemorial, and whose salt has been exploited from Stone Age time’s right up to the present.

Tshipise Hot Springs
Relax in the hot waters that bubble out of the earth’s crust.

Big Tree at Sagole Spa
The world’s oldest and largest Baobab tree, estimated at 3000 years and with a circumference of 43 meters. Sagole Spa also features a natural hot spring. Tshikovha, a local herbalist and diviner of international repute, can be visited by arrangement.

Phiphidi Waterfall
The Phiphidi Waterfall is believed in the Venda culture to be inhabited by the zidutwane (“water spirits”). These beings are only half-visible; they only have one eye, one leg, and one arm. One half can be seen in this world and the other half in the spirit world. The Venda would take offerings of food to them because the zwidutwane cannot grow things underwater.

Tshatshingo Potholes
The waters of the Mutale River fall into a naturally formed pothole and disappear for some distance before reappearing and continuing on its course.

Email Mashovhela Lodge Reservations: booksa@madbookings.com