Mosetlha Bush Camp & Eco Lodge

How this lodge promotes good stewardship of the environment:

It has always been our mission to provide an exclusive and unique wilderness experience for our guests, with minimal ecological impact on our surroundings. We were very excited to discover the following, written by Hitesh Mehta (who has, incidentally, been a guest of ours at Mosetlha) and are so proud to see that we successfully fulfil not only the required five, but ALL TEN of his suggested criteria for an “eco lodge”.

In International Eco Lodge Guide Lines, Hitesh Mehta writes that an eco lodge is an "accommodation facility that satisfies at least five of the criteria listed below, three of which must embody the main principles of ecotourism."

The main principles of ecotourism are:
conservation of neighbouring lands
benefits to local communities
interpretation to both local populations and guests.

The Ten Eco Lodge Criteria:
Helps conserve the surrounding flora and fauna.
Tries to work with the local community.
Offers educational interpretive programs to both its employees and tourists about the surrounding natural and cultural environments.
Uses alternative, sustainable means of water acquisition and reduces water consumption.
Provides for careful handling and disposal of solid waste and sewage.
Meets its energy needs through passive design and renewable energy resources.
Uses traditional building technology and materials wherever possible and combines these with their modern counterparts.
During construction has minimal impact on the natural environment.
Blends with local physical and cultural environment through careful attention to form, landscaping and colour, as well as the use of local traditional architecture.
Contributes to sustainable local community development through education programs and research.

We have no electricity or running water, and the camp structures are of natural wood, rock and thatch.

Hot showers are enjoyed under a safari or "bucket" shower - water is heated by guests through a donkey boiler. Our toilets are called VIP units (ventilation improved pits) and require no water or plumbing.

We use oil and solar lamps around the camp at night, and food and drinks are kept cold in gas fridges and freezers (so icy beers and wine are always available!)

Wonderful traditional fare is cooked on the open fire.

All the staff employed at the lodge are from the local community.

What To Do:

Game viewing is included in the Mosetlha wilderness experience - and the reason to visit Madikwe! Madikwe offers South Africa's "big 5" (elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and both black and white rhino) as well as the rare and endangered wild dogs, cheetah, both brown and spotted hyena, and nearly all of SA's predators. There is a rich abundance of fat and healthy plains game and the latest bird list boasts 478 species!

What They Have:

Our rate includes all meals and snacks, (tea and coffee is available all day), and two game drives a day (morning and afternoon/evening). We have a bar stocked with a good selection of beers, wines and soft drinks.
We are able to offer vegetarian/vegan meals - as long as we know beforehand.

Getting There:

Airport Information:

There are two airstrips within Madikwe - but the international airports would be O R Tambo in Johannesburg, and Gaborone in Botswana.

Transportation Information:

Road transfers or hire car are the most economical and efficient way to get to us. We are an easy 4 hour drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria.