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An unusual mountaintop game lodge
The Venda Village Lodge, Limpopo
The Venda Village Lodge at Leshiba Wilderness.
© Bridget Hilton-Barber
Did you know?
In 2003, Noria Mabasa was awarded the prestigious 'Silver Level of the Order of the Baobab' for her 'exceptional achievements in unique forms of fine arts under trying circumstances'.
The Venda Village Lodge at Leshiba Wilderness is designed as an African village, with a series of interconnected rondavels or sleeping huts overlooking the Soutpansberg Mountains. The lodge was designed by acclaimed South African sculptor Noria Mabasa, who spent several months transforming a few old farm huts into an extraordinary game lodge.
There's a generous eating, living and lounging area, decorated with traditional Venda fabrics, pots, statues and a tableau of sculpted mythological creatures. The lodge is famed for its unusual shower – a lifesize figure of a young Venda man with a shower head coming out his ear! The bathroom is open on one side, so you can shower while looking out across the majestic mountains.
Leshiba Wilderness is a private game reserve at the top of the Soutpansberg, South Africa's northernmost mountain range. Leshiba is home to a variety of game including giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and rhino.
You can go on guided 4x4 game drives, or head out on one of the many hiking trails that lead to forests, gorges, waterfalls and grasslands. Leshiba also has many rock art sites dating back to the time when the area was inhabited by the San.
There is other accommodation available at Leshiba Wilderness: Hamasha Camp is a self-catering camp in a remote part of the reserve, overlooking a gorge; and the Indigenous Knowledge Centre is a camp for large groups.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Leshiba Wilderness
Tel: +27 (0) 11 483 1841
Email: info@leshiba.co.za
Web: www.leshiba.co.za
How to get here
From Louis Trichardt take the R522 to Vivo. The entrance to Leshiba Wilderness is 35km along the road on the right. From there it's another 10km up into the mountains on a bumpy track. If you prefer, Leshiba Wilderness will pick you up at the bottom where there is safe parking.
Around the area
Leshiba Wilderness is part of the Soutpansberg Conservancy, designed to protect the Soutpansberg's flora and fauna. The conservancy includes a number of game and nature reserves as well as lodges and mountain spas.
Tours to do
Take a guided walk to see the ancient rock art sites at Leshiba Wilderness. You can also take a specialist botanical walk, as well as a guided game drive.
Get around
By car, by foot or on horseback.
Length of stay
Set aside at least 2 full days to explore this wonderful reserve.
What to eat
You can arrange for full catering when you stay at the Venda Village Lodge. One of the many highlights here is a dawn game drive followed by brunch outdoors in the shade of an old fig tree.
Best buys
Visit nearby Madi a Thavha Mountain Farm and check out their gallery of local Venda and Tsonga arts and crafts.