If we are to have a sustainable tourism industry in this country, and especially in our impoverished rural areas, then the people in those communities must see some benefit from the tourism business.
That’s the ethos behind the newly-established Tembe Masizwane Lodge in northern KwaZulu-Natal, bordering the Tembe Elephant Park.
Masizwane means “May we help each other”, and the lodge certainly lives up to this name by being heavily involved with the local community on many levels.
Turning off the main road toward the entrance gate of the lodge, you drive along a sand road that took the local labour a year to clear. (As part of the community involvement programme, the lodge uses local labour to keep this road clean and in good condition.)
People from the area are also employed in the lodge and their attitude was evident from the beginning, when the smiling faces of the security guards welcomed me.
The Tembe Masizwane Lodge is currently the only lodge that’s situated in a sand forest and it abuts the Tembe Elephant Park – it offers something unique, even to those who have travelled across our country.
While checking in I spotted a Barn Owl perched above the walkway that leads to the accommodation. I was told that the owl had moved in shortly after the structure was completed and has lived there ever since.
The 12 chalets are linked via wooden walkways that wend and weave their way through the indigenous plants and trees.
The chalets are tucked into the landscape and are spaced far enough apart that they offer privacy for the outdoor showers that are a feature of each one.
Hannes du Preez, the lodge owner, has a passion for trees and has named each chalet after a different species. His extensive tree knowledge was revealed on the game drives we went on and added a dimension I have not experienced before.
The majority of the 12 chalets have double beds, while there are a couple that offer twin bed accommodation. Aside from having one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in, each chalet has indoor and outdoor shower facilities, a desk and small seating area.
Outside, on the deck, there is a table and chairs that allow guests to relax and watch the birdlife, with some very rare birds such as the Pink-throated Twinspot making a regular appearance.
During my visit there was a family of bush babies close by that were very vocal until it started raining. They are called “bush babies” as their call sounds eerily like a crying child.
The biggest surprise for me was the main lodge building.
This enormous space houses the dining area, a lounge/seating area and the bar. All hand-built, the roof is an architectural masterpiece.
Aside from the indoor seating, there is also a patio that guests can utilise, with some of the furniture being made from strangling fig vines.
There is also a boma area under construction that will be used as an outdoor dining area for guests. Juan, the chef, certainly went out of his way to make every meal different and tasty… I did not believe that lettuce soup would taste as good as it did!
Hannes explained that they employed sustainable building methods during construction, which meant that the natural vegetation was disturbed as little as possible. It is this blend of construction and the preservation of the indigenous trees and plants that adds character to the lodge and its surroundings.
At present, a short drive along the main road to the Tembe Elephant Park main gate is the only access for the game drive vehicles – however, an environment impact study is currently underway for a gate to provide direct access from the lodge into the Elephant Park.
Although these drives started off quietly as far as game viewing is concerned, the birdlife was well worth the time we spent in the game drive vehicles. The park does have the Big 5, and although we did not get to see lion or leopard, we did manage to see elephant, white rhino and buffalo. Unfortunately the elusive black rhino remained exactly that, elusive. And the sighting that I hoped for did not occur but it does give me something to look forward to on future game drives.
There are already plans to extend the lodge accommodation with extra chalets that will be completed soon.
One complaint, though – and it’s not about the lodge. The roads are in awful condition and things are not made any better by the heavy-duty coal trucks which frequent the area. I just wish that the relevant authorities in charge of the roads around Pongola and Jozini would do something about the potholes.
Contact details: tel: 035 753 5695; e-mail: [email protected]; web: www.tembemasizwanelodge.co.za - Saturday Star