17 Nov 2020

Moela Safari Lodge, located on the banks of the Boteti River in Khumaga, has unique, classy, traditional rooms made of mud bricks to give it a different feel and look.

It offers out of the ordinary executive rooms, designed by locals through use of natural resources. 

The rooms were designed by a Motswana, self-made architect, and sit right on the edge, facing the river, which allows visitors an opportunity to view animals from the comfort of their rooms. The rooms are wide open at the front and covered with a transparent lace material.

The owner of the lodge, Mr Legatilemang Moela also the designer, says the idea was to set the lodge apart from others, and offer tourists a rare, traditional, yet catchy and appealing design, thatch roofed to ensure enough ventilation.

The rooms have viewing decks, each equipped with a mini-swimming pool, though the lodge has a main swimming pool and main viewing deck.

Mr Moela said construction of the initial eight rooms started in April 2019 and is expected to be completed soon, adding that the intention was to add two more.

He said as he wanted a project that could match the environment, he benchmarked at Shompole lodge in Kenya, which was constructed using local materials.

He said he came up with the plan and modified it to suit the local environment and his desired outlook. 

He said he then solicited help from Khumaga residents to produce mud bricks and he secured 20 000 bricks at stock price.

The entrepreneur said he also engaged locals in the construction of the lodge, with 90 per cent of the workforce being locals, led by elderly women, who mastered the traditional architecture.

The area, he said, had tourism potential since there was high movement of animals, whether the river was dry or flowing, citing that there would be boat and game drives. 

The area is highly populated with elephants, wildebeests and zebras, among others.

A kitchenette has been set up and catering will be provided at the lodge.

 A borehole has been drilled and is used to pump water for wild animals during the dry season. Mr Moela worked for Debswana for 20 years as a mechanical engineer, a job he left in 2002 and started his own business, servicing the mine through his engineering company called Tau Steel Enterprises.

He ventured into cattle farming due to challenges experienced in the business and decided to establish another business, which led to his current tourism enterprise.

He said he then consulted Ngande Trust in Khumaga, which had abundant land and he leased 700 hectares for 15 years.

Mr Moela indicated that the lodge, which was targeting the international market, was working with an international marketing company. Ends