Leshiba Wilderness

Louis Trichardt, Limpopo

Leshiba Wilderness is a 2500-hectare private game reserve located on top of the Soutpansberg

Mountains (approximately 1200m above sea level) in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Located in one of South Africa’s most bio-diverse environments, Leshiba is home to a vast range of flora and fauna, many of which are rare and endangered. Our closest town is Louis Trichardt.

What To Expect At Leshiba

The wildlife at Leshiba includes giraffe, zebra, leopard, wildebeest, waterbuck, warthogs, red duiker, klipspringer, mountain reedbuck and many more. Leshiba’s birdlife includes nesting pairs of Black and Crowned Eagles, Bat Hawks, the rare Narina Trogon and Knysna and Purple crested Turacos, along with approximately 255 other species. We have three accommodation venues, all available on an exclusive basis: Our Venda Art Lodge, Hamasha Bush camp and Luvhondo Bush Camp. Self-catered and catered options are available. At Leshiba we offer self-guided walks and hikes, guided walks to Bushman rock paintings, game drives and mountain biking (bring your own bikes) as well as a variety of massage therapies. Leshiba has been certified by Fair Trade in Tourism in South Africa.

Leshiba is situated on the top of the Soutpansberg Mountains in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The entrance to our road is 36km west of Louis Trichardt.

Travel times in order for guests to plan their arrival at Leshiba:

Johannesburg to Leshiba via the N1 – 5 hours
Louis Trichardt to Leshiba via the 522 – 1 hour
Louis Trichardt to the transfer / meeting point via the R522 – 30 minutes
Transfer point at the bottom of the mountain to Reception – 30 minutes
Polokwane to Louis Trichardt or Vivo via the N1 or R521 – 1 hour
Pont Drift Border Post (Mashatu/Tuli) to Leshiba – 2.5 hours
Punda Maria Gate (KNP) to Leshiba via Louis Trichardt – 2.5 hours
Tzaneen to Leshiba via the R36 – 2.5 hours

Facilities

All kitchens are fully equipped with all cooking utensils, cutlery, crockery and braai (barbecue) equipment including potjie pots
Dishwash liquid, dishcloths, matches, candles, refuse bags, etc. are all supplied
The fridges are electric, on solar power and there are gas stoves with gas ovens
The Venda Art Lodge & Hamasha have an indoor fireplace in the lounge
The Lavish suites have indoor fireplaces
The Luxury suites have gas heaters
All the bedrooms at The Venda Art Lodge & Hamasha have their own en-suite shower & toilet
The Luxury suites, Lavish suites and Hamasha all have their own outdoor showers
The Luxury & Lavish suites have a bath, shower, toilet, outdoor shower & private plunge pools *(except Miloro, but it is in close proximity to the lodge’s pool)
Tea and coffee, sugar, salt and pepper are supplied at all camps
One load of wood, toilet paper, soap as well as all bedding and towels are

Catering

Leshiba offers the following catering options:

Fully catered
Self-catered

* Dietary Requirements – these must be communicated on confirmation of your booking

* We cater for all dietary needs

* Note: There is no restaurant at Leshiba – we cater for each individual booking

We suggest that you bring the following:

A good flashlight/torch
Binoculars
A good selection of clothing
Good walking sandals, shoes or boots
Warm jacket and raincoat
Sunhat, sunscreen
All food, drinks & provisions for self-catering. The nearest shop is a one-hour drive away down the mountain in Louis Trichardt, our closest town
Extra towels for swimming in rock pools
Insect repellent essential for repelling ticks. We recommend Peaceful Sleep or Bayticol for spraying on clothing
Extra camera/video camera batteries and adaptors as we are not always able to charge these

Mountain Transfers

We offer transfers from the bottom of the mountain to the top at an extra charge
Transfers up the mountain are strictly before 15h00 hours
Transfers down the mountain are at 09h30
Mountain transfers are by pre-arrangement
Guests’ vehicles can be left at the bottom of the mountain and we will then arrange
a mountain transfer at an extra charge EACH way per vehicle used (NOT per person)
Guests must arrive during daylight hours due to the nature of the mountain road
It is required that guests contact us en-route to ensure timeous arrival and pick up
If for whatever reason the guest has been delayed en-route and will be unable to arrive at the meeting point at the agreed time, they MUST phone us at least an hour before arrival, in order to make alternative arrangements
You are required to have your own 4×4 or high clearance vehicle if you are staying at Hamasha Bush Camp.

The Mountain Road

The last three kilometres to the entrance to Leshiba takes you up a relatively steep incline to the top of the mountain
The road is not suitable for vehicles with a limited ground clearance although the road is not limited to 4×4 vehicles only
We do recommend a vehicle with good clearance underneath as we have drainage bumps that can knock the undercarriage of very low vehicles

Advisory

Children are welcome, but should be accompanied by an adult – Please note;
There are artworks at the Venda Art Lodge
There are drop offs at the Venda Art Lodge
All swimming pools are unfenced
Breakages will be charged for
Leshiba is unfortunately not suitable for wheelchairs due to its rugged terrain

Check in

Check in between 14h00 and 17h00
Check out 09h30

Children

Children of all ages are welcome
As our lodges are in wildlife areas, all children under the age of 12 must be under the care of a parent/guardian/adult, at all times
We do not offer babysitting services
A camper cot and baby bath can be arranged

Communications

There is free Wi-Fi at all accommodation venues
There is limited Vodacom mobile phone reception on the property and occasional MTN reception in limited areas

Dietary requirements

Our cuisine is African-Western Fusion. We will cater to dietary requirements wherever possible. Dietary requirements must be communicated two weeks in advance or on confirmation of your booking

Drinking water

The tap water is safe to drink at Leshiba, and drinking it helps reduce your carbon Footprint

Electricity

There is no municipal electricity at Leshiba
The Venda Art Lodge has a combination of solar power, paraffin lamps as well as gas and electrical appliances
Hamasha has solar power and gas appliances.
Luvhondo has solar power and gas appliances
No hairdryers, GHDs, kettles, etc. can be used on our systems

Fire hydrants

Fire extinguishers are placed throughout the facilities

Firewood

We supply one large load of firewood
Extra firewood on request charged at R250 per load

Fuel

There is no petrol or diesel at Leshiba. The last fill up stations are at Louis Trichardt or Vivo and there is a filling station +- 5km from our turn off towards Louis Trichardt

Gratuities

If you are satisfied with the service you have received, any gratuity that you may wish to leave for the staff will be greatly appreciated. We pool all these gifts of appreciation and divide them equally. This is entirely at your discretion. There is a gratuity box at Reception. Any currency is acceptable but please note that local banks do not change foreign coins. We accept Master and Visa credit cards for gratuities

Languages

English
Afrikaans
Venda

Malaria

Leshiba is not known as a malaria area. However, if you will be travelling throughout the Limpopo, we recommend you speak to your local travel clinic and take the necessary precautions.

Temperatures

In summer the temperatures average between 18 and 35 degrees Celsius and winter temperatures range from 0 to 23 degrees Celsius. We are often in early morning mist and when it rains the temperatures can drop quite low even in summer
Our rainfall season is between the end of October and April. This is when our streams and rock pools are running, depending on the amount of rain that falls
In autumn and winter, we are not as green, but the walking is fantastic and there is a greater opportunity to see wildlife because the bush is not too dense. The rock pools are generally empty at this time of the year

**Please note – Leshiba has ticks in the veld. We supply Peaceful Sleep (an insect repellent spray), to spray on your skin and clothing before you go hiking. We suggest you bring an extra can with and also recommend a ‘clothing only’ spray to repel ticks. Bayticol is a local brand that is effective. If you prefer to use natural repellents, we recommend you bring along Tea Tree Essential Oil.

Please be aware that there are currently potholes and roadworks between Louis Trichardt and the Leshiba turnoff. Safe travels!**

Rates For Tour Guides, Pilots & Drivers (Not Applicable to Hamasha & Luvhondo)

Tour Guide / Pilot

50% off rate

Driver

25% off rate

Mandatory Conservation Levy (All visitors)

R200.00 pp – Adult
R100.00 pp – 3 – 12Yrs

Transfers

Mountain transfer costs: R400.00 each way per vehicle used, so R800.00 for a return trip per vehicle.

The last three kilometres to Leshiba takes you up a relatively steep incline to the top of the mountain.
The road is not limited to 4×4 vehicles only. A 2×4 or a vehicle with a high ground clearance is suitable.
We do not recommend a sedan or a vehicle with a low clearance, as we have drainage bumps that could knock the undercarriage of low vehicles.
Guests’ vehicles can be left at the bottom of the mountain (shed pick-up point, as per your conversation with our lodge managers a day prior) and Leshiba will then arrange a mountain transfer at the cost specified above.

*N.B. Please note that this shed is not on Leshiba Wilderness and belongs to our neighbours. Parking is at your own risk. Neither Leshiba Wilderness nor our neighbours are liable for any damage, theft or any other loss.

WE ARE UNABLE TO OFFER TRANSFERS AFTER DARK. Guests must arrive before 15h30 due to the nature of the mountain road.

Please note:

Leshiba does not have a set transfer time, and limited cell phone reception, therefore –
Guests must pre-arrange their transfer no less than 24 hours prior to arrival.
Guests must supply the lodge with a contact number in order to ensure their safe arrival.
If the guest is delayed en-route, they must phone the lodge at least an hour before arrival in order that alternative arrangements can be made.

Admin Fee:

R55.00 once off per reservation.

Accommodation: Venda Art Lodge

Standard Rooms

Marula, Lemon Tree, Wild Plum, Mbeki And Noria

Only available on a full board basis
We have five standard rooms, all en-suite
Our standard rooms are thatched huts with original works of Venda art
The huts sleep 9 pax – 2 x doubles, 2 x twins, 1 small single suitable for guide/child
All have en-suite bathrooms (shower only)
Toiletries provided
Thatched dining lapa overlooking the valley
Deck with sunken fire pit and swimming pool
Lounge with fireplace
Central kitchen with beautiful views

Rates:

Rates (VAT incl.) are valid from 1st January 2025 to 31st December 2025 and are subject to change without prior notice. Rates are per person per night. Below rates exclude our mandatory conservation levy of R200.00 per adult and R100.00 per child

MINIMUM TWO-NIGHT STAY PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND LONG WEEKENDS – MINIMUM 3 NIGHTS

Full Board:

Rates include Accommodation, early morning tea, coffee & our famous homemade crunchies. Delicious 2-course brunch. Afternoon tea & treats. Our 3-course table d’hôte menu for dinner. One game activity per night booked (either a guided walk or game drive). Rates exclude: all beverages (available for purchase from our honesty bar), mountain transfers (if applicable), conservation levies, other activities, and gratuities.

Venda Art Lodge: Standard Chalets (Full Board Only):

5 x Standard Rooms – Accommodate 9 pax total
2 x Queen, 2 x Twin (can be converted to King), 1 x single for a guide/driver/pilot
Queen and Twin

R4200.00 pp.pn – Sharing
R5100.00 pp.pn – Single

Leshiba Wilderness

Louis Trichardt, Limpopo