A "home away from home" in the southern African bush

Sunset in Botswana

The first of six residential lodges at a Botswanan game and wilderness reserve is now complete following over five years of vision and hard work.

River Camp, located along the Limpopo River in the Tuli block of eastern Botswana, is the first finished lodge at the Limpopo-Lipadi reserve. For Christel Kassier, the in-house interior designer for the project, the thinking behind the lodge was to create "a home away from home" in the secluded southern African bush and to showcase both the Botswana landscape and the Motswana culture.

Using the craftsmanship of the local communities was important to Christel and in-keeping with Limpopo-Lipadi's 'Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability' model.

"As part of the brief we were asked to feature unique pieces of furniture and decorative items which we could outsource to craftsmen and women in Botswana. The response to this business venture by the local Motswana was overwhelming and the quality of work produced outstanding," she recalls.

"By having local individuals or small hands-on companies produce items such as the woven rugs or metal work we've offered some crafters and builders new skills by introducing them to the latest designs and materials.

"We've also promoted a small part of Motswana culture by supporting the one craft that Botswana is very well known for- the Lala palm weaving. By combining all of the above, we have contributed towards maximising the shareholder's experience and lowering our carbon footprint by sourcing locally where possible."

After over five years in the making, Alan Marneweck, Limpopo-Lipadi's founder and shareholder, is proud of the creation of the first residential lodge at the reserve.

"I am delighted with the completion of River Camp both externally and internally," he says.

"We have worked very hard to make the reserve a welcoming place for shareholders and their guests and we look forward to the feedback that we get from them as the first lodge is occupied this month."

This sentiment is echoed by Christel, who is now working on concepts for the other five camps.

"Working with the team here at Limpopo-Lipadi has given me great satisfaction. I feel that the brief for River Camp has not just been met but exceeded," she comments.

"Initial feedback has been very positive and I just hope that current and future shareholders will really view it as 'a home away from home'."

For more information, visit www.limpopo-lipadi.com

Information courtesy of AB Property Marketing Ltd., and Limpopo-Lipadi

© PropertyIndex.com 2009 | Last Updated: 30th April 2009