Madi A Thavha Mountain Lodge

Madi A Thavha Mountain Lodge is a 4-star accommodation situated in the Soutpansberg mountain range. It offers rural hip fused with luxury, featuring an Arts & Culture Center, CraftArt shop, and Textile & Design studio. The lodge welcomes children and provides creative activities, cultural programs, cycling, hiking, and birding for both children and their parents.

Madi A Thavha, which translates to "Water from the mountain" in TshiVenda, has a mountain stream running through it and is located in a quiet valley of the Soutpansberg. While Northern Limpopo is famous for its abundant wildlife and spectacular "Baobab-sunsets," the lodge is more fascinated by the rich variety of lesser-known yet vibrant cultures that drive the peoples of the North.

The lodge aims to surprise guests with the true rural life in Limpopo by offering opportunities to engage with real people, artists, and crafters in their own studios or homesteads. The lodge's deep involvement with CraftArt, social development, and education in the north gives it an edge in offering tailor-made tours catering to various interests, from art, craft, and heritage to rural architecture and birding in the beautiful, unknown parts of Limpopo.

Madi A Thavha is a Fair Trade certified lodge located 10 km west of Louis Trichardt/Makhado, a five-hour drive from Johannesburg. Its excellent location makes it an ideal base for exploring the Soutpansberg and Limpopo valley, which forms the northern frontiers of South Africa. The lodge is a popular "culture-stop-over" for guests traveling to the Kruger National Park, Mapungubwe World Heritage Site, game lodges in the Tuli block in Botswana, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, or adventurous travelers tackling off-roads to Mozambique.

The lodge is known for its unique interiors, a fusion of traditional and modern Venda, Tsonga, and Sotho styles with luxury amenities and Dutch efficiency. It has a warm, homey feel, and the well-informed staff ensures guests have a good time in the North. The Arts & Culture Center provides a vivid summary of the various cultural influences that shaped the region, while the CraftArt-shop stocks hand-picked local art, craft, local textiles, jewelry, and unique products from the lodge's Textile & Design studio.

Madi A Thavha offers a range of activities for adults and families with children, either within the lodge, in nature, or on tours in villages. Seasoned and knowledgeable tour guides handle the CraftArt, Communities' Lifestyles, or Nature tours. Guests can use the lodge's thick-wheel bicycles or go on hiking routes, and tailor-made cycling, birding, or hiking excursions can be arranged.

The lodge can accommodate up to 18 guests in eight separate units, including four guest rooms and four guest suites, some of which can have extra beds upon request. Guest suites have a fully equipped kitchen for self-catering. A three-course set menu based on bookings is served on the veranda or in the farmhouse dining room, and breakfast is a delectable buffet of juices, yogurts, fruits, muesli, baked muesli or pancakes, bread, toast, muffins, cheese, and various egg dishes.