Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa, a luxury lodge in the Welgevonden Game Reserve in the Waterberg (Limpopo), has invested in a major solar power installation consisting of 620 solar panels and batteries. This investment has made them one of the largest solar-powered safari lodges in South Africa and the lodge is now self-sufficient in terms of all electricity requirements.
According to CEO Fritz Breytenbach, the travel industry is heavily impacted by Eskom’s energy crisis, and the only way for Mhondoro to continue attracting well-heeled local and international travellers is to make sure they keep the lights on. Breytenbach says that in the luxury travel and safari industry, guests expect a certain level of service and all lodge facilities and amenities should be available and in working order whether there is load shedding or not.
The investment in the solar plant is another tangible example of the vision of the Dutch owners, Frank and Myriam Vogel, to further reduce the carbon footprint of the lodge.
Mhondoro has implemented various other eco-friendly initiatives, including the installation of a grey water filtration system for irrigation around the lodge. It operates its own water purification plant that produces drinking water fresh from the surrounding Waterberg mountains and the lodge uses glass decanters and personalised steel water bottles for guests to minimise the use of single-use plastic water bottles.
