Camping in Botswana

Tuli Safari Lodge is delighted to announce that Molema, a new community-based self-catering and camping option in the Tuli Block, Botswana, was officially launched at a ceremony on Monday 5th May 2008 and is open for bookings from 1st July 2008.

Molema is a joint venture between the local villages of Mothlabaneng, Lentswe Le Moriti and Mathathane, Tuli Safari Lodge and two other operators in the area Tuli Wilderness Trails and Talana Farms. The property is located on 6000ha of community land immediately to the west of the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. It has been developed to provide the communities with an opportunity to participate in and benefit from tourism to the region and will provide much-needed income, employment and training. Molema is managed and operated by Tuli Safari Lodge.

Molema provides two self-catering accommodation options both situated on the banks of the Limpopo River:

• 4 log chalets – fully furnished, each with en-suite bathroom, veranda & braai/barbecue facilities. There are 3 twin chalets, and one family chalet with double bed & bunk bed. A communal fully-equipped kitchen, dining room and boma area is also available.

• 4 camping sites - each with its own enclosed shower/toilet/basin, braai/ barbecue facility & table.

Molema is 25km from the Platjan border post between South Africa and Botswana, making it an ideal stop-off point for visitors driving between the two countries. The rates in Botswana Pula are P275 per person per night for the chalets and P55 per person per night for the campsites (these equate to approximately R335/$45 and R65/$10 respectively). Bookings can be made by emailing info@tulilodge.com.

The official opening ceremony was attended by representatives from all the joint venture partners and local dignitaries. Speaking at the ceremony Mr. Moribame, Senior Officer from the office of Mr. Shaw Kgathi, MP of the Bobirwa District, said;

“Sometime back the tourism industry was perceived by our communities as the exclusive right of white farmers only because it was thought that wild animals could not generate income. I am happy that some of our communities are now beginning to see the light and hope that what is happening here today will help encourage others.

“I would also like to call upon the government to increase its attention to develop the tourism potential in Bobirwa since it has great potential. The growth of tourism will have a multiplier effect, stimulating other economic activities which will in turn mean an improved standard of living for our people.”

Chris Butterfield, one of the shareholders of Tuli Safari Lodge, said “Molema is a responsible tourism project involving public sector land, local communities and private sector investment. It is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate that we have all embraced the message of Botswana’s new President Seretse Khama Ian Khama when he said at his inauguration that “we have to create an enabling environment for the private sector to encourage it to become the driving force and main investor in the country’s economy” and that “people must be encouraged to develop their talents through stimulating creativity and hard work so that they can contribute to the economic development of Botswana.””

For more information, visit Tulilodge.com.