A site visit by Brett Horley 

If you’re the person who stops halfway through a walk to look at a tree, and then stops again a few metres later, I have a place for you.

I recently spent some time at Leshiba Wilderness, part of the Nightjar Collection, in the Soutpansberg mountains of Limpopo. It’s a really magical spot, particularly for anyone with an interest they’d happily build a holiday around. Trees, birds, hiking, rock art. There is plenty here to keep a curious person occupied.

And if you’d prefer to do absolutely nothing for a few days, there’s room for that too.

A little about Leshiba

Leshiba has a lovely family story behind it. John and Gill Rosmarin bought the property in 1993, and together with their daughter Kathryn and her husband, Peter Straughan, helped restore the old Venda homestead that became the lodge.

They worked with renowned Venda artist Noria Mabasa, whose sculptures are still such a distinctive part of the place. Knowing a little of that history makes staying at Venda Art Lodge all the more interesting. There is a family’s work here, alongside the art, culture and history of the people who lived on this mountain long before it welcomed guests.

First, the trees

Over 380 species, which is just ridiculous! 

“The diversity, the endemic species, the rare species. Just incredible.”

For me, this is one of Leshiba’s biggest drawcards. If you have an interest in trees, you could build an entire visit around them. There is so much to look at, so much to learn, and every reason to take your time.

It’s somewhere I’d love to send guests who enjoy getting into the details. The ones who want to know what they’re looking at, why it grows there, and what makes it different from the tree beside it.

The freedom to get out and walk

Being able to walk and run unaccompanied is rare on a private wildlife reserve, and that freedom is a big part of what makes Leshiba special.

There are marked trails to explore independently, within the lodge’s guidance, as well as guided walks for those who want to learn more along the way.

If hiking is your thing, there is a very good reason to come here. In fact, many of the European visitors come specifically for the walking. You can make a proper outing of it, spend time exploring, and enjoy having a day that revolves around being on your feet.

Trail running and mountain biking add to the appeal for anyone who likes an active holiday. There’s also the opportunity to visit rock-art sites with a guide.

And then there are the birds. I love birding, so that’s another very good reason for me to take my time on a walk. Between looking at the trees and keeping an eye out for birds, I’d suggest leaving the afternoon fairly flexible.

Time with Peter

Spending time with Peter Straughan was one of the highlights of my visit. He and his wife, Kathryn, have been involved in Leshiba for many years, and it was lovely to catch up with him during my stay.

“Peter, the owner, is a special human and magic to interact with him.”

Peter also leads tree-identification courses at Leshiba, so you can see why he belongs in a place with this much botanical interest. For guests who want to learn, having access to people with that knowledge is a very good reason to come.

That matters to me when I’m thinking about a trip for someone. A beautiful setting gets your attention, but the people you spend time with can make a real difference to what you take away from it. Peter was very much part of what I enjoyed here, and I’m glad we had time together during the visit.

Staying at Venda Art Lodge

I stayed at Venda Art Lodge, and the luxury rooms are really pretty serious.

The lodge has a character all of its own. Built around a restored Venda homestead, it brings art and sculpture into the spaces around you, with work by Noria Mabasa and Thomas Kubayi adding to its very individual feel.

For me, the luxury rooms are a lovely option for guests who want to spend their days exploring and have somewhere especially comfortable to come back to.You can get your walking in, follow your interests, and then happily settle in for the afternoon. There is no need to be busy all the time.

How I would plan a stay here

I loved my time at Leshiba, and a big reason for that was how we curated the visit.

For our guests, I would make a point of organising private activities in advance. If you’re coming for the trees, let’s make sure that gets proper attention. If it’s birding or rock art, we can plan around that. If you want long walks with plenty of time to yourself, we need to know that too.

This is a place I would recommend with a particular guest in mind. Someone with a special interest or hobby could have a wonderful time here, especially with the right arrangements in place.

That’s a large part of what we do at BHS: get to know you well enough to recognise when a place like this is a good fit.

Or come to switch off

Of course, you don’t need a field guide or a pair of binoculars to enjoy Leshiba. Sometimes a few days away, with no particular plans, is exactly what you need.

“For those who want to disconnect, this is the place. Also, just to chill and do nothing, this is the place!”

I loved having the opportunity to explore, but a good book, a comfortable spot and a whole afternoon to yourself would be a lovely way to spend your time here too.

Perhaps bring the walking shoes anyway. You can decide when you get there.

Plan your Leshiba stay

If this sounds like your kind of place, get in touch with us. We would love to help you plan a stay around the things you enjoy, with the right people, private activities, and enough time to appreciate being there.

Contact us to start planning your Leshiba stay.