OUR STORY
The owners of Lipadi Hills Private Safari Lodge are two Swedish friends with a shared passion for Africa and its wildlife. Peter caught the Africa-bug during his frequent travel for a Swedish multinational company based in South Africa. Erik travelled extensively in Africa, with numerous safari trips throughout South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana.
“When we discovered the Limpopo-Lipadi Wildlife and Wilderness Reserve we knew it was the perfect place to build our dream safari lodge for our respective families to enjoy.”
Security was obviously an important consideration when choosing a location and Botswana is a very safe country, both from a personal and governance perspective. The Batswana (people of Botswana) are also warm and welcoming, with a high level of education and good healthcare.
WHAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL?
While most of Botswana is somewhat flat, the Tuli Block region - where the borders of Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa meet - offers dramatic rocky scenery.
The Limpopo-Lipadi Wildlife and Wilderness Reserve is a fabulous area with a variety of habitats; from riverine forests on the banks of the Limpopo River, to open Phiri Plains and dense bushveld, plus the magnificent Lipadi Hill itself.
Whereas most National Parks close to visitors after dusk, our private reserve status means that game drives at night are permitted. We can also accompany trackers on foot and see aspects of the wilderness that others rarely experience.
Limpopo-Lipadi operates anti-poaching patrols, wildlife monitoring and community development projects to conserve this precious ecosystem and benefit the local people.
The building of Lipadi Hills took two and a half years to complete (including 12 months lost to COVID) and over fifty local workers were employed during the construction phase. The lodge and two guest duplexes were designed as stilt or pile dwellings. This minimized the environmental impact on the rocky hillside and also delivers superb panoramic views.
Our aim of creating a sustainable eco-lodge meant that renewable energy and water self-sufficiency was incorporated from the start. A 50 kW Solar Panel Array and battery banks provide 24hr power and two boreholes feed the on-site water treatment plant to supply potable water.
OUR TEAM
Our team are all from the local area and epitomize the renowned friendliness and hospitality of the Batswana people. They look after all aspects of the lodge between them; provisioning, preparing and serving meals, housekeeping, transportation and maintenance plus, of course, expert guiding. We are sure you will enjoy the company of our Botswana family as much as we do!
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Chandapiwa (Chanda for short), oversees all aspects of Lodge Operations and Guest Services to ensure a warm, welcoming and comfortable stay. She loves getting to know our guests and brings her love of cooking and hosting to the fore during Lipadi Hill’s mealtimes.
Chanda grew up in the large town of Selebi Phikwe 100 km northwest of the Reserve. Before joining us in 2022, she held management roles in various companies for ten years; from landscaping & maintenance to food service, hotels and lodges - including the Limpopo-Lipadi Game Reserve itself. She and her husband Base, make a great team here at the lodge and at home – raising five beautiful children together.
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Base keeps things running smoothly at the Lodge by maintaining the water and electrical systems, buildings, pool and grounds. He also assists with Provisioning and Guest Services, preparing the fire & braai in the evenings and handling airport transportation. Base loves meeting new guests and learning all about their different cultural backgrounds.
He grew up in Tsetsebye village, just 20kms away from the Reserve and is one of 6 children. Prior to Lipadi Hills, Base served as a Police Constable in the Botswana Police Service for ten years before joining the Anti-Poaching Unit at the Limpopo-Lipadi Game Reserve.
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Joseph is our licenced Guide at Lipadi Hills and probably the person you will spend the most time with each day. He is excellent company and loves to share his local knowledge with our guests and provide them with unforgettable wildlife encounters. When not guiding or looking after the game drive vehicle, he assists with maintenance and general lodge duties.
Joseph grew up in the village of Mathathane, 70 km from the Reserve and has three children. He worked as a Guide at the famous Mashatu Game Reserve for twelve years, so has a wealth of expertise in the Tuli Block region of Botswana. Joseph was also an Instructor for five years at the Ark and Mark Trust – a charity offering therapy for children and families, plus training for social care professionals.
OUR LOCATION
Lipadi Hills Safari Lodge is located in Tuli Block, a triangle of land at Botswana's eastern border, wedged between South Africa and Zimbabwe. Come and explore this secluded corner of Botswana and experience the Land of the Giants for yourself.
The lodge is 4-5 hours’ drive from the capital of Botswana, Gaborone (GBE) or a 5-6 hour drive from Johannesburg (JNB) in South Africa.
Charter flights from within Botswana and from neighbouring countries can land at the airfield within the Limpopo-Lipadi Reserve. We also have our own helicopter pad and AVGAS fuel at the lodge if you wish to add Lipadi Hills to your Helicopter Safari itinerary.
for more details on How to Get Here