Mashovhela Lodge goes gold with Green Standard
11. May, 2009
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Mashovhela Lodge in the Soutpansberg Mountains of South Africa has been awarded the converted Gold Leaf by the Wilderness Foundation at an awards ceremony last night at the Indaba International Travel Trade Show. This was the first time that the Gold Leaves have been awarded..
The Gold Leaf is the highest level of the Green Leaf Environmental Standard, which is an international standard that measures five elements at a resort, namely water and energy usage, waste recycling, green procurement and innovation.
The Leaf itself is the iconic logo of the Wilderness Network and story behind it is told in an extract from an essay written by Dr. Ian Player where he recalls how Grey Owl offered a green leaf to civilisation as a symbol of environmental harmony.
Dr Hans H Hahn, the owner and Managing Director of Mashovhela Lodge says “We are honoured to have received an award, and the highest possible, from the Wilderness Foundation, an organisation that is so well respected in conservation”.
“When I set foot in Africa in 1948 I soon released that Africa’s wildernesses were under threat and I set about finding land that I could protect in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner. Receiving this award for Mashovhela Lodge on Morning Sun Nature Reserve has made my dream come true,” added Hahn.
The lodge and reserve has never been attached to the local, Eskom power-grid and runs on alternative, renewable and sustainable energy.
“Our hot water is heated by solar energy, supplemented by (eucalyptus) wood-fired boilers. For electricity we rely on photovoltaic solar energy, supplemented by diesel generators. It is intended to eventually run our diesel generators on bio-diesel and wood gas produced from combustible biomass,” Hahn states.
The Venda styled lodge is nestled between cliffs in the Morning Sun Reserve, which because of its exceptional biodiversity is a natural heritage site. The area boasts over 600 different trees, thousands of plant species, a wide variety of game and 550 bird species, including the “not so often seen” Pink throated Twinspot.
The reserve also has a rock pool which is the second most sacred site of Venda folklore. This sacred site is still used occasionally by Sangomas in rain-making ceremonies, like a few years ago – shortly after which Venda had the heaviest rains and most devastating floods in living memory.
“It has always been my family’s and my vision to share this natural heritage site with all, through our eco-friendly bush lodge, in order to protect the environment, uplift the community and educate them and visitors to the lodge, in environmentally friendly living, whilst enjoying and relaxing in this amazing part of the Soutpansberg Mountains,” says Hahn.
Andrew Mayoral-Phillips, Green Leaf Manager says “This is exactly what Mashovhela has achieved and highly deserves the Wilderness Foundation Award as the aim of the standard is to reduce the effects of consumption on our environment and improve upon environmental management and awareness in an eco friendly manner”.
The Wilderness Foundation, founded in 1972 by Dr. Ian Player and Magqubu Ntombela, is a conservation organisation that encourages, plans and manages wild lands and wilderness, uplifts the knowledge and lives of historically disadvantaged citizens, and stimulates an environmental ethos among current and future leaders.
My name is Muzi Mohale a full-time travel blogger, your host at Travelwires.com responsible for all editorial on this blog. I blog about the travel and tourism industry in Africa. Apart from blogging about tourism, I also run 
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