Oxbow Lodge is stylized off the Alpine ski chalets in Switzerland!
In the tranquillity of one of the most beautiful settings in Southern Africa, lies the Maluti Mountain Range. Located High in this Magnificent range is the home of Oxbow Lodge.
The Lodge is reached via the glorious Moteng Pass which tops out at 2800 meters and then descends to the Lodge in a valley 8km from the summit, on the banks of the Mailbamatsoe River. The road is tarred all the way accessible by car, and takes the traveller through some of the most breathtaking scenery in Southern Africa. Space and peace are what you will find when you treat yourself to the natural splendor of this award-winning Lodge.
An energetic walk to the top of the mountain will give you views that you can only dream of and if it's warm enough take a dip in the pure rock pools. Catch one of the beautiful rainbow trout or catch a glimpse of the Bearded Vulture. Why don’t you try your hand at hiking, ice climbing, skiing, or come to Oxbow with your motorbikes and a group of mates?
Oxbow is very popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Relaxation comes very easily with the sound of the flowing waterfall and river. This Lodge is gaining a reputation as the ideal place to leave the world and its stresses behind. The Lodge runs on a generator, with fireplaces in the main building that provide lots of warmth in the winter. Some of our valued visitors include Kings, Queens, and Prime Ministers. Oxbow Lodge is an African Mountain experience. Come stay with us and set your spirit free.
Oxbow Lodge came into being when two brothers with friends, were exploring the Lesotho Mountains. They were caught in a snowstorm and pitched up tents in the Oxbow area. The name OXBOW comes from the shape of the mountain nearby that resembles the bow of an ox, and also the river nearby that flows in an oxbow.
As these brothers and their friends were outdoor enthusiasts, they came back again to the same spot and made a camp, starting the oxbow campsite. Since then, in 1971, two young men from the U.K. got involved and built A-frame structures. The ownership changed many times. The road to Oxbow was very bad and resembled more of a donkey trail than a road. A four-wheel drive was a necessity, and it took a whole day’s journey from Butha-Buthe to Oxbow. The old road can still be seen going to Oxbow on the other side of the mountain.
In 1978, Costa took over the Lodge. In September 1981, the Lodge was destroyed by run-away fires. The Lodge then was built with timber and thatch. Thus the name New Oxbow Lodge came into being when Costa started to re-build the lodge. All building material was transported up to the Lodge over the years by two Nissan four-wheel drive pick-ups. Only in 1991, was a new road built and tarred, making a trip from Butha-Buthe to Oxbow possible in just under an hour's drive.
Border Posts
Caledonspoort at Fouriesburg (open 6am-10pm)
Maputsoe Bridge at Ficksburg (open 24 hours)
Sani Pass at Sani (open 8am – 4pm)
A VALID PASSPORT IS ESSENTIAL.
GPS Co-ordinates
S 28 46 15 E 28 38 20
-28.771285, 28.6377123
Distances:
Oxbow - Jo’burg - 4 hour drive
Oxbow - Durban - 5-6 hour drive
Oxbow - Sani - 168 km (4-6 hours)
Oxbow - Letseng - 44 km
Oxbow - Afri-Ski - 16 km (about 25 min drive)
Oxbow - Butha-Buthe - 68 km (about 1 hour drive)
Oxbow - Mokhotlong - 114 km (about 3-4 hour drive)
Oxbow - Lejone - 100 km (4x4 road)
Oxbow - Lejone - Katse - 150 km
Oxbow Lodge has 32 ensuite rooms