Motebong lodge is located on what was a construction staff residential camp during the construction of the Katse dam’s transfer tunnel, following the signing of the Lesotho Highlands water project treaty in 1986. The camp has now been converted to a comfortable guest accommodation with a restaurant serving choice dishes and a well-stocked bar while retaining features that reflect its rich history.
Located on the banks of the Katse dam, the camp provided an exciting water sports opportunities for the only guest as the facility with direct access to Katse dam.
Motebong Lodge is situated just outside the town of Ha Lejone +- 45 kilometers before the Katse Dam.
Motebong lodge not only provides comfortable guest accommodation, but is also an ideal location for high altitude training and has hosted teams such as the SA rowing Olympics team for its high altitude training camps since 2013. Because of the peaceful and quite surrounding’s, Motebong is also ideal for hosting team building sessions and workshops. The scenic surroundings also make it ideal for landscape photography and location for various television productions – the prize-winning movie company Giant films TV shot a Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) campaign from the surrounding sites.
Motebong Lodge is located on the shores of the Katse Dam, with direct access to the dam for fishing and boating. The lodge has fully equipped self catering units. There is also a Restaurant and bar on the premises.While staying with us guests can go hiking, horse riding and go on a guided tour of the Katse Dam.A sun-downer boat cruise can be enjoyed by the family and friends. (CAMP)The Ha Lejone camp was constructed in 1990, ahead of the start of the transfer tunnel construction in 1991. The camp was necessary because, with a population of fewer than10,000 people, Ha Lejone simply had no capacity to house the hundreds of staff from the construction companies and their families. With the comfort of staff in mind, the camp accommodation is designed for maximum energy efficiency, given the harsh winter conditions.
With the comfort of staff in mind, the camp accommodation is designed for maximum energy efficiency, given the harsh winter conditions. The houses are mostly north facing and are insulated to maximize passive heating. In addition, all family units are equipped with anthracite heaters to protect them against the harsh winters of the Lesotho Highlands.The camp was self-sufficient with a tuck-shop for essential supplies, a clinic with access to doctors and supported by a trauma unit in Hlotse, a pre-school and a primary school on-site. Self-sufficiency in the camp was necessary as there was only one general dealer and a few smaller stores (all with a limited range of products) for Ha Lejone and surrounding villages. Even after Mafika Lisiu pass was completed, Ha Lejone remained largely un-serviced and the terrain made regular trips to the lowlands un-attractive.Because of the lack of proper roads in the highlands prior to the LHWP, travel was mainly by horse or by aircraft – serviced by Basutair from 1961 that was owned Richard Southworth and was subsequently bought by the Government for M100,000 in 1969 and named Lesotho Airways. Tales told by pilots of the flying the mountain shuttles are legendary and often hilarious! Hand luggage often consisted of items such as live chickens, pumpkins etc. and these did not rank as either funny or unusual! In those days, it was the norm for people living in these remote areas to have been on an aircraft before they had been in a motor vehicle.Travel into the highlands changed dramatically with the completion of the tarred road in 1990, and so did human practices. The new road featuring the Mafika Lisiu pass at 3090m allowed the transport of aggregates, concrete and other much needed construction materials and equipment for the dam project. It was only with the completion of this road that the residents of Ha Lejone and other villages saw sedans and mini-bus vehicles in their areas. An unintended consequences of the new roads was the demise of the established general dealer businesses run by traders with access to extreme 4×4 trucks to transport their supplies – older folk still have fond memories of the old Mercedes 1517 4×4 truck and the Haflinger 4×4 coming over the formidable Ha Koasa pass, taking half-a-day to cover 40km. People now travelled to experience the novelty of town shopping in the low lands.
