The Water Security for the Batlokoa Community Owned Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge project was designed to address critical water challenges faced by the Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge, a community-owned tourism facility located in a remote, mountainous region of South Africa. The lodge plays a vital role in local ecotourism and is a key source of income for the Batlokoa community.
Given the lodge’s location, reliable access to water is essential for its operations, which directly serves both local livelihoods and conservation efforts. The project’s primary objective was to ensure long-term water security, thereby supporting the lodge’s sustainability and the surrounding community’s economic resilience. The project delivered several key infrastructure improvements to enhance water management at the lodge. First, it installed a 2.5-kilometer electrical cable connection from the lodge’s generator to the water pump at a nearby dam, ensuring a consistent water supply despite frequent power outages caused by load-shedding. Second, the lodge’s water storage capacity was expanded from 40,000 liters to 110,000 liters through the addition of eight new water tanks. This additional storage provided a buffer against water shortages, which are common during the dry season. Third, a borehole was equipped to serve as an emergency backup water source, further securing the lodge’s water supply during periods of drought or when the dam runs dry.

In addition to these infrastructure upgrades, the project implemented a comprehensive water purification system to provide safe drinking water for both guests and staff at the lodge. This system ensures that the lodge meets health and safety standards, enhancing the overall guest experience and supporting the lodge’s reputation as a sustainable ecotourism destination. The successful installation of this system marked a significant milestone in securing the lodge’s water needs for the foreseeable future. The project also had a positive impact on the local economy. Approximately 85% of the project’s budget - around € 34,000 - was spent in the local economy, employing local contractors and labor from nearby communities such as Phuthaditjhaba. In addition to creating jobs during the construction phase, the project has helped improve the long-term viability of the lodge, which provides ongoing employment and supports local businesses that rely on tourism. 

The Batlokoa community, which owns the lodge, has greatly benefited from these improvements, ensuring that the lodge remains a valuable asset for both economic and cultural development. By securing water access, the project has strengthened the Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge’s capacity to withstand environmental and infrastructure challenges, particularly due to recurring droughts and power shortages. This enhanced resilience not only supports the lodge’s operations but also contributes to the broader conservation goals of the area by maintaining the lodge as a hub for ecotourism. As a next step, the lodge plans to seek further funding to address energy security issues, aiming to install a holistic off-grid energy solution to complement the water infrastructure improvements made under this project. In 2022, Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge was selected as the best Responsible
Tourism destination in the world by the WTM Responsible Tourism Awards. Witsieshoek was chosen from the 26 finalists representing 21 countries having won Gold in the category “Local Economic Benefit’’ to get into the final group.

Project Outputs:

• Installation of 2.5 km electrical cable to connect water pump at the dam
• Supply and installation of 6 x 10000l water storage tanks at the lodge and reticulation to existing water supply system
• Supply and installation of solar pump and water piping for the newly drilled borehole for the community lodge