Text and Photos : Anna Spenceley
Covane Community lodge lies at the top of an escarpment overlooking the stunning Massingir Dam on the western border of Mozambique. The lodge is close to Limpopo National Park and the new Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, an initiative that joins national parks in Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Run by seven members of the community, the tranquil rustic lodge is located about 14 km from Massingir Township, and opened in May 2004. The lodge has two 5-bed chalets, two traditional 2-bed chalets, three 3-bed tents, and additional space for people to camp. The lodge offers traditional Shangaan dances ; traditional food ; hiking trails where visitors can learn about local cultural sites and medicinal plants ; village visits including a consultation with a traditional healer ; and boat trips with fishermen on the Massingir Dam where you learn the traditional fishing practices, and have the opportunity to see birds, crocodiles and hippos. Local people provide all of these services to visitors, and also sell their fresh produce to the lodge restaurant. Tourists will find self-catering facilities, a restaurant, a local craft shop, ablutions and a rustic seating area overlooking the Massingir dam – perfect for watching the sunset.
The Lodge was financed jointly by USAID and the Swiss NGO Helvetas in 2002, but is owned by the Canhane community. Although there was initially a low level of awareness of tourism, Helvetas talked to the people about community-based tourism, potential locations for a lodge, the Mozambican land law and land delimination. The community identified a suitable location and at the suggestion of Helvetas, organised a steering committee of ten locally elected volunteers. Helvetas facilitated the delimitation of an area of 7 024 hectares so that _ the community ‘owned’ the land the lodge was to be built on, and local people were employed to construct the lodge. Helvetas then organised a constitution for the association to address the financial responsibilities of both the Canhane community and Helvetas.
In addition to helping the community to obtain their tourism license, marketing and providing training, Helvetas has agreed to work with the Canhane for three years from 2004. At the end of this period they intend to leave if the community are competent in running the camp, or alternatively help them to contract a private operator to assist them. Helvetas currently market the lodge on the community’s behalf, buy advertising in local papers, have placed their number in the telephone directory and a Mozambique tourist guide, and promote Covane through tourism agencies. A website is also being planned. Financial management is also undertaken by Helvetas, including payment of salaries.
During the first year of operation Helvetas distributed profits to the Canhane community on two occasions, and the villagers are currently constructing a new schoolroom with the money.
Contact
Salamao Valoi
Covane Community Lodge
Lodge phone : 82-760-7830
Home phone : 82-545-4457
Cellphone : +258 82 9607830
Web site : http://covanelodge.com
Languages : Portuguese and English
Geraldo Palalane
Helvetas
Tel : +258 1 321595 / 311477
Cellphone : +258 82 4620200
Fax : +258 1 321596
Email : helmoz@tvcabo.co.mz
Maikel (Michael) Cossa, Chef
Email : cossamahotasservice2@gmail.com
Cell phone : 82-512-0313
Michael is currently working on an AIDS project to help children through the Canhane school.