Kathryn and Peter Straughan are the General Managers at Leshiba Wilderness, a private wildlife and ecotourism destination located on top of the Soutpansberg Mountains in the Limpopo region of South Africa. On a day to day basis Peter is in charge of reserve management and Kathryn is in charge of hospitality.

Featuring rock paintings that were made by local bushmen up to 2000 years ago, Leshiba affords the opportunity to wander among 380 species of indigenous trees and spot 93 documented mammal species, spread across 2500ha of ancient African Wilderness. There’s the chance to learn about local Venda culture and enjoy stargazing, self improvement workshops and hiking, swimming and cycling.

They tell host Si Willmore about the arrival to Leshiba that is a crucial part of the experience as well activities on offer: besides the classic hiking and biking, a huge part of the experience centres around the rock art trail that features Bushman (San) paintings. And, naturally, safari game drives are a big draw so Peter tells us what animals we can we expect to see.

Kathryn talks about the accommodation which is set in an old Venda village, as well as her work in transformational tourism and tourism that is not focused solely on a safari experience. Kathryn and Peter share tips and advice for people thinking about visiting Limpopo including the Ribolo Art Route, culture and archaeology, birding, and visiting Mapungubwe and Kruger national parks.

In the JRNY Podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry.

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