Page 22 - Landscape-Issue124

PROJECT

TEMBO TEMBO LODGE

Tembo Tembo is a private lodge at Elephant Point, an estate bordering the Kruger
National Park. The lodge is made up of an irregularly juxtaposed series of sculptural

rammed earth masses. It sits low in the landscape and has views out across the
Sabie River into the Kruger Park.

he landscape brief for the project was to enhance the bush
experience for the owners and their family, bringing nature Project Team
Tcloser and making it possible to venture out into the veld Client: Dr Don and Ilene Kramer
and experience it up close. Developer: Elephant Corporation Holdings
A series of intimate outdoor spaces was proposed close to the Main Contractor: Fry Construction
lodge. These are low-key clearings in the bush with sand floors, Architects: Nicholas Plewman Architects
enabling guests to step out of the lodge and feel immersed in the Landscape Architects: GREENinc Landscape Architects
veld. Meandering sand pathways lead to these spaces and down Landscape Contractor: Morse Landscaping
towards the river. The driveway is also sand - no hard, external
paving was used except for a series of “floating” polished concrete
panels at the front door that match the interior floors of the lodge.
Several large, container-grown trees were carefully positioned
to provide privacy for the lodge’s outdoor bathrooms, to “bed” it
into the natural landscape and to provide shade on the extensive
pool deck. Only locally indigenous plant species were used,
the site effectively being part of the game reserve. Seventeen
species of local grasses were container-grown and mass planted
immediately around the lodge. This instantly brought the veld
right up to the building, and the grouping of selected species has
a striking effect that takes full advantage of these plants’ luminous

‘Floating’ concrete panels and Wild Pear trees at the entrance to the lodge Golden Bristle Grass against the rammed earth walls of the lodge

flowers and seed-heads. Flowering bulbs, succulents and other also undertook preparation of the soils and terrain, setting out
low-growing plants were interplanted with the grasses to give of the landscape design, and assisting with irrigation design and
seasonal interest. Some 45 species of trees, shrubs and climbers installation.
were planted to enrich the bush surrounding the lodge, and a mix The project managers stipulated that the majority of plants
of local grasses was seeded to rehabilitate the peripheral parts of be endemic to the area, and the rest indigenous to South Africa.
the site. Emphasis was placed on the use of water wise plants. Large
trees of 500 – 1000 L were used for instant effect and screening
Landscape installation including Heteropyxis natalensis, Terminalia sericea, Sideroxylon
This was undertaken by Raymond Morse of Morse Landscaping, inerme and Bombeya rotundifolia. Smaller shrubs included
a qualified horticulturist with an MSc Agric degree and 40 years’ Ehretia rigida, Tecoma capensis, Barleria elegans, Leonotus, Ochna
experience in landscaping and related fields. He was responsible serrulata, Galpinia transvaalica and Flueggia virosa. Screening was
for sourcing all plants and materials, except for the large especially important for the outside showers and to screen off the
container-grown trees which were sourced by GREENinc. Morse neighbour’s house, facilities units and the main road. The view

20 Landscape SA • Issue 124 2023