You are sitting around a fire, a hot drink in your hand, blanket over your legs, listening to the quiet laughter of loved ones, the night sky glistening with stars, the stresses of the world forgotten. This could be you, if you carved out time to check in for a stay at Eco Karoo Lodge in South Africa’s Free State province.

The Lodge

The Eco Karoo Lodge is a self-catering eco-friendly lodge nestled in the small, sheep farming town of Luckhoff in the Karoo, Free State. Three private ‘eco suites’ make up the lodge, accommodating four guests each. It is the perfect getaway for a group of friends, a family or even couples looking to enjoy a double-date vacation. With a less than two-hour drive from Bloemfontein or Kimberley, and only a 70km detour between Johannesburg and Cape Town, it is the perfect vacation stop for those looking for quiet and serenity in the Karoo.

“Guests can now share in the experience of this untouched solace, finding respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life,” says Estee Viljoen, the Marketing Manager for the lodge. Each suite consists of two bedrooms, each with its own fireplace, a bathroom with an outdoor and indoor shower, plus a separate toilet stall. The suites are designed to offer panoramic views of the expansive Karoo landscape. So, from your bed or the veranda, you can be mesmerised by the mist or fog lingering over the plains during the cold winter mornings, or be bathed in the warm hues of the rising or setting sun. And if you are lucky, you might even see an antelope or two.

An eco-friendly getaway

The lodge is entirely off-grid. It is powered by solar power, but also emphasises the use of natural lighting in its design, making it extremely energy efficient. From its very beginning, the lodge aimed to minimise its ecological footprint through environmentally friendly architecture and as far as possible, by using locally sourced materials during the building process.

Even the interior decor embraces local craftsmanship, specifically designed and made by local  ntrepreneurs for the lodge. As Viljoen states, “the vision was to use what the Karoo has to offer.”

“With the abundance of sun and natural spring water from a nearby underground aquifer, going ‘eco’ was the obvious choice,” she adds.

Amenities & Activities

Yet, the Eco Karoo Lodge showcases that eco-friendly does not equate to sacrificing comfort. Beyond not having to worry about loadshedding, the lodge offers other amenities such as a braai area, a swimming pool and even conferencing facilities. There is also a fire pit, enclosed by a cozy, cushioned seating area. Other shared spaces include a lounge and a kitchen with all the utilities and utensils you will need to prepare your self-catered daily meals.

And as the cooler temperatures provide a refreshing respite from the heat of summer, winter is also the perfect time to explore the lodge’s surrounding areas. Outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain bike riding and even nature walks, are more comfortable during the cold season. And with winter skies the best time for star gazing, huddling with friends and family around a fire sets the perfect  cene for a dazzling display of the Milky Way.

So, rather than dreading loadshedding stages, shivering through cold winter nights in thedark, why not make this winter one to explore the Karoo instead?

To learn more about Eco Karoo Mountain Lodge, visit https://www.ecokaroo.com/