Located on the outskirts of Francistown is a three star tranquil and picturesque country hotel and conference centre that has, for some time, been the pride of the city.
From humble beginnings of only 16 rooms, Tati River Lodge has grown to become one of Francistown‘s leading hotel and conferencing centers, presently boasting of 80 rooms with, among other things, air conditioning and DSTV, and a homely restaurant which offers traditional cuisine influenced by the many African flavours.
Apart from fully serviced camping facilities, the lodge also offers top of the range conference facilities.
First is the 60-seater Morojwa and Morula banqueting and conferencing facilities, and the 150-seater Motswere conference room. The pride of Tati River Lodge is the 300-500-seater Mowana conference centre.
Tati River Lodge is primarily influenced by traditional African culture and this is evident in the unique African ambience of the lodge’s scenario and room setting, the cuisine and the traditional Letlhafula festival that the lodge hosts regularly.
Acting Managing Director, William Balekeng, could not have put it better when he said that “our hotel is based on the traditional theme and it is only fitting that we base our scenery and even our operations on the traditional principles of botho”.
He was speaking at a recent ceremony at which Tati River Lodge was handing over two P3000 cheques to the Lephoi Children’s Centre and Nlisi Sesinyi, a destitute student in Francistown.
“It is through the goodwill of Batswana that we have managed to grow from humble beginnings to a leading hotel and conferencing centre in the north.
Therefore, it is only fitting that we also extend a helping hand to the less fortunate members of our community as espoused in Setswana tradition on which our institution was founded,” added Balekeng.
Tati River Lodge Sales and Marketing Manager Shasha Radinoga also said that it is imperative that every member of society should strive to give the little extra that they have to help the less privileged members of the community, in line with Botswana‘s Vision 2016 ideal of a compassionate and caring nation.
For his part, the Administrator of Lephoi Children’s Centre, Ephraim Ngoma, said that they are honoured that Tati River Lodge had found it fitting to provide assistance to their institution. He revealed that it is not the first time that the lodge has provided assistance to the centre, especially since the proprietors, the Khupes, are members of the UCCSA.
Lephoi is a residence facility housing over 50 children from all over Botswana. It is the brainchild of the UCCSA who then partnered with government through the Ministry of Education and the Francistown City Council. The centre also networks with teachers who provide teaching facilities at government schools, parenting, mentoring and guidance.
“It is heartening that more and more Batswana are assuming an active role in assisting the disabled communities,” said Ngoma.
He reassured the Tati River Lodge management that their donations would be put to good use as the welfare of the children comes first.
Handing over a P3000 cheque to Nlisi Sesinyi, an official from the Social and Community Development department at the Francistown City Council encouraged the recipient to learn from the goodwill of Batswana.
“This gift is meant to encourage you to strive on despite all the hardships that you might be facing. You must learn from the generosity of these people and study hard so that you can also extend a helping hand to other Batswana in future,” he said.
