The country is Botswana, and the setting is Sebothe Motel. In the African continent, Botswana is
a wilderness and wildlife extravaganza, known as the stronghold for a number of endangered
bird and mammal species. Luckily for us, the Sebothe bird which the motel is named after is
found in abundance in the Barolong farms area. Nestled amongst the untamed and untamable
vastness of nature, Sebothe Motel is located along the Ramatlabama-Kanye Road also known as
the Trans-Kalahari Highway linking South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. The Motel is located
about 1.5 km east of Metlojane village from the Good-Hope Pitsane Junction.
Metlojane village, is a typical southern Botswana small village in the sub-district of Good-Hope.
It is approximately 45 km from Mafikeng in South Africa and 40km from Lobatse in the north.
Being in the Barolong farms area, Metlojane is well known for it’s agricultural farming practices
like cattle rearing and farming crops. Having trekked from the north-west of South Africa
generations ago, the Barolong who came to settle in this area are known as those of Bo-ora
Tshidi.
The village even though small boasts a primary school, a clinic, a ‘kgotla’ or a village court and
a shopping complex, that comprises of several liquor restaurants, 4 shops, a filling station and a
butchery amongst others. The complex is located right at the beginning of the village when you
enter from the Good-Hope junction, where you can also be met by several home- based hawkers
or locally known as “dimausu”/ tuckshops. The public transport system although slow has
developed in the last years where there has been an increase in combis/taxis, there is even one
that passes right past the motel at certain times.
Having been founded 21 years ago, Sebothe Motel started merely as 4 rooms in the vastness of
the wilderness at the time. At the current moment it sits at 16 rooms, bar, banqueting hall,
reception, guard room and the swimming pool. Back in the day it used to host huge festivals at
the now defunct ‘park’, where you would have local DJs and artists gathered for a festive
occasion.
The hall seats plus or minus 100 pax for those looking to do some workshops or parties. Being
located on a farm there is ample space if you are looking to host a function here like a wedding
or a party. There is enough parking space at the reception area and also at the rooms. In
Setswana culture there is a structure called a ‘kgotla’ that is usually used by the men in the bridal
discussions just before the wedding and that is offered at Sebothe Motel. Also, if you wish to
have a ‘chesa nyama’/(BBQ) then your wish will be fulfilled. Lastly, there is a laundry service
charging different clothing items for those who are going to stay longer looking to wash their
clothes or anything else dealing with the laundry.
Having a strategic and accessible location, that is along the road we have also become an
international meeting place for our visitors coming from various places in Botswana and our
neighbors in South Africa and Namibia.
It is our pleasure to have you stay with us and we hope when you do visit, we will make your
stay in our humble place memorable enough to recommend us to those close to you.
Looking forward to seeing you!