Lentswelemoriti – Faith and History

Lentswelemoriti is shaped by a religious history: the practice of faith, the founding of a village, and the place’s significance in Babirwa history give it a distinctive cultural profile. The wider destination of Central District adds another focus: the landscape of the Tswapong Hills, with its ridges, gorges, and waterfalls. Local history and nature are two distinct themes to guide your travel plans.

Faith, History, and Community

A historical account dated 3 October 2024 tells how members of the St Engenas Zion Christian Church from Ramotswa and Mochudi came to Lentswelemoriti to practise their faith freely. Another historical account, published on 25 April 2016, describes how St Engenas of the Zion Christian Church campaigned to establish a village in the middle of a game reserve. The founding met with colonial opposition.

A historical and cultural account dated 25 April 2016 describes Lentswelemoriti as a holy place and a church prayer site. The place is also considered particularly significant to Babirwa history. Religious significance and local history are closely intertwined in understanding this destination.

Community-based tourism is also part of this history. A report published in 2025 describes MOLEMA Bush Camp as a community-run tourism initiative established in 2000 for Motlhabaneng, Lentswelemoriti, and Mathathane. According to the report, the camp is a joint venture between these three villages and the tourism businesses Tuli Safari Lodge and Talana Farms. Alongside the spiritual heritage, this community-led tourism initiative is another distinct aspect of the place.

Landscapes and Gorges in Central District

In the wider destination of Central District, the Tswapong Hills Cultural Landscape encompasses a mountain range about 70 km long and about 15 km wide. It rises around 400 m above its surroundings. Deep gorges divide the Tswapong Hills and shape the character of the landscape.

Natural freshwater springs feed rivers and streams, some of which are seasonal. Streams form waterfalls with deep, moss-fringed pools. During heavier rains, waterfalls form and flow into lagoons. The Tswapong Hills thus bring together springs, seasonal waterways, and varied waterfall landscapes.

Moremi Gorge can be reached on foot via a steep climb and is the source of three permanent waterfalls. The first two form large waterholes. The uppermost waterfall is 10 metres high and plunges over rock ledges into a densely vegetated lagoon. The gorge holds great religious and spiritual significance for the local community; the Department of National Museums and Monuments declared it a National Monument.

Another gorge is Goo-Moremi Gorge at the northern end of the Tswapong Hills, next to Manonnye-Moremi Gorge. It is also considered a place for rock climbing. Moremi Gorge combines a steep climb with permanent waterfalls and waterholes; Goo-Moremi Gorge offers a different way to experience nature within the wider destination.

Travel Planning Tips

Before entering the Tswapong Hills, visitors are politely advised to ask the local Headman for permission. Make this request locally before your visit.

When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, the focus of your trip can help guide you: would you like to explore Lentswelemoriti’s religious history and its connection to the Babirwa, or are the landscapes and waterfalls of the Tswapong Hills in the wider Central District your priority? Tailor your search to the themes you would like to focus on.

Discover more destinations: Mahalapye, Letlhakane, Mathathane, Palapye, Nata, Selibe-Phikwe

Back to the wider travel overview: Central District.