Skip to content
Two MICHELIN Keys for the forgotten mountains

Luvhondo — Limpopo, South Africa

Two MICHELIN Keys for the forgotten mountains

September 23, 2026Sarah Dusek

General

We built from scratch

I am not sure there are many moments in building something from scratch that stop you in your tracks quite like this one.

Yesterday, as I boarded a flight for New York, I heard the news: Few & Far Luvhondo had been awarded Two MICHELIN Keys IN 2026 by the MICHELIN Guide!

MICHELIN Keys are to hotels what MICHELIN Stars are to restaurants.

When we started Luvhondo, Jacob and I bet on a place most of the world had never heard of. The Soutpansberg mountains. A wild, beautiful and incredibly special corner of South Africa that had been largely overlooked. We believed that if we could build something extraordinary here, it should be more than operating a lodge. We could help put the Soutpansberg on the map.

We built from scratch
MICHELIN Two Keys 2026 Square Red

The MICHELIN Guide describes two Keys as “an exceptional stay”. To be precise: “A hotel that’s unique in every way, where a memorable experience is always a guarantee. A hotel of character and charm, run with obvious pride and considerable care.”

That last part means a lot to me. Luvhondo was never intended to be just another beautiful lodge. We wanted to create a space where untamed wilderness, active conservation, Venda culture, foraged food, sustainable design and deeply personal hospitality come together.

Ultimately, Luvhondo is a catalyst for something much bigger. A connected wilderness. Wildlife returning to the mountains. A 50-year commitment to protect 100 000 hectares of land and sequester 100 000 tonnes of carbon annually. Communities benefiting from a thriving conservation economy. 

We want this destination to become known around the world, not because we told people it was special, but because they came here and experienced it for themselves.

372 A1423

That is why we recently established the Few & Far Foundation. We believe hospitality must help protect the wild places that make what we do possible. But we cannot do this alone.

Come and discover the Soutpansberg mountains for yourself. Tell someone about Few & Far Luvhondo. If you work in travel, send your curious and adventurous travellers our way. We need your support to thrive.

I am enormously grateful to the team who pour so much of themselves into Luvhondo, to discerning Relais & Châteaux who recognised us first and to everyone who believed in this slightly crazy idea before we made headlines.

Earning Two MICHELIN Keys in 2026 is an incredible milestone. To me, it feels like a beginning. The Soutpansberg mountains deserve to be known. This is another step in making sure they are.

Sarah Dusek

Sarah Dusek

Owner and manager

Share:

Related Stories

The secrets of the baobabs

The secrets of the baobabs

The morning air in the Soutpansberg is sharp. Assistant head guide at Few & Far Luvhondo Moses Maponya stops on the red sandstone trail, boot…

Read All Stories