Case study
Qambathi Mountain Lodge: proof from my own front door
Qambathi Mountain Lodge is my own business. Client case studies will follow once clients agree to be named.
Everything Maritz & Co offers, I've had to do first at Qambathi, in the Kamberg Valley in the KZN Drakensberg. Here's what that looked like.
At a glance
| Property | Qambathi Mountain Lodge, Kamberg, KZN Drakensberg |
|---|---|
| Owned and run by Stephen since | 2019 (a struggling business when he took over) |
| Team | About 15 staff |
| Power | 100% off-grid solar, R3.5m system installed in 2023 |
| Previous electricity cost | About R30,000 a month from Eskom |
| Water | Gravity-fed spring supply |
| Food | Local sourcing at the heart of the kitchen |
| Reservations | PMS moved from InnStyle to RoomRaccoon, October 2026 |
| Recognition | Sustainability award, Gastronomy Tourism Awards 2026 (19 October 2026) |
1. The starting point
When I took over Qambathi in 2019, it was a struggling business. I've run it hands-on since, leading every department, and today it employs about 15 staff. That's the background to my Rescue and turnaround and Operational audit services.
2. Taking the lodge off-grid
The problem. We were paying Eskom about R30,000 a month, or roughly R360,000 a year, for a lodge that needs the lights, kitchen and hot water to keep working whatever the grid is doing.
What I did. In 2023 I planned and installed a R3.5 million solar system that took the lodge 100% off-grid.
What I learnt, and now share with clients:
- Start with 12 months of bills and your loads, not with a quote.
- Cut waste first. Every kilowatt you don't need is panels and batteries you don't have to buy.
- Write your own brief, so installers quote like for like.
- Keep someone on the owner's side during installation.
Energy advice now sits inside my New property set-up and Operational audit work. Design sign-off and installation always stay with registered installers and electricians.
3. Water and local sourcing
Qambathi runs on a gravity-fed spring water supply, and local sourcing is at the heart of the kitchen. When guests eat food from the valley, their spend stays in the valley, and the story on the plate is one a city hotel can't copy. It's a big part of what guests remember.
4. Changing the reservations system
In October 2026 I moved Qambathi's property management system from InnStyle to RoomRaccoon, including the channel connections. It's the same work I offer in Reservations and revenue management, done first on my own business.
5. Recognition
On 19 October 2026 Qambathi Mountain Lodge won the Sustainability award at the Gastronomy Tourism Awards 2026. The award belongs to the Qambathi team and reflects choices made every day, not a single project.
What this means for your property
You don't need to go fully off-grid or win an award to benefit. Most properties need a clear look at their costs, their guest experience and their bookings, and a plan they can afford. That's what Maritz & Co does.