I WAS told that we were sharing the lodge with a senior government minister and his wife. Nearby, Deputy President Kgalema Montlante was hosting the National Editors' Forum in tranquil conditions.

At a third lodge, barely 100metres from the lovely Usiba Lodge, we were told, Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai was holding an indaba with some of his senior officials.

And that was not all. We were also told that President Jacob Zuma - he was on leave recently - found peace and tranquility in the magnificent Magaliesberg.

With the exception of President Zuma's stay, all the events were taking place on the same Saturday within a 5km radius.

Indeed, Magaliesberg has become a very popular retreat, hideout or whatever else you want to call it, for South Africa's elite.

Politicians, businesspeople and young professionals are escaping to this tranquil part of Gauteng to get away from the pressures of city life.

Very conveniently situated and only about an hour's drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Magaliesberg is a place of serenity.

One man with vision, Sipho Sibeko, had the sense to buy a piece of land with only a two-roomed farmhouse on it.

Having acquired the land he decided to build a lovely lodge with the best facilities for relaxation.

He decided to call his beautiful holiday home Usiba Lodge. This is the only black-owned lodge among the 52-odd lodges in the area.

Usiba Lodge has become very popular with city slickers and city-weary people.

The lodge is a haven of tranquility set in a magnificent area

It also offers one of the best examples of true South African hospitality.

The name of the lodge is an isiZulu word for feather.

According to Zulu tradition feathers are important. They are used to cleanse the aura and chakras of people.

With nature as a perfect backdrop, the Usiba Lodge provides superb accommodation in all 19 lovely rooms.

"It was not easy in the beginning," Sibeko points out. "I bought this piece of land and it only had two rooms on it, which the farm owner and his family used. It took three years to build the lodge.

"We have been operating for the past two years.

"There are two conference rooms and a spa on the property. And the dam is very popular with people who enjoy fishing or just like to relax near water.

"Our restaurant is also a top attraction because of the fresh soul food we serve there."

While we were in the restaurant we enjoyed good food and good service, just as Sibeko had promised . And the prices will not land you in poverty .

It is places such as Usiba Lodge in the Magaliesberg - and other areas such as the Vaal and Maropeng - that the Gauteng Tourism Authority, under new chief executive Dawn Robertson, and Premier Nomvula Makonyane and her government are marketing for domestic tourists.

"We have discovered that domestic tourism has the potential to grow," Robertson said.

"The problem is that a lot of people are not aware of the interesting places around Gauteng, right on their door step.

"That is why we came up with the Amazing Place Gauteng campaign, to promote these places to domestic tourists.

"People do not have to travel far and out of Gauteng to enjoy the best that the country has to offer."

The Magaliesberg and its plethora of beautiful and very comfortable lodges, such as Usiba Lodge, are central to the success of the Amazing Place Gauteng campaign.

It appears as if politicians, businesspeople and ordinary citizens have all realised that the extraordinary beauty of the Magaliesberg is just the place to visit for true relaxation and peace of mind.