Londolozi

Londolozi Review

Formerly a family farm and retreat since 1926, Londolozi today is synonymous with South Africa's finest game lodges and game experiences. (Londolozi is the Zulu word for "protector of all living things.") Dave and John Varty, the charismatic and media-friendly grandsons of the original owner, Charles Varty, put the lodge on the map with glamorous marketing, superb wildlife videos, pet leopards and lions, visiting celebrities, and a vision of style and comfort that grandfather Charles could never have imagined. Now the younger generation, brother-and-sister team Bronwyn and Boyd Varty, have brought their own creative stamp to the magic of Londolozi with a mission to reconnect the human spirit with the wilderness and to carry on their family's quest to honor the animal kingdom. Game abounds; the Big Five are all here, and the leopards of Londolozi are world famous. (You are guaranteed to see at least one.) There are five camps, each representing a different element in nature: Pioneer Camp (water), Tree Camp (wood), Granite Suites (rock), Varty Camp (fire), and Founders Camp (earth). Each is totally private, hidden in dense riverine forest on the banks of the Sand River. The Varty family lives on the property, and their friendliness and personal attention, along with the many staff who have been here for decades, will make you feel part of the family immediately. The central reception and curio shop are at Varty camp.