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Located in the the central region of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve which shares unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park, is the five-star, exclusive Londolozi Granite Suites.This lodge is the créme de la créme of the Londolozi portfolio, which also includes Pioneer Camp, Tree Camp, Varty Camp and Founders Camp.
Each of these exquisite camps offer access to 14 000 hectares of the best Big Five game viewing on the African Continent.
About Londolozi Private Game Reserve Kruger
It’s a feeling…
“During my long walk to freedom, I had the rare privilege to visit Londolozi. There I saw people of all races living in harmony amidst the beauty that mother nature offers. There I saw a living lion in the wild. Londolozi represents a model of the dream I cherish for the future of nature preservation in our country.”– Nelson Mandela
The pristine Londolozi Private Game Reserve is an exclusive luxury Kruger safari destination situated in the heart of the famous Sabi Sands Game Reserve on the western border of the Kruger National Park in South Africa.
Londolozi’s history is closely entwined with that of the Varty and Taylor families, conservation dynasties that have dedicated their lives to the protection of this African Eden. The Londolozi dream was conceptualized in June of 1926 by two friends standing on the banks of the Sand River.
Today, Bronwyn Varty and her brother Boyd, are the fourth-generation custodians of this magnificent property.
Londolozi (meaning “protector of all living things” in the indigenous Zulu language) is renowned for its stellar eco-tourism practices. It is also the first game reserve to receive Relais & Châteaux status. The latter is only bestowed on exclusive establishments that are committed to luxurious accommodation, fine cuisine and exceptional service. Members of the Relais & Châteaux association are united by a spirit of excellence and a common vision of looking after guests and sharing with them the true essence and culture of the region they are visiting.
Breeding herds of elephant and buffalo roam Londolozi, while white rhino and lion concentrations are among the highest recorded on the African continent. Yet, it’s the leopards of Londolozi that have brought it fame. The reserve is a premier Big Five photographic safari destination in South Africa and has always been a model for social upliftment, conservation and land restoration in the country. This model continues to evolve – from its origins as a for-profit conservation development model in the mid-1970s and a blueprint for conservation in the Mandela government of the 1990s – to where it is today, representing a modern-day social enterprise. Its values of caring for the land, the people and the wildlife has remained steadfast throughout the decades.
Londolozi Game Reserve Sabi Sabi is a magical place where naturalists, musicians, artists and rogues all combine their different skills to create a symphony of style and experience.
The Varty family values still infuse every aspect of Londolozi’s service: a personal approach, commitment to conservation, the ambience of simplicity and elegance, and the warm welcome guests receive on arrival. This is the “Londolozi feeling”.
This magnificent Londolozi Private Granite Suites Kruger is situated on the Sand River in the very heart of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. The latter forms part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a developing area that currently covers six million acres and incorporates the famous Kruger National Park. Wildlife move freely in this vast space, offering spectacular game viewing and an authentic wilderness experience.
The lodge is flanked by an extrusion of granite rocks. This natural environment is beautifully reflected in the bold decor in hues of silver, charcoal and elephant grey. Its pristine river setting offers guests breathtaking views of the Sand River – an authentic wildlife playground – which can be enjoyed from the suspended river bar or sunken cocktail lounge, or even the privacy of your suite. The double-volume thatched central lodge includes lounge areas with comfortable seating, an extensive deck and dining area, outdoor boma and central swimming pool, all with stunning river views. Londolozi Private Granite Suites is a celebration of elegance and elephants, as these gentle African giants love to while time away on the riverbank.
A total of 12 guests are accommodated in three private luxury suites, all with contemporary decor and modern amenities. Large doors and windows which open onto the river, invites the outdoors into these luxurious spaces. Each suite has a lounge and bedroom, with an en-suite bathroom with in- and outdoor shower, as well as a magnificent outdoor river-view bath. The opulent king-size beds are beautifully draped in mosquito netting and the earthy decor of the spaces create an ambience of utmost tranquillity and relaxation. Air-conditioning, a minibar, outdoor sala and private heated swimming pool add to each suite’s appeal.
Londolozi Private Granite Suites can be booked individually or as a private camp for six guests, making it ideal for honeymooning couples or small groups celebrating special occasions. Regrettably, children under 16 are not accommodated unless the camp is booked for exclusive use.
Londolozi Private Granite Suites Sabie Sands Facilities
Londolozi Private Granite Suites Kruger Main Lodge Facilities
• Lounge
• Dining room
• Deck with pool
• Boma
• Bar
• Library.
Londolozi Available Services
CUISINE
Superb cuisine is deeply ingrained in the Londolozi philosophy, and huge effort and dedication go into preparing culinary delights guaranteed to tantalise the taste buds.
Ingredients are chosen with care and reflect a deep appreciation of the earth and its bounty.
Home-grown organic produce, free-range venison, and herbs from the kitchen garden are cleverly utilised by our creative chefs to create scrumptious and healthy dishes.
The Londolozi seafood collection subscribes to the standards and requirements of the South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative and imported ingredients are kept to a minimum. Recipes at Londolozi have either been handed down through the Varty family generations, or have been created in the Londolozi kitchens. Whatever the case may be, it is a source of great pride.
Whether it is a delicious breakfast or light lunch; tasty bits during the morning drive or
sundowner treats on the afternoon drive; an indulgent High Tea or a bush picnic; a traditional family banquet around the fire or a private dinner; meals at Londolozi are festive affairs.
The lodge caters to a wide variety of dietary preferences.
STAR Retreat
Self-Transformation Adventure Retreat
Each year, Londolozi hosts the African Self-Transformation Adventure Retreat (STAR) with best-selling author and life coach, Martha Beck. The retreat aims to show participants that, as Martha puts it, nature herself has been conspiring all along to lead you to peace, purpose and to deep connection.
Download the FREE Londolozi App
The Londolozi app has been exclusively designed to enrich your Londolozi experience. Free to download on both iOS and Android devices, the app contains a wilderness checklist, 350+ HD wildlife videos and host of other features to enhance your stay. Download the app from iOS App Store or Google Play Store for Android devices.
What to pack?
The golden rule of a safari is comfort above style – although you can do both! To help make your safari experience as enjoyable as possible, we’ve put together a small list of essentials to pack.
When is the best time of year to visit?
This is a frequent question by guests with no specific answer. Every month of the year offers something unique for visitors and it’s for this reason that we’ve compiled a calendar that includes the very best aspects of each month and season.
What makes each Londolozi camp unique?
The camps at Londolozi are situated within walking distance of one another, over a distance of one kilometre on the banks of the lush Sand River.
The Londolozi eBook collection
Those with Apple devices can explore our eBook catalogue for a range of digital books which complements your Londolozi experience. Our eBook titles are educational and entertaining, and will give you an overview of a safari at Londolozi, which expert rangers will deepen and enhance during your stay.
These books are only available for download with eBooks on your Mac or iPad, and with iTunes on your computer.
Londolozi Living
Londolozi Living is a boutique safari shop offering guests a unique collection of genuine African artefacts. Revenue generated from the shop supports a number of successful community-based projects. The shop also has a unique collection of art and wildlife reference books, and stocks a range of basic safari essentials.
Stay connected
The Londolozi Blog is a platform for past, present and future guests to stay in tune with the frequency of Londolozi, no matter where they are in the world. It provides you with a ranger’s-eye view of the happenings in the bush, as well as the best of our wildlife photography. Follow the blog and bring the rhythm of the wilderness into your everyday life.
Camp activities at Londolozi Private Granite Suites Sabi Sands include – but are not limited to – an early morning and late/afternoon game drive per day, as well as guided bush walks and a group yoga class per day (at Varty Camp).
Game Drives
Professional and knowledgeable rangers and trackers with a collective total of 350 years’ experience of the African bush, accompany guests into the wilderness on open safari vehicles in search of the Big Five – elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino, as well as a wealth of smaller game species.
Early morning drives are conducted at dawn after enjoying a mug of hot coffee and a rusk. At this time of day, the bush wakes up an animal are at their most active. The fresh morning breeze and the smell of the wilderness will awaken your senses, and the anticipation of a rare sighting will definitely get the adrenalin flowing.
After a scrumptious High Tea, it is time for the afternoon/early evening safari. At this time of day, the bush starts cooling down from the onslaught of the sun as the animals prepare for the night. Watching a spectacular African sunset while sipping on a refreshing cocktail, is a memory that will stay with you forever. Then it is time for the nocturnal beasts come out to play, and catching a pair of eyes in the spotlight is a thrill like no other.
With over 16 000 hectares of traversing wilderness, each game drive is truly unique.The driving skills of the rangers will impress, as navigating ravines and thickest in pursuit of elusive species is second nature to them. The trackers will reveal all the secrets of animal tracks in a manner that will leave you mesmerized.
Most of Londolozi’s rangers and trackers grew up living off this land and are therefore experts of this pristine wilderness. Londolozi boasts two of South Africa’s only 17 master trackers, which only adds to the excellence of this team.
Bushwalks
The more adventurous can opt for a bushwalk during the winter months – May, June and July. Feeling the rhythm of Africa under your feet will captivate your senses. Finding yourself in the silence of nature, anticipating a sighting up close around the next corner, is the ultimate bush experience. This is when nature speaks to the soul. Your armed and knowledgeable guide will gently coax you into the hidden secrets of the wilderness.
Tracking
The ancient art of tracking has been uniquely preserved at Londolozi Game Reserve Kruger. The combined wisdom of the Londolozi tracking team comprises more than 200 years. During the winter months guests get the opportunity to experience this ancient art first-hand. On foot, in search of the big cats under the guidance of a master tracker, is an experience which involves all the senses and gets the adrenalin pumping.
Birdwatching
The birdlife at Londolozi represents a magic of diversity in perpetual motion, and offers bird lovers an entirely new frontier in wilderness engagement. A wide array of sunbirds, seeking nectar from the flowering aloes, is winter’s gift to the discerning birder, not to mention the other 450 species which abound in these diverse habitats. Many fine ornithologist guides reside at Londolozi, and their wealth of knowledge will astound you.
Tracking
At Londolozi Kruger the ancient art of tracking is still very much alive, and the combined wisdom of the expert tracking team totals more than 200 years. During winter guests can join these masters of their craft on foot in search of the big cats, as well as rhino, buffalo and a host of other species.
Not moving a muscle whilst slowly approaching a wild beast downwind, demands the utmost dedication and evokes all the senses. This safari experience is as good as it gets in the bush and not for the faint-hearted!
Well-being and rejuvenation
“To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.”
– William Blake
“Londolozi Life”, as it is affectionately known, is designed to reflect and harmonise with the rhythms and cycles of nature. Londolozi Life offers the chance to create balance – in body, mind and soul – through the fundamental concept that living in harmony with nature promotes healing. Londolozi falls squarely within the base area of the Nilotic Meridian, a line running north-south from pole to pole at 31 degrees, east longitude – known as “the line of first time”. This makes Londolozi a superb venue for healing and energy.
Londolozi Healing House
Bringing wildness back to wellness…
The magical Londolozi Healing House, situated at Varty Camp, embraces the ancient rhythms of nature that create an enduring space for – and is a source of – wellness. Here guests can rediscover their essence and access their deepest natural intelligence.
Londolozi Healing House Kruger combines the core safari experience with artful resting, curated bodywork and yoga, for complete rejuvenation and transformation.
Expert wellness practitioners and therapists will guide you on this path of complete restoration of body, mind and soul.
The healing house also offers those in search of complete rejuvenation a 5-day Londolozi Healing House Retreat, which is a curated experienced grounded in Londolozi’s wellness ethos. It incorporates spending reflective time in the wilderness through vision-guesting on game drives, guided meditation, intensive bodywork, customized meal planning, yoga and immersing yourself in the silence of nature.
Massage has been practised as a healing therapy for centuries, providing release from stress and promoting increased blood flow and healing. Therapies on offer at Londolozi Life include Swedish massage, aromatherapy and reiki. All therapies are also offered in the privacy of your room or deck.
Yoga
The yoga deck is situated between Founders Camp and the Private Granite Suites, and can be accessed from the camp pathway.
The natural energy of Londolozi’s pristine location, combined with tailor-made Asanas, create a yoga form suitable for all both novice and intermediate practitioners. Postures include Lyengar, Ashtanga, Jivamukti and Tripsichore.
Please consult your camp manager about class schedules.
You are free to schedule a private yoga session in your room or in the shade of your private deck. Alternatively, daily classes are held on the yoga deck beside the pool at Varty Camp.
Massage therapy
Available therapies include Swedish massage, aromatherapy and reiki. These massages have been practised as a healing therapy for centuries. They provide stress release and promote blood circulation and healing. Guest can enjoy any of these therapies on their private deck.
Fitness
Londolozi’s fully equipped gym offers running, cycling and rowing machines for those who need to burn some extra energy. The gym is situated at Varty Camp, overlooking the pool, and is open to all Londolozi guests, 24 hours a day.
Bush breakfasts & adventure picnics
In the tradition of the Hunter’s breakfast, enjoyed by the early wilderness pioneers after hours of walking through the wilderness, guests to Londolozi can indulge in a scrumptious breakfast on the riverbank, comprising of scrumptious dishes, such as gourmet salmon and scrambled eggs.
Visitors can also opt for an adventure picnic to be enjoyed in the heart of the bush. It is a truly unique way of tantalising the taste buds!
Star-gazing
At Londolozi Private Game Reserve Sabi Sands you can immerse yourself in the wonders of the universe. You can accompany highly trained rangers on a mystical late-night excursion, during which they will share the mysteries of space and the secrets of the magnificent Milky Way with you in a manner that will literally leave you star-struck.
Looking at the millions of stars, whilst enjoying a hot mug of chocolate on a clear winter’s night, will fill you with a renewed sense of appreciation for our magnificent universe!
Stories around the campfire
As Londolozi’s history is steeped in tradition, magical stories about the land abound. Here, if you listen carefully, you can still hear the whispers of the ancestors of this ancient land.
There is not better place to share these myths and mysteries of adventure safaris, than around the campfire. Just add a fine red wine and good company, and you have all the ingredients for a once-in-a-lifetime winter safari.
Each of the Londolozi camps have its own signature spirit and campfire where strangers become lifelong friends through sharing tales of the African wilderness.
Honeymoon Safari
At Londolozi newly-weds have the freedom to create their own magical story…
Apart from unsurpassed luxury and discreet personalized service, Londolozi does not leave a stone unturned to create an intimate and pristine getaway for the couple in the African wilderness.
Here the wilderness finds away into your heart and sets the tone for the rest of your life together.
A Londolozi honeymoon is not simply a holiday. It is a pinnacle life moment, an experience that lives on in you forever.
The newly-weds are transported in their own “chariot” – a shortwheel-base safari vehicle fitted with a comfy couch for two. It has its own dedicated ranger, which affords the couple the freedom to design their own safari experience, whether day or night. This small vehicle easily transverses hidden pockets and secret places in the bush.
The couple can enhance their experience by indulging in private massages, bush yoga, meditative walks, champagne sunsets and full-moon bush dinners – the possibilities are endless
Included in the Honeymoon Safari Rates:
* The honeymoon vehicle can be pre-booked prior to your arrival and is available to all the Londolozi camps. A minimum three-night stay is recommended in order to get the most out of your honeymoon experience.
Photographic Safari
A fusion of ancient wisdom, modern technology and nature
Londolozi is renowned as a pristine location for wildlife photography, with special emphasis on the big cats. It is a unsurpassed photographic theatre where avid photographers can choose from a number of options to enhance their skills:
• A private vehicle
A private safari vehicle can be reserved for individuals and families. A dedicated ranger- and tracker team will focus on tailoring the safari experience around guests’ specific needs and interests (e.g. birding, botany, big cats, photography etc.). This is ideal for experienced safari-enthusiasts or those who prefer a little more privacy. It comprises of one morning and one afternoon game drive per day in the company of a dedicated ranger and tracker.
• The Londolozi Wildlife Photographic Workshop
Perfect for novice and enthusiast photographers who wants to capture that perfect image on their safari. A photographic tutor who will assist you in both post-processing and editing.
Included in the photographic workshop:
– the camera and best settings
– vehicle positioning
– the utilization of light (specifically in low-light conditions)
– post processing and image organization
• The Photographic Studio
The Photographic Studio – on location at Londolozi- is very popular with guests, as it enables them to direct and produce their own creative work. With tuition from a qualified light-room instructor, you can spend time in-between game drives editing and printing your best safari shots on wide-format canvas or high-quality photo paper, and save the final edited shots on a memory stick.
Guests can also rent a variety of professional-level photographic bodies, lenses and accessories which eliminate the need for carrying your own heavy camera gear. Now it’s as simple as pre-booking your gear and finding it ready for use upon your arrival at the lodge.
Londolozi Photographic Studio at a glance:
• Open daily (booking required)
• Edit your images using Lightroom CC on the latest wide-screen retina-display iMacs – an incredible process that would enhance any wildlife photo
• Print your personal images onto wide-format canvas or photo paper
• Take your edited shots with you on a memory stick.
• Children on Safari
“Teaching children about the natural world should be seen as one of the most important events in their lives – Thomas Berry
Family matters at Londolozi. Over the past century, four generations have adventured, dreamed and discovered here. This land is a child’s dream come true, and we delight in being able to share its secrets with the next generation.
The Londolozi Cubs Programme fills each day with fun and fascination, and our “young rangers” will gain far more than just an understanding of their role in managing and conserving Africa’s incredible biodiversity. At Londolozi, children learn about themselves, bush survival and other cultures, and about building friendships and trust. As it is the case for all cubs, the bush adventure begins in the safety of the den. The Cubs Den is designed for pure delight: it has fish ponds to splash around in, Land Rovers to “drive”, camping tents, and an educational centre where wildlife takes centre-stage.
A designated cub coach, who is an expert naturalist overseeing all the kids’ activities, will keep the young ones entertained with a wide variety of activities:
Activities include:
* Children of six years and older welcome at Varty, Founders and Pioneer Camps, but no children under the age of 16 are allowed at Private Granite and Tree Camps, except when camps are booked for exclusive use.
• The Londolozi Village Walk
In the footsteps of Nelson Mandela…
“During my long walk to freedom, I had the rare privilege to visit Londolozi. There I saw people of all races living in harmony amidst the beauty that mother nature offers.” – Nelson Mandela
The Londolozi Freedom’s Way art installation has been specifically designed to focus attention on the values which the biggest statesman of all times, the iconic Nelson Mandela, held close to his heart. Guests are invited to participate in the Londolozi village walk, which is a short walk starting at Varty Camp. It allows the walkers to interact with families and staff members who have been part of Londolozi for more than 30 years,as a symbolic way of creating and fostering human bonds.
The walk gives guests an intimate insight into the history and values upheld at Londolozi, by traversing a range of interesting sites, such as the Elders Village, the Learning Centre and the Freedom’s Way art installation by Simon Max Banister, to name but a few. You will also have the opportunity to plant a tree in aid of the Good Work Foundation. It is a symbolic activity to honour and promote the values which this great statesman stood for.
Londolozi Private Game Reserve Kruger
Activities on-site (some activities may be seasonal)
Activities Nearby
Londolozi is situated in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, bordering the Kruger National Park in the Mpumalanga (Lowveld) province, South Africa. There are many ways to get to Londolozi, a few of which we have detailed below for your convenience:
By road:
• Two-and-a-half-hour transfer from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) in Mbombela (Nelspruit) to Londolozi, available upon request.
• A an easy six-hour drive on national roads from Johannesburg (500km).
• The Sabi Sand Game Reserve levies a vehicle entrance fee of ZAR280.00 per vehicle and ZAR120.00 per occupant, as well as any individual arriving by air (subject to change).
• Access by road through Newington Gate only.
By air:
Scheduled flights
Federal Air operates a daily flight from OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) in Johannesburg to the Londolozi Airstrip, which is a five-minute drive from the camp.
Flights from Skukuza
Get to into the heart of the African bush with daily direct flights with Airlink from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Nelspruit KMIA and Skukuza Airport, the gateway to the Kruger National Park and the private game lodges. A short, small-aircraft transfer takes you to Londolozi’s doorstep on Airlink’s Lodge Link Service to the Londolozi Airstrip.
Charter flights
• Private charters are available upon request
• Helicopter transfers upon request
• Privately owned aircraft.
Copyright © MoAfrika Tours 2024
MoAfrika tours and the Kruger Safari Co. are destination management companies (DMC) and are not entities of the South African National Parks Board (SANparks).