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Nature and luxury combined
Londolozi's Granite Suites
Outside bath, Londolozi's Granite Suites.
© Londolozi
Did you know?
Londolozi pioneered South Africa's very first zero-emission safari vehicle.
Londolozi is a name of legend among South African luxury game lodges.
And with good reason: it was among the 1st pioneering private game reserves to enter the ecotourism industry; its standards for nature interpretation and interaction are among the highest in the industry; and it is still owned by the Varty family – well known for their wildlife documentaries.
Londolozi was also the 1st game reserve in the world to be accredited by the prestigious Relais & Chateaux group.
But it is probably most famous for its leopard sightings – starting in 1979 when John Varty and Elmon Mhlongo began capturing the life of an unusually laid-back leopard mother. Three decades later, the original documentary has sparked an ongoing study off Londolozi's leopards, and the lineages are followed and noted with a genealogist's passion.
Londolozi's 14 000 hectares, part of the Sabi Sand Reserve adjacent to the world-famous Kruger National Park, host 5 lodges with unprecedented levels of luxury, space and privacy – Tree Camp, Pioneer Camp, Varty Camp, Founders Camp, and the crème de la crème, the Granite Suites.
The latter are built on a spectacular outcrop of granite, on the banks of the perennial Sand River.
There are only 3 suites, furnished in shades of silver and charcoal. They are sophisticated but allow for untrammelled contact with nature. Huge picture windows open onto a view of the Sand River.
And then there are the famous river baths.
Aside from a luxurious bathroom, you can also immerse yourself in a large bath on the river's banks. There is no better way to feel at 1 with nature and the riverine ecosystem than to be in warm, scented water with the river rush close by and a bird singing from a sheltering ebony tree.
If you're looking for a different kind of immersion, each suite also has its own heated plunge pool.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Londolozi Private Game Reserve
Tel: +27 (0)11 280 6655
Fax: +27 (0)11 289 6656
Email: news@londolozi.co.za
How to get here
There are daily flights from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport to Londolozi's airstrip via Federal Air. There are also daily flights from Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town to the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport near Nelspruit. From there, you can hire a car for the 2,5-hour drive, or book a shuttle to Londolozi.
You could also enquire about charter flights and helicopter transfers.
If you're driving yourself, it's a 5- or 6-hour trip from Johannesburg. Londolozi will provide you with specific directions.
Tours to do
Ask about visiting a nearby Shangaan village and its learning centre.
What will it cost
Overnight rates at Londolozi's Granite Suites are R10 950 per person per night. If you say longer than 3 nights, the rates come down to R10 400.
Length of stay
Three nights or even more would be ideal; 2 nights if you're pressed for time.
What to pack
Londolozi is a photographic feast. Don't forget your camera, charger, memory cards and other accoutrements.
What to eat
The food is delicious. Where possible, it is organic or harvested from the kitchen vegetable garden. Any fish dishes are ethically chosen from the Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative green list. Imported items are kept to a minimum.
What's happening
If you're interested in honing your photographic skills, you may want to enquire about a specialised photographic safari.
There is a glorious wellness centre with expert masseuses.
If you want to keep fit, ask about options for yoga, bush running, day walks and the Fitness Room (which includes treadmills and a large swimming pool).
Other activities include fishing, animal tracking and clay pigeon shooting.