We were at Londolozi for three days and, honestly, those three days were the best days of our lives! The colours, the sounds, the scents, the natural elegance of every living thing restored and changed us all. The wonderful staff were gracious and welcoming. We felt like family. We traveled to Africa with four of our best friends- the Sharlips and the Myers- and will return with our adult children.
Everywhere we looked there was inspiration, with more that keeps coming as we peruse our many photos. I enjoyed my time so much that I even wrote a poem about some of the feelings and experiences of our bushveld stay.
I Signed Up For A Dream
Photograph by Chris Kane-Berman
Not knowing
what might transpire in the bush
I signed up for a dream
where wilderness roused excitement in me
tawny eyes striped fur
entered my soul forever
Tsonga songs imbue my heart
linger like a leopard on a branch
I cannot sing the same songs yet
so I turn to white water lilies
for cues and their muse
our guide’s eyes deep brown
like an antelope
grazing a stones throw
from our Land Rover
scanning for great grey hippos
low guttural cries from glassy rivers
connection by sounds
splish splish of the oars
deep grand rumble from splendid elephants
stomach-gurgling
finely tuned to immense ears
babies mothers fathers
everything is huge
all life
running
everything crawling
jumping hissing growling
to a certain powerful rhythm
that calls us to what we all know
but have hidden for so long
we return to the bush
to melon sunrises crocodile nightfall
safe under shelter to hear again that song
wooing us to join them
Photograph by James Tyrrell
Photograph by Simon Smit
An old favourite video from the Londolozi YouTube channel – A Bushveld Immersion
A poem by Katherine Crawford, Londolozi Guest
Beautiful poem Katherine. Londolozi is truly inspiring to all of us.
Beautiful poem that expresses what I feel but could not say so well. Love the video!
Your beautiful words have been added to my ‘dream’ of one day living the Londolozi experience.
Thank you for sharing.