Safari is no longer simply about traveling to view animals in their natural habitat.
Over the last decade the industry has undergone a rebirth; these days the focus is far more on a way to commune with nature, to rediscover the appeal of a stillness in life, and most importantly, to reconnect with oneself.
Many guests leave their safari having gained a far deeper appreciation of the importance of wild places, for the soul but also for the people who live on their fringes. Africa abounds with natural beauty, yet the economy of wildlife is a fragile one, dependent upon a synergy between visitors, the protection of wilderness areas, and the emotional investment of the communities that border them. We’ve been asked many times over the years exactly what benefits a single safari bestows upon the greater area, so we decided to work it out.
When you visit Londolozi, you are doing far more than immersing yourself in a thrilling wildlife experience; you are helping with the development and socio-economic wellbeing of a whole human ecosystem.
Community upliftment, rural education, healthcare, the creation of protected areas in which rhinos and other iconic species can roam freely… these are just a few of the ways in which your safari is having a positive impact on the reserve and its surrounding areas.
Your safari means the power to improve the lives of both people and wildlife.
Your safari means the power to make change.
Amazing video. It touch my heart. It is wonderful to know that every guest make a difference in another person’s life.
A visit to Londolozi. An eye opening life changing event. Thank you for the experience of a lifetime
Great Job!!
LOVE the video. What our stay did to help those causes mentioned in the film makes me feel good about the big expense of our safari. We can’t wait to do it again. At Londolozi, of course.
Thank you for this enlightening blog and video. You have really highlighted the trickledown effect of each person’s stay at Londolozi, or at any other lodge. I feel fortunate to contribute in my small way to educational and employment opportunities within the Safari environments I’ve visited over the years.
By the way, who performed the sound track in your video? Great song!
Tremendously superb point James. This exactly corresponds with what I had just posted on my face book page which I will repost here – This article from the Guardian really raises a good point. I don’t mind the super-rich. I don’t even mind them living super-rich lives. But I do think they are going to have to scale back the fossil fuel energy consumption OF their super-rich lives. Let them be creative and innovative as well as super-rich!
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/19/life-earth-wealth-megarich-spending-power-environmental-damage?utm_term=RWRpdG9yaWFsX0Jlc3RPZkd1YXJkaWFuT3BpbmlvblVLLTE5MDkxOQ%3D%3D&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=BestOfGuardianOpinionUK&CMP=opinionuk_email
James, I absolutely loved the video – we will return in Sept 2020 – it will be our fifth time there at Londolozi. It is my favorite place on earth. I love Londolozi.
Tremendous video–knowing a visit has such impact on people and the environment!
The educational component, through the leadership of the Good Work Foundation, is remarkable!
https://www.goodworkfoundation.org/
I have seen varying types of lodges, some where there is little interaction and it is hard to see what benefit tourism brings, the last two lodges I have stopped in, Londolozi being one and the other being in Samburu in Kenya ( for 🐘 elephants) have an approach where there are benefits both for the local community and the environment .
Interestingly both have a far greater knowledge of the animals that the visitor sees, with Londolzi it is an intimate knowledge of the leopards. With the lodge in Samburu they could identify all the elephant families, the solitary bulls etc.
As a consequence the visitor leaves with a greater knowledge and hopefully makes a greater impact for the good.
More than any other factor…of which there are arguably many, is what sets Londolozi into a category of 1. So grateful to know this wonderful community.
James..outstanding video (and that comes from someone who has had advertising agency among my companies in US). Curious about who did it..was it you or others from Londonlozi? Keep up the good work..we look forward to reading the blogs each day. Regretably our next trip (Mid 2020) is to TZ where we usually go (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Mara, et.al.) but some time we will add another trip to visit you and Lon. We have been impressed with your work. Jim
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the kind words. The video was internal with a couple of us going out filming with the students.
Best regards
This is why we have been three times and are going to a Tracker Academy graduation in November.
amazing video!!I really hope someday I will be able to come and visit you!! it touched my heart