As is tradition, at this time every year, our team would be hard at work planning one of our favourite surprise events of the year – the famous Londolozi Easter breakfast. I would be fussing over the final menu, working with the creative team to design our beautiful Easter market and having a quiet word with the Easter bunny to remind him that it’s a little further to travel to get to us than most gardens. This would be the time that I would be working with my team of chefs to ensure all the prep was done and the buns made (scroll down to download this and our other recipes). For our guests, driving into the Easter Breakfast market is one of the highlights of their trips, and so, this year, while we can’t all be together to share a mango lassi and a cinnamon bun on the emerald green Varty lawn, the Londolozi family thought we could share our tips on how to recreate the Londolozi Easter brunch right in your home – wherever you find yourself right now. It may take a bit of creativity and a spot of work in the kitchen but we hope to transport you – even if only for a moment – to Londolozi this Sunday. Here’s how…
Firstly (and possibly most importantly) make yourself a flower crown to get the festive feeling going. If you don’t have access to fresh flowers, feel free to use your creativity and make paper flowers or recycled flowers, or anything you may have lying around the house. It’s not about precision, it’s about fun!
It wouldn’t be easter at Londolozi without an Easter bunny hunt. Hiding some of our famous bunny cut-outs in your garden or home will begin to bring the magic of easter to you and your family.
As is the tradition at Londolozi on Easter, wear your freshest whites…
It wouldn’t be truly easter without a bit of colourful bunting. Find any sort of colourful paper (raid the arts and crafts cupboard or cut out from a magazine) and string together some happy bunting to hang around the house or garden. The easy feeling of Easter brunch is usually accentuated by a spot of lawn games. Our preference is for croquet but you can get out your boule set or any other family game that can be played outside in the sunshine. If you aren’t able to get outside, there’s nothing stopping you from knocking the croquet ball around the living room…
This step is the most important. More important than flower crowns, bunting or croquet. Easter is all about togetherness, and so if you find yourself with your family at this time, take the time to spend it together and share your beautiful Easter food. If you are far away from family right now, using technology to call in via video call to share your virtual brunch would bring you together (many of us will be doing just that this year!) And if these two are not an option for you, just know that you – our global Londolozi family – are always with us. Just close your eyes and picture yourself sitting around the table with us, the sounds of the birds around you, the honking of a hippo from the dam just outside the camp and the gentle clinking of glasses at the next table.
Finally, as is the tradition after a festive brunch, ensure that you leave sufficient time for a good, restorative nap!
And so, as a little Easter gift from our secret, original recipe book to yours, explore and create some of the famous Londolozi favourites below:
Download our Easter Cookbook here.
We may be far away but hearty food and global family will always connect us. From our Londolozi family to yours, we wish you nature, togetherness and deliciousness this Sunday!
Anna thank you for that great thought!! we usually have a marinated boneless grilled leg of lamb for Easter , will think of ways to add to the celebration per your advice. Hope you and your staff are well and safe. thanks again for that fabulous dinner in the bush!. stay safe Victoria
@Victoria Auchincloss, thanks Victoria. Hope you’re all well and keeping safe. Happy Easter to you both x
Oh Anna what a lovely blog. Reading it make me feel quite emotional. Thank you so much for the recipes. I might just try some. Stay safe.
@Marinda Drake, thanks Marinda – hope you and Des are well and keeping safe. Happy Easter to you both x
Anna, what a wonderful blog today – of course the Bloody Mary, and all fixings, and the cinnamon buns 🤗
@Joan Schmiidt, thanks Joan – all the recipes are very easy to do so go out and get the ingredients if you can! Happy Easter x
Thanks Anna for bringing the spirit across the sea! We need it!
Happy Easter to all!
@Vin Beni, thanks Vin, hope you and Michelle are well! happy easter to you both and sending love
Chefanna! Photos of your creations always make me miss our home away from home! Thank you for the recipes, and I hope you and yours are well during this trying time. Please have a wonderful Easter celebration!
@Tom Koski, thank you! hope you and Sherri are keeping safe and well x happy Easter to you too
Dear Anna, what a wonderful gift to share with us, the delicious and treasured Londolozi Easter recipes. We’re all in this together, doing our part, knowing that time will bring us back to a different sort of normalcy. In the meantime, keep well and cheers to you, your team, and all the other staff members that are keeping the magic of Londolozi alive for all of us.
Dear Anna – Bob and I have such happy memories of our Londolozi Easter in ‘17! With flower crowns and Bloody Mary’s we’ll be toasting you, your staff, the whole Londolozi family from our isolation! We’ll be there next April! 🌸🐰
Beautiful!! I’m going to make the shakshuka this week!!
Mahalo. My heart always rests at Londolozi. Have a magnificent, joy-filled Easter. I am there with you virtually.
Dear Londolozi Team,
Thanks for these ideas. Due to Corona my daughter and I are not able – like everybody else too – to visit parents/grandparents. As we will be alone we will have fun to create flower crowns and to prepare a wonderful brunch. After downloading the receipts I will rush to buy the things we do not have at home. On Easter weekend we will sit at the table having brunch and looking pictures and videos from Londolozi.
And I tell you this year there is a chocolate Easter Bunny from Lindt (Swiss chocolate company) in leopard style😃😂. Have you given them this input?
To all of you: please take care, stay healthy and Happy Easter 🐇
Annette
Thanks Anna. Will give the brownies a go first. My godchildren will love them. Will let you know how they come out. Stay safe.
Anna, this is just so sweet, and so refreshing, to see how Easter is joyfully celebrated at Londolozi, South African style.
While the photos, as usual are beautiful, the culinary presentation is absolutely decadent, even by sight.
Don’t ask my why, but this special blog, .. it just brings tears to my eyes, and a heart filled by a warm smile.
Many Blessings to you all at Londolozi.
YUM! thank you so much for sharing the recipes, can’t wait to try a few this weekend 🙂 have a blessed Easter Londolozi family x
What great Easter celebrations you have always had at Londolozi – mmmm cinnamon buns, mango lassi and “those” pancakes! Thanks Anna for sharing the fun and yum! 🐰
What a beautiful Easter celebration, Londolozi is one of my all time favorite trips, I will forever hold your resort as a highlight of our group’s safari. And hope to be back when we can visit again. Bless everyone during this crisis