It’s almost that time of the year again, a time where you plan your next holiday getaway with much excitement! For some the holiday destination might be Londolozi as it is the best fit for yours and your family’s wildlife fix and, out of the five beautiful camps, Varty Camp particularly stood out for you.

Now that the destination is decided – what on Earth do you pack? Speaking as a relentless over-packer myself, I understand the anxiety of going on holiday and forgetting something essential behind. So in the hopes of helping a fellow traveler out, I have compiled a list of the four essentials that you cannot leave behind when visiting the heart of Londolozi, Varty Camp.

1. Swimming Costume

Whether you come in winter or summer I suggest you pack your swimming gear. In winter we have cooler mornings but you might be tempted for a midday swim and in summer we can assure you that you will take several dips. Don’t forget to pack your best swimming costume, sun hat and sunscreen. Varty Camp boats a large luxurious swimming pool, the perfect size and depth for children to dive, play and swim all day long under the African sun.

If splashing around is not for you, you may still enjoy the sunshine by dipping into your private plunge pool located on your room’s deck, overlooking the never ending bush, and possibly with a glass of bubbles in hand.

2. Binoculars

When visiting the bush it is essential that you have a pair of binoculars by your side for all of your game drives. You’ll find when staying at Varty Camp that you may have some unexpected guests. While relaxing on the serene deck, elephants have been known to come past for a visit. These majestic creatures often wander past in the Sand Rover in front of the chalets providing unique opportunities to view them. Graceful birds soar past and with many of them calling – you will end up reaching for your pair of binoculars.  Varty Camp is home to a resident sunbird that has become quite vain over the years, she only visits us to view herself in one of the large mirrors on the deck. Her beautiful colours are something to admire however, so we understand her behaviour. If you happen to forget your binoculars or do not have a pair of your own that is not a problem. Just a few steps from the Varty Camp pool is a fully equipped photographic studio where you are able to hire binoculars for the duration of your stay.

3. Walking Shoes

For many people, myself included, going on holiday means relaxing and indulging in all of the wonderful things around you, and leaving the exercising for when you return to reality. Although there is an incredible gym located at Varty Camp, there are other reasons to bring along your walking shoes, and I’ve got just the thing for you.

You might be interested in walking around the camp paths during your stay. All of the various camps are connected via a single walkway that encourages you to go for a short wander around and stroll onto the other camp’s lovely decks and maybe make a note for your next visit. Chat to your Camp Manager to organise a walk around the camps.

If you’re interested in knowing and seeing more of what Londolozi is as a whole, then I would strongly encourage enquiring about the Village Walk. This walk takes about 45-60 minutes and is led by a staff member who shows you all of the behind the scenes of what Londolozi is. In short you will be able to see our main kitchen where all of the prep for your meals takes place, our solar farm, crèche, clinic, staff accommodation and so much more. I always say that the village walk puts Londolozi into perspective and after which, you are able to get a real sense of what we are all about.

There also might be the opportunity to go on a bush-walk with your ranger. These are safe walks conducted by the ranger and tracker in the bush. It is a wonderful way to experience the wilderness and to see the smaller, intricate things which you pass by.

4. A Big Appetite

When going on any bush holiday you just know that it is going to be jam-packed with food, and Londolozi is no exception. All of our food here is fresh, lots of it homegrown, and prepared by talented chefs who have grown up around the area. Tom, Origin, Eric and Sendry will be taking care of all of your meals while at Varty Camp and will tailor all meals to your specific dietaries. They love what they do, it truly shows in the delicious meals that they produce, and all of the empty plates that we see. The breakfast, lunch and dinner menus have recently been revised and tweaked in order to make them even more scrumptious and season appropriate. Make sure to leave some space for a tea time treat, desserts so tasty that it’s a race against the monkeys to see who can get to it first.

There is so much more to know and do at Varty Camp that I could go on forever, but best I stop here. I hope this short and sweet list helps you with your packing and puts your mind at ease. Thank you for choosing Varty Camp and I cannot wait to meet you.