To explain the feeling of Tree Camp I have to begin here.. in the whispered tales of guests, I have heard the same words many many times and this camp is the keeper of the story.
“She just appeared, we watched her for hours then this little cub ran out to greet her. The way they touched heads and in that moment everything for me become so clear…”
The original mother leopard and her cub, taken in the late 1970’s. This Leopard was to set in motion a five generational legacy of relaxed leopards at Londolozi. That then reached out into the greater Sabi Sand area.
The original viewable leopard of Londolozi, if not Africa. In 1979 this leopard appeared as if by magic, allowing vehicles to view her.
There exists a sacred bond here at Londolozi between humanity and the enigmatic leopards that for five generations have been guides and teachers. For me, this bond began at a mere 12 days old, and for nearly four decades, it has unfolded through different phases of my life.
With each encounter, the leopards have given me a new awareness, a deeper understanding of their mystical presence and over time mine.
Having just celebrated World Leopard Day yesterday, amidst the wealth of facts and figures about these long studied cats, I feel compelled to pause and reflect on that unforgettable moment of my first sighting. I reflect on the moment when I first laid eyes upon a leopard, or perhaps even better, I will pause and think of the many moments our guests, who pilgrimage to Londolozi from all over the world, have beautiful rare encounters with these big cats.
From the original “Mother” leopard to the famous Three, Four female leopard, to all the others celebrated, each’s essence showcased here in the elegance of Tree Camp.
Each time I see a leopard, it’s as if a gateway has opened and time has stopped. In that fleeting instant, I get a glimpse of the essence of wildness itself, embodied in the sinewy grace of this magnificent creature.
As I watch guests arrive at Londolozi, their faces alight with anticipation, I am reminded of the profound connection we share with these elusive beings. They are not merely inhabitants of the landscape; they are the guardians of our collective memory, the keepers of ancient wisdom – Tree Camp stands a daily reminder to all of us of this.
Yet every now and then, I feel we has humans can forget this grace that is given. When a leopard is seen you can be sure she has chosen to be viewed, her mastery would let her disappear in an instant if it so pleased her.
In our familiarity we can sometimes take for granted what we see every day. You can forget to really look and see the details and notice the small parts of that “being” who is before you.
In a world where the march of progress threatens to erase the footprints of the wild, the sight of a leopard stalking gracefully through the landscape is a rare and precious gift. It is a reminder of the fragility of life, and of our duty to protect and preserve the wonders of our world. So let us not take for granted the rare joy of encountering these incredible creatures.
I would ask each of you today to approach each sighting or experience in the wild with gratitude and humility, honouring the delicate balance that sustains us all. Remembering every tracker, guide and guest before you who has taken that moment to honour this sentient being, and now generations on, each one of us get to learn and listen to one of nature’s greatest ambassadors.
A tracking team. Trackers Lucky Shabuagu and Jerry Sibiya joined by head trainer of the Tracker Academy Innocent Ngwenya and some of his new recruits.
For in the presence of the leopard or any wild creature, we are reminded of the interconnectedness of all living things, and of the sacred bond that unites us with our own Wild Self.
Tree Camp at Londolozi will for ever stand as an iconic touch stone to all who visit, and a reminder that now is the time to embody these values and thinking. Today and every day we ask each and every person to protect this incredible creature and to always appreciate being in its presents.
Amanda, i was looking for documentaries on leopards as I had to lecture about them. I was borrowed a famous documentary film but I wanted to know more. Then I came to Varty and Manana ‘s story. It was so moving and incredibly new, in a secon centuries of gap between the species were tied. Naturally. I still watch Londolozi ‘s pictures and video in awe. Thanks
I couldn’t agree with you more, Bronwyn. I think the 1st time you come to Londolozi you’re just stunned to see a leopard in the wild, and then amazed at how they allow you to sit so close to them and how privileged it makes you feel. Once you’ve become addicted to leopards (like me!) after many visits, you have to keep reminding yourself that this is not a usual experience and how spoilt we all are to be there in their presence.
Thank you Bronwyn for the beautiful video and pictures of tree camp and the leopards who reside there.
Tree Camp is a beautiful camp with all it’s furnished furniture and lamps everywhere lighting up the are so beautifully. The mother leopard started the long journey of many years of experience and viewing the illusive cats. So majestic and absolutely stunning to view them them in their own environment. What a privilege Bronwyn you had as a child to grow up on Londolozi and experience all these majestic cats and wild animals that roam there. Londolozi is know a renowned Safari, and guests from all over the globe come to visit and view these magnificent cats.
Thank you for your inspiring thoughts and message as it applies to one of the most sought after animals to view whilst in the wild. To meet a leopard’s gaze, truly one feels a bond, awakening the wild self if it has yet to be experienced. To be in the presence of any wild animals is a gift that should be protected because there is a connection between all living things. It is imperative that humans realize the connectivity in order to save our most vulnerable and valuable resources.
Bronwyn, thank you for sharing your thoughts. From my first visit to Londolozi to my second visit was nearly 20 years yet the pull to come back was pretty constant. My third visit will be in the fall, two years after my last. It is such a privilege to be part of the Londolozi tradition and family. And, to have the opportunity to be in the beauty, the calm, the excitement of the land, and to be among a team at Londolozi who put the land, the flora, the fauna, and guests front and center. See you in September!
The other day, on a flight home, I met guests going to Londolozi and we talked a bit about our experience of Londolozi. It’s magic, they said and I can’t agree more. It’s magic, whether Tree camp or any of the other camps. And the multitude of leopards one can observe there, certainly contribute a lot to this magic. Being out in the bush, next to these amazing animals, is magic indeed.