Dear Londolozi Family

Every year when I sit down to do my annual roundup, I cannot believe how much has been achieved, celebrated and created in just one year. My reflections are vast and varied but, as is tradition, let us begin with the now-famous, Londolozi year in review movie…

This year’s round up is filled with many celebrations and new beginnings. In South Africa, during 2024, we witnessed the dawning of a new stage in our democracy when South Africa once again demonstrated to the world a peaceful transition of power and the formation of a government of national unity representing the new governing authority of our country.

During the year we have recorded an unprecedented flow of international travellers to our sunny shores. Not only that, but the love for our beautiful country was also shared by, none other than, the Prince of Wales himself…

 

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A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)

Closer to home, the Londolozi 2024 calendar was filled with inspiring and colourful events starting with Mandela Day. This day is an example of how people from all walks of life can come together in harmony, living deeply in the village consciousness of Londolozi. Mandela Day is not just an occasion to honour the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela – it is also a profound reminder of the values that guide us at Londolozi. Mandela’s unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and the spirit of Ubuntu is woven into the fabric of our village. His belief in the power of community and the importance of giving back resonates deeply with our mission to create a harmonious co-existence between humans and nature. This year we added to our 67 minutes of service by setting ourselves, and our visiting guests, a challenge to see how much good work we could do in one hour. Where previously we worked together on one cause, this year we chose 6 different causes for the Londolozi Village to support.

A Summary of what we achieved:

• 489 seedling bags for Charles’ Nursery.
• 176 loops of 1.5km were completed. For each loop, Londolozi made a R1000 donation to the Ripple Fund. Some of our guests were generous enough to match fund the Londolozi donation, click here if you would like to join them.
• 22 bags were filled with school supplies and 2 large boxes of educational toys and resources for a local pre-school’s classrooms.
• 280 aloes, 100 speckboom and 8 trees were planted at Londolozi.
• 35 litres of vegetable soup for the children and teachers of Tshemba Hosi was cooked.
• The Londolozi Creche Playground was repainted.

This was followed later in the year by another beloved Londolozi celebration, Heritage Day. On this day our Futuristic African Village gets an opportunity to showcase the full spectrum of the heritage, culture, and joy of our Londolozi family… which many of you would know, lies at the centre of life at Londolozi. 

During the year the family had the great privilege to honour three of its elders whose service to Londolozi collectively spanned 100 years! We hold them in the highest esteem and wish them well in their retirement years.

100 years of Jerry Hambana, Judas Ngomane and Colbert Mdluli

On the subject of loyalty and excellence, one is drawn to Freddie Ngobeni who in 2024 reached 30 years of service at Londolozi. It is instructive to take a moment to reflect on the journey of the Ngobeni family who, in so many ways, represent the true qualities of many who work at Londolozi. Freddie joined us at Londolozi in 1994. Together with his wife, Minah, Freddie had three sons: Shearer, Gerrard, and Trezegue. In 2008 we were lucky enough to welcome guests, Jen and Jeff Westphal, to Londolozi and, as destiny would have it, their tracker on that safari was Freddie Ngobeni. Typical of many who meet on a Land Rover in Africa – they all became great friends.

The Westphals, guided by Good Work Foundation CEO Kate Groch, made a conscious choice to support the Ngobeni family’s three young children in ensuring they would receive the best education South Africa had to offer. This is an inspiring story spanning 16 years. All three boys matriculated with one of Freddie’s sons being appointed as head boy. Each of the boys furthered their education after school with the continued support of the Westphals: Shearer (is currently doing his Psychology honours after graduating from UCT), Gerrard (is at a fashion design college – CTCFD) and Trezegue (is at Inscape doing interior design). As of this year, these three young men are poised and ready to pursue independent careers and establish a family whilst being fully equipped to make their unique contribution to the growth and good of South Africa or wherever they choose.

It should be said that one of the key ingredients of this story is the commitment of Freddie and Minah as parents. They showed, throughout the endeavour, deep and lasting commitment to the process, attending all functions and supporting their boys at all levels. This story is a microcosm of the potential of South African people helping themselves to succeed – demonstrating how small interventions and empowering families can create big horizons and positive ripple effects of change.

Further people news relates to an inspiring long-standing guest story. It was in 1983 when Nigel and Vickie Colne visited Londolozi for the first time to celebrate significant birthdays, the first being Vickie’s 40th birthday. These two wonderful people have returned over the years for their 50th, , 60th, and now 70th birthdays.  Indeed, an enduring and lasting friendship with Londolozi.

 

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Most importantly, out in the bush, 2024 recorded some stellar birth celebrations.

During 2024, we witnessed great progress with our many partners in the neighbouring villages who have been supported by the Londolozi Ripple Fund.  Jess MacLarty has shown extraordinary insights in identifying several partner families who, together with Londolozi, have begun to develop organic farms able to supply produce to the Londolozi guest kitchen and staff canteen. In a very unusual turn of events, just as the program gathered momentum, on the 27th and 28th of October an unprecedented isolated storm ripped through the region causing damage to many of the farmers’ infrastructure. Londolozi told this story to friends around the world via our Ripple Fund Instagram account and newsletter – who immediately responded in the true spirit of Ubuntu with financial support. This allowed us to swiftly mitigate the damage and get the farmers back to production. Thank you to all of you who reacted so quickly.

 

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A post shared by Londolozi Ripple Fund (@ripple_fund)

On another level we will once again proudly witness the Londolozi Ripple Effect during December this year when more than 300 students will graduate from over 6 GWF graduation ceremonies at the various satellite learning centers. I would like to acknowledge our own Kate Groch, CEO of GWF.  She and her team reach 12 000 students per week through the Open Learning Academy and anticipate next year’s enrolment of approximately 400 learners into the various GWF Career Academies. It is incredible to think that in the most rural parts of South Africa, surrounding one of the greatest natural reserves on our planet, is 400 learners who will receive access to a global curriculum. But probably more exciting from a Londolozi standpoint is that that curriculum holds many lessons and learnings around how important it is to protect our wildlife, our natural resources and our planet as a whole. May this generation usher in Creative Climate thinking from a grass roots level.

A trailblazing moment in 2024 was the appointment of the first female tracker at Londolozi, Tsundzukani Whati, a graduate of Tracker Academy. It’s been a beautiful exchange of knowledge—combining ancient tracking skills with modern insights, bridging together the past and the present. Tsundzukani’s story is a reminder that our relationship with this land is a lifelong journey of discovery.

Also in 2024, we witnessed the establishment of the Rhino Guardian training camp on the property Sandringham in Timbavati Game Reserve. Our thanks go out to the friends of Londolozi who generously supported this expansion, allowing graduates of Tracker Academy to enrol for advanced training to become Rhino Guardians, shaping the next generation of wildlife protectors with a new and innovative approach. This is a new and innovative approach to protecting rhinos, which moves away from the old fortress approach, to a more nuanced Afro-centric approach where the wellbeing of wildlife and the career and wellbeing of young South Africans are aligned. On the 5th of December, a further 16 Tracker Academy students will graduate at the prestigious SA College of Tourism in Graaff Reinet – a truly inspirational event. I would once again wish to acknowledge Renias Mhlongo and Alex van den Heever, Londolozi Alumni and Founders of Tracker Academy, and also pay tribute to the extraordinary ongoing support provided by Gaynor Rupert, as the Patron of Tracker Academy. We have also recently heard the wonderful news that the Tracker Academy won the Best Environmental Education Award – this award is given to a group that have contributed to educational programmes that further the conservation of our biodiversity and cultural heritage or reduce the environmental impacts of climate change and pollution. We couldn’t be more proud of our partners and friends at the Tracker Academy.

As a final celebration of our people, this year brought the gift of learning through our Lessons in Conservation. This was initiated by Jess MacLarty, implemented by Founder Dean Carlisle and supported by our Londolozi Rangers. During this year we reached 300 learners with this programme.

On the media front, Londolozi is never still. We reached out to our global family as we explored the Wild Self  – this was underpinned by a 5 Day Online Wild Self Adventure. This online adventure is a wonderful tool for internal restoration which ultimately results in a byproduct of external care and restoration of our world that we live in – a new frontier for using wilderness consciousness to promote self-consciousness. For those of you who have not signed up for our 5 Day Online Wild Self Adventure, it is a wonderful gift to send to friends and family this Festive Season.

The other online program, in a similar vein, which is receiving interest is Boyd’s podcast Story Hunter series. This series seems to be having an effect as many guests reference it as the reason for their visit to Londolozi.

It is becoming a simple fact that, on average, every second guest that arrives at Londolozi has been here before. It’s truly humbling to think that, out of all the destinations in the world, you choose to journey to Londolozi. We are deeply grateful and profoundly moved by the unwavering support and love of our global Londolozi family. Through you – we are able to create, to adventure and to explore all the things of our shared humanity.

Myself, Shan, Bron, Boyd, Richard and the entire Londolozi Family celebrate you all and we look forward to 2025, yes our 99th year, to seeing you all down the bundu road. From the home fires of Londolozi, stay safe, stay resilient and continue to adventure to Africa…

We wish you a blessed African Christmas,

From our Londolozi Family to yours,

Dave Varty