Most people focus on what you can see on safari, but what about what you hear?
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For me, one of the most powerful parts of travelling is how sound weaves through the days and nights, shaping memories and experiences in ways you may not even realise. Sound reaches parts of the brain that images cannot. Even after the moment is gone, it has a way of embedding itself in your memory and your emotions.
At Londolozi, this becomes even more apparent. Surrounded by wilderness, you’re completely immersed in sound. The deep rumble of a lion’s call, the soft strum of a guitar around the Boma fire, and the gentle trickle of the river, along with all the countless subtle noises in between, slowly weave into the memories you take away from your time here.
With that being said, here are some of the sounds synonymous with a stay at Londolozi…
The Night Chorus
Nighttime at Londolozi is filled with some of my favourite sounds, the ones that remind me I am deep in the wilderness, far from the rush of the city. As darkness settles, the bush comes alive around you. Crickets chatter steadily in the background. You hear a hyena’s whoop and think it’s right outside your room, only to learn the next morning that it was actually calling from across the river. Lions add their deep, rolling grunts that carry across the clearing, and then the little Scops owl chimes in, repeating its single note through the night. These are the sounds that instantly make you feel part of this wild place.
Evenings in the Boma
Following the night chorus, of course, come Londolozi’s famous Boma nights, a space that has always been filled with joyful sound.
The flickering flames of the nearly one-hundred-year-old campfire at Varty Camp have long been the steady heartbeat of Londolozi. For generations, travellers have gathered around this very fire, and the sounds have remained comfortingly familiar. The fire crackles as new logs are added. A soft strum of a guitar drifts through the air. Laughter and stories move around the circle.
When the chef announces the evening menu, the conversation quiets for a moment, and you notice the little details. The soft hiss of lanterns, the clink of wine glasses, possibly a bushbaby scurrying in the trees above. All of these layered sounds create the magical atmosphere that makes the Boma feel alive.
These layers of sound, old and new, are what give the Boma its character and shape the memories you take away from your time on safari.
The Sounds From Your Private Chalet
Your chalet has its own collection of gentle sounds that you start to recognise quickly. Water moves softly in the plunge pool. Ice taps against the side of your glass as you pour an ice-cold gin and tonic on a hot afternoon. A bushbuck moves through the vegetation below your deck. Birds chat from the surrounding trees. And every now and then, you’ll hear the deep rumble of elephants passing close by.
Early Mornings in the Wilderness
On safari, mornings begin with the sunrise, alongside the rest of the bush. This is when the bush comes alive, bringing a beautiful chorus of sounds. A gentle knock on your door signals wake-up and your coffee order. A Land Rover engine rumbles. An impala sounds an alarm somewhere across the clearing. The birds seem louder than ever.
Even with all this activity, there is a sense of stillness and calm that makes these early moments feel truly special.
On your game drive, you’ll realise the wilderness is always full of sound, but it truly comes alive at your morning coffee stop. Your ranger finds a quiet spot in the bush, the Land Rover engine switches off, and suddenly everything feels amplified. Birds call from every direction, and the grass crunches underfoot as everyone steps out of the vehicle.
Then there is, of course, the coffee. You hear it pouring into your mug, followed by the soft tap of the spoon as it stirs. Everyone takes a moment to sip, listen, and simply be in the bush.
The Sounds Around Camp
There are also the everyday sounds around camp, the ones that don’t stand out until you realise how much they shape your stay. Birds chat as you walk along the pathways, sometimes fluttering across your path or calling from the branches overhead. The pool water from the main pools lap softly against the edge, and a staff member greets you as you pass by. These sounds blend into the background in the best way, making camp feel familiar.
The main decks of our five camps each have their own familiar soundtrack. The wooden boards of the deck thud gently underfoot, cutlery clinks softly as it is set out, and there is a steady sound behind the bar, a laugh shared with your butler and camp manager. At mealtimes, the quiet buzz of conversation and the relaxed pace of the deck create a wonderful atmosphere, while the open-air design lets the sounds of the wilderness drift in.
Why These Sounds Stay With You
Sound has a strong link to memory and emotion, which is why these moments stay vivid for so many guests. The soundtrack of Londolozi isn’t just about the wildlife, but about the everyday sounds that quietly shape your experience.
I would love to know which sounds you most associate with Londolozi. Let me know your favourites in the comments below.
The lion’s roar will forever be the sound I associate with the bush. I heard it my first safari drive in the late afternoon just before sundown as we raced around a curve in the road to attempt to find the source. We were fortunate to find a male lion lying in the grass calling to his pride. That is a memory that has not and never will fade.
On my first trip to Africa 14 years ago I remember standing in my cabin and hearing the lions roaring. I said to myselff in awe “Wow I really am in Africa”. I fell in love with Africa and hhave returned 6 times.
Hi Megan, I have not had the privilege to visit Londolozi yet, so I cannot say which sounds shape my stay at Londolozi. Hopefully one day I too will be able to have the opportunity to visit Londolozi and to meet all the Rangers and Trackers and off course you as well. I stay on a reserve and I hear the sounds here at night which is so beautiful, owls, crickets frogs, Zebra neighbor in the background. Not forgetting the jackals which are Denning near our house.
Wonderful post Megan, reminding us of all the different sounds associated with time spent in Londolozi. My favorite sounds occur early morning with the birdsongs, the crunch on the gravel walking towards my vehicle, the lilting voices of the trackers and guides as we ready to leave and finally the sound of the engine turning over before it settles into its sometimes rattling rhythm. Then I know my day has begun…..
I love the morning chorus of all the birds. And the evening sounds, frogs, lions hyenas, the Hadeda flying onto their trees. An during the day all those warning sounds the different birds make or the squirrels when they see something that seems to threaten them. The soft splash of the Tree camp’s waterfall into the pool.
The elephants rumble and the hippos’ noises that accompany them all day long and during the night.
To be honest, the night sounds are the nicest if one can sleep in a tent that allows all the sounds to get in a sleep-out under the stars e.g.
The cooing of the ring-neck dove (the Cape Turtle Dove) was absolutely omnipresent for me. It will forever remain attached to all my memories of Londolozi. “Work har-der, play har-der”. I’ve read that it’s prevalent early in the morning but for us, it was all day long. Beautifully written, Megan! Thank you.
Megan, You’ve done it again. Thanks for this thoughtful and emotional post. The sounds at Londolozi are really special, as long as you take time to listen!!