I know it’s not just me, but every January my feed is flooded with New Years resolutions like: “I’ll exercise more,” “I’ll eat better,” “I’ll scroll less.” And yet, more often than not, those good intentions feel like whispers against the constant hum of notifications and daily life. This year, I found myself wondering – what if the new year didn’t start with a list of habits to change, but with a simple choice to just be? And so, we invite you to set a different kind of New Year’s resolutions for 2026 – one that steps fully into presence and into the magic of Londolozi…
There’s something about the bush that gently invites you to slow down, the noise fades, the urgency dissolves, and suddenly the small miracles of daily life come back into focus. Here, there are no deadlines, no pings, no endless scrolling – just the soft brush of grass underfoot, the distant roar of a lion, the glitter of sunlight on the Sand River. Choosing to leave your phone in your room or tuck your laptop away isn’t about giving up something; it’s a gift of presence.
Londolozi has a way of revealing what’s been missing when life is lived through a lens or behind a screen. When the devices are set aside, the senses awaken. Dawn arrives with the soft trill of a bird greeting the morning, not an alarm. The wind rustles through the tall grasses carrying the scent of the earth, and somewhere in the distance, a lion’s roar echoes across the landscape. Without the distraction of technology, these moments speak louder – and linger longer – than any notification ever could.
This is the kind of presence we believe is genuinely good for the soul. You begin to notice the subtle, breathtaking details: sunlight glinting on a spider’s web, the careful steps of a herd of elephants as they cross the river, the shimmer of a dragonfly on a still pool. These moments, small yet profound, invite a form of mindfulness that feels natural – the kind that allows you to slow down, breathe deeper, and appreciate life as it unfolds around you.
And this way of being doesn’t have to be reserved for the bush. Setting this intention at home can be as simple as choosing one moment each day to be fully present – a morning coffee without a phone, a walk with your dogs where you notice the sounds and smells around you, a meal shared without screens on the table. It’s not about perfection or total disconnection, but about creating small, intentional pauses where attention is reclaimed. These moments of presence, repeated over time, quietly shift the way we experience our days.
Mindfulness travel is more than a trend; it’s a practice of returning to the here and now. At Londolozi, it is the rhythm of the wild that teaches this best. Each game drive, each quiet morning with coffee in hand, each walk along the camp paths becomes a lesson in noticing, listening, and feeling. Life at Londolozi moves at its own pace, and in stepping away from our devices, guests find themselves stepping into a pace that restores perspective, calm, and clarity.
We often find that beginning the year surrounded by nature offers something extraordinary: a reset not just for routines, but for the mind and heart. The bush encourages reflection, curiosity, and wonder. It shows that life isn’t measured by tasks completed or messages answered, but in moments fully experienced – especially when they’re shared, undistracted, with others.
At Londolozi, disconnecting is not about giving up; it’s about gaining something deeper. Conversations deepen, laughter is all around, silence becomes alive, and each sunrise and sunset feels complete. Presence transforms a safari from something observed into something truly lived.
So this year, as resolutions fill the feeds, we invite you to consider a different kind of goal: to trade notifications for starlight, scrolling for sunsets, and screens for leopard tracks. Disconnecting here isn’t about losing touch – it’s about discovering how deeply you can reconnect with the world, with nature, and with yourself.
The wild waits patiently. All it asks is that you show up. Step into it fully, and it will give back a sense of calm, wonder, and presence that no app or device ever could.
View this post on Instagram
When Started going on safari, more than twenty years ago, there was no internet, no TV, no news in the different camps.
I thought was wonderful, very relaxing, refreshing, good for one’s soul. To leave all the troubles of this complicated world behind you for a couple of blissful, wonderful weeks in the bush, was just heaven!!
Nowadays, of course, one is always “connected” and has to actively say “no”, I don’t want to touch my mobile phone, my I-Pad. I just want to concentrate on the animals the nature, the here and now and forget about the world.
That’s the way to do it, Christa!
Hi Shannon, my way of making a better new year is to listen to nature and take care of the wildlife we life in. I live on a reserve and hear and see the birds everyday with of the wild animals that roam around our houses. So privileged to be able to have this week in and week out.
How wonderful Valmai!
Your article caused me to think back to my first safari, taken in February, 1986 in Kenya. No mobiles, iPads, computers – just the odd 35mm camera to capture an animal sighting. I was a single in a group of 5 – guests from the UK and US. It was a trip of lots of firsts – first trip to Africa, first lions and elephants seen outside of a zoo in addition to many other animals, first interactions with residents such as the Masai and Sumburu who joyfully shared their homes and stories, and then sharing our “in the moment” special memories at dinner. Over the 40 years of continuous exploration of our seven continents, I’ve watched as technology has crept into some of the most unique and special places as a way to attract tourists, but fortunately there still are some places where connectivity to the outside world has been limited, mostly to one’s room. Londolozi is one of those places and for that I am grateful. My visit in April coincides with my 40th anniversary of African adventures in addition to another milestone and I can hardly wait to unplug and just be.
Thank you so much for sharing this, Denise. What a wonderful journey to reflect on. We can’t wait to welcome you back to Londolozi.