No two days are the same at Londolozi and the experience is tailored to suit individual preferences and expectations. Still, there is a certain rhythm and pace to the experience that stirs a sense of homecoming on repeat visits and a pleasing sense of order for first time bushveld visitors.
Life at Londolozi is dictated by the seasons; the vegetation and the animal behaviour shift with the rains of summer and the chill of winter. What is unchanging is the warmth of your welcome by your camp manager and the opportunity to experience a deep and authentic connection with the natural world.
Summer Schedule
(This is a rough guideline of what to expect. Each safari experience is tailor-made and may differ from day to day.)
- 5:00 Wake-up Call
- 5:30 Sunrise Game drive
- ±9:30 Breakfast
- Between Game Drive Optional Activities: Bush Walk/Photographic Studio/Village Experience/Massage/Good Work Foundation Community Experience/Inclusive Yoga Class/Boutique Shopping
- +1:30 Lunch
- 16:00 Afternoon Tea
- 16:15 Sunset Game Drive
- ±19:30 Dinner
Getting into step with the rhythm of nature is the first order of business. Witnessing the start of the day in the African bush is like being invited to partake in a daily miracle. A dawn chorus of birdsong and the haunting calls of Fish Eagles, the air rich with the night flowers’ perfume and delightfully cool. By 7:30am the magic hours have passed, and soon the animals will sink into the torpor brought on by the midday heat.
On returning from the drive and fortifying yourself with breakfast you can either retire to the cool sanctuary of your chalet or indulge a myriad of bushveld activities which include the following: Between Game Drive Optional Activities: Bush Walk/Photographic Studio/Village Experience/Massage/Good Work Foundation Community Experience/Inclusive Yoga Class/Boutique Shopping
In spring and summer, the early evening air along the Sand River often carries the aroma of baked potato. Far from drifting from the camp kitchens, this scent emanates from the tiny pink flowers of a scrambling scrub called the Potato Bush. Breathe in this most distinctive bushveld smells and let it come to be associated with the anticipation of your evening game drive.
Winter Schedule
(This is a rough guideline of what to expect. Each safari experience is tailor made and may differ from day to day.)
- 5:30 Wake-up Call
- 6:00 Sunrise Game drive
- ±10:00 Breakfast/Brunch
- Between Game Drive Optional Activities: Bush Walk/Photographic Studio/Village Experience/Massage/Good Work Foundation Community Experience/Inclusive Yoga Class/Boutique Shopping
- 15:00 High Tea
- 15:30 Sunset Game Drive
- ±19:00 Dinner
The bushveld is breathtaking during the cool, dry months of winter between April and September. The days are balmy, the mornings crisp and clear, and the bush is a miracle of changing colours and unobstructed game viewing.
We encourage you to rise before first light to join the early game drive – your every sense will be rewarded. As the sun rises, the booming snorts of hippo fill the air, while lions may be spotted in pursuit of the last traces of nocturnal prey.
On returning from the drive and restoring yourself with breakfast you can either retire to the sanctuary of your chalet or indulge a myriad of bushveld activities which include the following: Between Game Drive Optional Activities: Bush Walk/Photographic Studio/Village Experience/Massage/Good Work Foundation Community Experience/Inclusive Yoga Class/Boutique Shoppping
Winter evenings are also a feast for the senses. Drink in all the postcard images around you: the bare thorn tree, silhouetted against a vast red sunset as the first glimmering stars appear.
Game Drives
Game drives at Londolozi are taken by professional, passionate and knowledgeable Rangers and Trackers, who have 350 years of experience between them. With over 16,000 hectares of traversing wilderness, no two game drives are ever the same. Trackers sit up at the front of the Land Rover looking for fresh animal tracks, while Rangers drive with astonishing skill into ravines and through thickets in pursuit of rare animal sightings, simultaneously wowing guests with their outstanding knowledge and unforgettable stories.
The historical safari dates back to the age when reserves were hunting concessions and value was placed on an animal according to its potential danger when hunted on foot. In today’s safari practice, rifles have been replaced with cameras, and the only shooting we do is to photograph the majesty of animals, birds and trees. Londolozi’s Rangers specialise in photographic safaris and, where possible, will position the vehicle for guests to get the best angle. They will also share advice and knowledge where they can so you can capture the moment in all its glory.
Many of Londolozi’s Rangers and Trackers grew up in this region, living close to the land. This gives them an unmatched knowledge of the terrain, flora and wildlife on the reserve. Londolozi boasts two of only 17 Master Trackers in South Africa, meaning our game drive experience is truly world class.
Our field guides primary mission is to showcase the wilderness and bring you in tune with nature’s harmony.