After starting at Londolozi over a year ago, I still find it so fascinating to find out how each of the Londolozi Family members has found their way to Londolozi. Everyone has their own story and path that has led them to work in this magical place. Not only do my colleagues find this interesting but arguably, one of the most frequently asked questions I receive from our guests is…
“So, how did you end up at Londolozi?”
And the truth is – it’s an odd one. I had always planned on doing “something” after I graduated from university and before entering into what I had deemed the corporate world. That something happened to be in the form of a teaching job in an Asian country, Taiwan to be specific. It was this move that helped me pave my way to Londolozi. Time away from my home country made me realise the fact that I truly had been living in one of the world’s most interesting places. Like many people, I was guilty of not experiencing some of South Africa‘s most magical and sacred places, not knowing what each province had to offer and not experiencing the country to its fullest. It took me moving overseas to truly yearn for Africa and what experiences she had to offer me.
Exploring Taiwan
It was here, that for the first time I was made aware of the cultural richness and diversity of the Asian culture and this adventure would give me hours of experience with children which was invaluable. While I was in Asia I came to meet more and more people asking me about Africa. Living abroad gave me wonderful opportunities to think more deeply about South Africa, what it meant to be South African and how best to describe it to those who knew nothing about it.
South Africa is truly a melting pot of culture and, so don’t expect a short answer when asking a question about our fascinating country. I always giggled when people asked what our traditional South African food was and I had to respond with the following roast chicken and salad, a braai or pap and impala topped off with mopane worms and sheba (one could carry on for quite some time listing traditional dishes).
I’ve narrowed my South Africa list down to a classic Top 6. Remembering that Londolozi is automatically first on my list, as it should be yours 😉
1. Safari!
You cannot come to South Africa and not experience an open-air game drive through a wilderness area. Experience a wide range of ecosystems and habitats while viewing some of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife. Other than Londolozi, South Africa boasts impressive game reserves throughout the country from the Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands to the Zulu Land reserves.
Surrounded by animals, each game drive is a vision quest.
2. The Garden Route.
Think small, quaint coastal towns, wetlands, lush forests, rare birding, and quiet beaches… the perfect self-drive holiday.
Knysna turaco
The Heads in Knysna
3. Drakensberg Mountains
Climbing and staying beneath the impressive Drakensberg Mountains in KwaZulu-Natal is a great experience for the more adventurous. Discover bushman paintings, waterfalls and rock-pools as you hike one of South Africa’s most impressive mountain range. Make sure to explore the countryside and Midlands Meander while you’re in this region of the country too!
The Drakensburg offers hikes for every level of hiking.
The Midlands Meander
4. Cape Town
A favourite amongst many is of course Cape Town (which also happens to be my hometown) and her exquisite Table Mountain. Pictures do not do this experience justice – a must-do for those visiting the Cape. For wine lovers, this is the best spot to take a wine tour through the quaint town of Stellenbosch and picturesque Franschhoek.
Camps Bay in Cape Town
A typical looking wine tasting farm in the wine region.
5. The Battlefields
For those with an interest in history, KwaZulu-Natal is also home to the battlefields. Take a walk through South Africa in the 19th century and enjoy the beauty that this place has to offer.
6. Whales and Wild Flowers
If you’ve ticked off the Big 5, then next on your list should be whale watching off the Hermanus Coast. This is a spectacular experience and shouldn’t be missed if you are in the Western Cape between July and November. Other beautiful phenomenons that take place in this region of the world are the flowers. Walk through carpets of wildflowers in the West Coast National Park during the months of August and September.
The flowers in Namaqualand – just magical!
People stand on the rocks and watch for whales in the town of Hermanus.
On returning home from Taiwan I had no doubt that I wanted to pursue something more African – an experience which would allow for growth, learning and a connection to Africa and her people. Choosing a place like Londolozi proved to be my biggest blessing, because it is here where I have found myself immersed in many of Africa’s most traditional ways, her wild beauty and old world wisdom. One only needs to take a walk into Londolozi’s Futuristic African Village to understand and appreciate this.
I had left for Taiwan to find myself and it was there that I found out that in order to do that, I had to go back home! So that is how I found myself at Londolozi.
Teaching abroad is an experience that is so fulfilling on many levels. Being immersed in a culture completely different from your own allows for learning and understanding of an unfamiliar place, whilst leaving you to appreciate your home country. Sometimes we have to go away to truly know where we need to be. Your list is a good one and I would add the South African Kalahari as it is so different from the areas you mentioned. Actually, anywhere in South Africa is worth visiting and I always wish I had more time!
Hi Denise! Being abroad taught me exactly that (and so much more). The Kalahari is an epic place to visit- I went to the Namibian side of it when I was growing up- memories to last a life time.
Thank you for reminding me of them.
Dear Ashley, what can I say? One image and description after the other was my dream… leopards, whales and flowers in Namaqualand! I think the best pictures and documentaries I’ve seen were about this place. The garden route… one day I must do the trip. Thank you for this magical tale
Francesca! It is my absolute pleasure. My hope for the both of us is that we can tick all of the above off!
Hi Ashleigh!
As Denise mentioned, the Kalahari offers an entirely different landscape.
Traveling the coastline from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Town offers a fantastic picturesque experience, and we loved visiting with the Boulders Beach penguins.
Vin!
I spent about a month in the Kalahari when growing up in the Northern Cape. My family and I travelled with a roof top tent and spent days on days playing in the red sand dunes. When you return I’ll show you a picture of me doing tumble turns down them!
A lovely story of self-awakening, Ashleigh. I hope the environment at Londolozi enables you to continue to learn and grow.
Thank you so much! Londolozi is proving to be another wonderful opportunity to become the best version of myself.
South Africa is indeed a beautiful and interesting country.
I have been to quite a few countries in this world, from Asia to the Americas and Europe, of course.
However, I have always liked being on safaris the most, maybe apart from a trip to Bhutan, which was nearly as rewarding and certainly as fascinating .
I will have to do some researching into Bhutan it seems! Thank you Christa.
One never realizes what you have until you don’t have it anymore. That also applies to places where you stay, gone away and come back to appreciate what you have missed being away. Londolozi is a place you would never want to leave, for everything is so beautiful there. Hope you stay at Londolozi and live to the fullest there.
Thank you Valmai! I am loving my time here.
A really nice blog Ashleigh. It is true, you do need to move away from home to truly realize how blessed you are. I think it is a great learning experience for young people to see “how the other half live” and to learn different cultures, try different foods and see dufferebt okaces, In the end, there really is no place like home. I am glad you found your calling at Londolozi – it is a very special place with very special people. Thanks for sharing with us.
“No place like home” is one of the truest statements around and I am happy to hear you are of the same opinion, Leonie.
Very good sharing！Taiwan is not a country, it is a part of China.Good luck！
Ashleigh, Welcome to the Londolozi family! We have been to most of your picks and will certainly add the rest to our list of must-dos in the future! We look forward to meeting you on our next visit!
Thank you, Michael and Terri!
Looking forward to having you here with us to share some stories of your travels which seem to parallel mine.
I met Ashleigh in Founders in October for one short day. We were at the end of a six day visit when she came back from her holiday. Would have been fun to talk about teaching English since I am still doing that in Hawai’i (ESL for adults.). Be well.