The Londolozi Living Boutique is a thoughtfully curated retail space, where the spirit of safari meets thoughtful consumption. Found at the heart of all five camps, the Boutique is situated at Varty Camp adjacent to the Healing House- the Boutiques once upon a time home, many moons ago. The space has seen various iterations of itself, being run by Beejay Watson, sister to Shan Varty, for many years and then under the watchful eye of Kim Drake until 2024. At the start of this year, the merchandising role was placed under my care- this after starting my own journey at Londolozi in 2020.

The experience at Living, is much like all things at Londolozi, it’s in-house and inspired by all those who call it home, in particular the Varty family. The Londolozi Living Boutique also has two ever present figures- Wanda and Delly, who are more than just “sales associates”, but the custodians of the whole operation. Watching their attention to detail and joy when engaging with guests, has given me such insight into a part of the Londolozi puzzle I had yet to experience. 

Both Wanda and Delly, whom every guest would encounter when visiting the boutique, have very special stories that I feel necessary to share!

Delly and Wanda standing outside the Living Boutique

Wanda started working at Londolozi in 2003 in our Housekeeping Department and in 2012 transitioned into the Living Boutique. Wanda would never brag, but she knows the 7 digit code of over five hundred single items sold in the shop- this alone is an achievement in my eyes. Through all the years, she has had a quiet yet dedicated nature to her and I feel very privileged to have her guide me in this new role. 

When asking Wanda what she loved the most about working at the boutique, she said “team work, guests and Ashleigh”- this statement was not endorsed nor encouraged but it was testament to Wanda’s simple and sweet approach to work and to life. 

Delly joined the Living team in 2019, but was formally employed in the year 2014- where she started off as a night porter. Delly has a knack for computers and sales and so, saw herself working at our Village Spaza Shop. Selling the daily essentials to staff became second nature and soon Delly was on the hunt for another avenue to use her strengths and skills. The boutique was the perfect fit for someone with such a bubbly disposition! In her six years here, Delly remarked that her favourite thing about this role is “meeting all the new guests and discussing their character, their homes and their stories with them”. 

Wanda (left) and Delly (right)

As for myself, I feel it best to hit the one year mark before making anything too concrete. However, I find it appropriate to add my two cents in- any guest I have hosted in my previous Camp Management role would know this is very on brand for me. As it stands, what I love most about the shop is providing a curated space for people to take a piece of Londolozi with them- a keepsake of sorts. Being rather sentimental myself, it brings me great joy finding and oftentimes assisting guests in searching for something to take home as a reminder of their travels. 

Londolozi is often described as a feeling. One that is hard to encapsulate in a few words or even in photos. The Boutique provides a unique experience to purchase something that could attempt to translate that feeling for you- carrying along with it sentimentality and memories true only to you. 

The Boutique offers a small range of everything, where safari staples sit comfortably alongside African craftsmanship. Some pieces are bespoke items chosen by the Varty family themselves, others are the classics while the rest are hand selected through careful consideration of our intention to support local artists, suppliers and their communities.

Londolozi Living is therefore more than just a shop in my biased opinion- it is a reflection of Londolozi’s essence. From safari essentials to bespoke treasures, each piece tells a story. It is where memories are extended beyond the safari vehicle-where the textures, scents, and stories can be gathered, gifted, and taken home.

In a world that often rushes past the meaningful, the Londolozi Living Boutique invites you to pause, to connect, and to carry a piece of Londolozi with you. I’m excited to share with you some of what we have to offer in my blogs to come – stay tuned.