As the year gently draws to a close, Londolozi takes on a slightly different rhythm. The bush softens into summer; the days long and golden, and our shared spaces begin to reflect the spirit of the season – one of reflection, gratitude and connection.

At Londolozi, celebration has always been about people: the stories we share, the places where we gather, and the hands that create. This festive season, the Londolozi Living Boutique team drew inspiration from the natural world around us, paired with handcrafted pieces created by local artisans and community-based initiatives in and around the reserve.

In keeping with our everyday sourcing intentions – with a central focus on supporting local crafters and community-driven projects – we wanted to continue our efforts to create meaningful impact beyond normative consumerism. With this in mind, our hope is that these seasonal celebration pieces carry a positive ripple effect beyond the immediate reach of the Londolozi guest who makes a purchase.

Many of the sourced pieces featured have been handmade using traditional techniques and natural materials — from beadwork and weaving to threading and even glassblowing. By choosing local elements and time-honoured crafting methods, we honour the creativity within our surrounding communities, and the people who set out not only to create beautiful décor, ornaments and keepsakes, but to make a difference while doing so. In this way, we celebrate the season not simply through material objects, but through meaningful impact.

Curating the Living Boutique – gathering beautiful things, meaningful stories, and the spirit of Londolozi under one roof.

Celebrating the Artist ~ Roxy Pingo

Roxy Pingo has been part of the Londolozi family for many years. Her magic is quietly woven into the fabric of Londolozi itself, revealed in countless details and creative touches scattered across the reserve.

One of the rare and truly special aspects of the Londolozi Living Boutique – and of being a hands-on, family-run business – is our ability to create from scratch. We design and craft signature pieces that exist nowhere else in the world, each one carrying a story that is unmistakably Londolozi.

This year, we are proud to have launched a bespoke, African-inspired card range, custom-designed by Roxy herself. These cards marry contemporary design thinking with iconic African animals and botanical elements, resulting in pieces that feel both beautifully modern and deeply rooted in place. They are entirely exclusive to the Londolozi Living Boutique — treasures you simply won’t find anywhere else.

As the year unfolds, keep your eyes open. More of these intimate, signature creations will begin to emerge as we wander through the Londolozi village, celebrating the extraordinary talent that lives within it.

A gentle seasonal transformation in the Londolozi Living Boutique, where Roxy’s bespoke Christmas cards add a festive touch.

Ngwenya Glass

Our hanging glass ornaments are sourced from the family-owned and run Ngwenya Glass in Eswatini. Working exclusively with recycled glass, the business has been in the Prettejohn family since 1987 and was discovered by Shan Varty, becoming a part of our living boutique soon thereafter. Their focus has always been rooted in environmental stewardship, community upliftment, and an unwavering determination to make a meaningful difference through their craft — values that resonate deeply with the Londolozi ethos.

In 1989, inspired by the very wildlife that influences their artisans’ creations, Ngwenya Glass launched what has since become Eswatini’s most successful wildlife conservation fund. By donating a percentage of profits from their worldwide sales, the Ngwenya Rhino & Elephant Fund directly supports Mkhaya Game Reserve – a vital refuge for endangered species in the Lowveld.

The Big-5 glass-blown ornaments hung on our African-inspired Christmas Tree – a dried Aloe chabaudii

The Platter Project

A new addition to the Living Boutique offering this year, these bespoke baubles – each containing delicately beaded African animals — are created by Di Wilkinson. Inspired by a deep passion for wildlife and shaped by her own personal health journey, Di founded The Platter Project, which began with hand-painted ceramic platters featuring African wildlife.

Since then, The Platter Project has evolved to include a range of decorative pieces, all while keeping African animals at the heart of the designs. Proceeds from every purchase are donated to organisations associated with organ donation and wildlife conservation, ensuring that each piece carries meaning far beyond its form.

As Di so beautifully shares:

“We firmly believe in a collaborative effort to sustain ‘our pulse’ at #ThePlatterProject, ‘the pulse’ of those battling chronic illness, and ‘the pulse’ of our precious wildlife.”

African Heart Beaded Decor

Londolozi has shared a long-standing working relationship with David from African Heart, one that spans many years and countless handcrafted creations. This year, we approached him with a special request – to give his iconic beaded wildlife a festive twist. Working alongside his team of local crafters, David has transformed these classic beaded animals into joyful keepsakes, perfectly suited for adorning a Christmas tree.

Beaded décor has long been synonymous with African craft – a timeless expression of culture and creativity, and, in our opinion, an essential festive addition.

Waxbill and I

Tracy Thurlow of Waxbill & I shares a philosophy closely aligned with that of Londolozi and the Varty family – the belief that through meaningful job creation, one person’s employment can support up to eight family members. Through mentorship and skills training, a group of women in the greater Kruger National Park region hand-stitch each animal using merino felt, encouraging entrepreneurship and increasing earning potential within their communities. A purchase of these festive felt animals, therefore, extends far beyond a decorative object, creating a ripple effect that reaches individuals, families and communities well beyond Londolozi’s borders.

Rather than overtly festive symbols, guests will find pieces designed to live on well beyond the season – meaningful objects, thoughtful gifts and festive décor that tell a story. It is a celebration of purposeful gifting, perfect for those looking to take a piece of Londolozi home with them, whether as a souvenir, a gift or a keepsake.

Thoughtful reflection invites us to notice the details, to appreciate the hands behind the work, and to think beyond “a gift,” “a safari,” or “a celebration.”

Celebrating the Season, the Londolozi Way

For nearly a century, the Varty family has woven nature into their celebrations. Over the festive season, dried Aloe chabaudii are often adorned as Christmas trees, a tradition rooted in simplicity and connection to the land. Wanting to carry this familial touch into the Living Boutique, I sourced one from the village gardens with the help of our Habitat Team.

Couny Mbaso- proud member of the Habitat team, and the yearly collector of the aloe inflorescences!

From all of us at Londolozi, we wish you a season filled with connection, creativity and quiet celebration.

As the year draws to a close, the festive season offers a gentle invitation to slow down and reflect – something Londolozi has long been known for, no matter the time or season.