The Centenary Era

As Londolozi celebrates its centenary in 2026, we find ourselves reflecting on a remarkable journey that began a hundred years ago on the banks of the Sand River. The past decade has unfolded as a time of gentle renewal and inspired innovation, all while honouring the deep roots that have always nourished this special place.

Celebrating Milestones (2016)

In 2016, Londolozi celebrated its 90th anniversary with a tribute to the land, the people, and the leopards of Londolozi. This significant milestone honored nine decades of transformation—from a hunting camp to a global leader in conservation, from a handful of mud huts to an iconic sanctuary that has touched countless hearts across generations.

The celebration recognised not just the physical evolution of Londolozi but the spiritual journey of a place that has continually redefined what it means to protect wilderness while nurturing human potential.

Resilience Through Challenge (2020)

In 2020, Londolozi faced the unprecedented challenge of a worldwide pandemic and global travel shutdown. Like the leopard that adapts to changing landscapes, Londolozi responded with characteristic resilience and innovation.

That same year witnessed the launch of Londolozi’s Virtual Safaris—a creative response that opened windows to the wilderness when physical doors had to close. These digital journeys carried the magic of the bushveld into homes around the world, maintaining vital connections between Londolozi and its global family during a time of separation. It was over this period that we released our first online wellness challenges: 7 Day Mindfulness Challenge  and 7 Day Animal Wisdom Challenge.

The Londolozi Ripple Fund (2021)

In 2021, the formalization of the Londolozi Ripple Fund marked the culmination of 30 years of microfunding creating a macro impact. The fund now flows outward like the river itself, carrying support for education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods to neighboring communities.

Named for the way positive actions spread in ever-widening circles, the fund weaves together conservation and community wellbeing in ways that would surely warm the hearts of those who first lit a campfire here in 1926.

Global Recognition (2022)

In 2022, Londolozi made history once again by receiving the prestigious Relais & Chateaux Sustainability Trophy, recognising the pioneering integration of luxury hospitality with environmental stewardship and community empowerment. This milestone award celebrated their enduring commitment to conservation and regenerative tourism practices.

This recognition affirmed what the Londolozi family had always known—that true luxury is inseparable from ethical stewardship, and that the most meaningful experiences emerge when human excellence honors the sanctity of the natural world.

Wilderness Healing

Within the sanctuary of the Healing House, ancient African wisdom meets contemporary wellness practices, offering a haven where guests reconnect with themselves as they reconnect with nature. Here, the healing power of the wilderness infuses every experience, from therapeutic treatments using indigenous plants to meditation beneath the canopy of ancient trees.

The Wilderness Retreats, tenderly guided by Boyd and Bronwyn Varty, invites participants into deeper communion with the wild. More than traditional safaris, these journeys blend wildlife encounters with soul-nurturing practices – tracking on foot, sitting in silent observation, sharing stories around the fire – all creating spaces for personal transformation through gentle immersion in nature’s rhythms.

A Hundred Years of Care (2026)

As 2026 marks Londolozi’s centennial year, we celebrate a historic milestone of 100 years since the Varty family first set foot on this sacred land. From its humble beginnings to its emergence as a global leader in conservation and sustainable tourism, this milestone honours a century of transformative wildlife encounters and unwavering dedication to Africa’s wilderness.

As we gather to honor Londolozi’s centenary, we’re celebrating not just a timeline but a living story – one written by generations of the Varty and Taylor families, by the dedicated staff members who pour their hearts into this place, and by the communities whose relationship with the reserve has blossomed from separation into true partnership.

This milestone invites us to look forward as much as back, imagining how we might continue as “protectors of all living things” for the next hundred years, adapting to new challenges while holding true to the vision that has guided us from the beginning.

What began as a simple hunting camp has grown into something beautiful and meaningful – a place where wilderness protection, community wellbeing, and personal transformation flow together like streams joining a river. As Londolozi steps into its second century, we carry with us the wisdom of those who came before, along with their spirit of adventure and deep reverence for the wild. 

The journey continues, and we invite you to be part of it.