Highlights of Southern Africa

The Silo Hotel offers wonderful private art tours that allow guests the opportunity to learn about the incredible African art scene and to celebrate the incredible artists and their work. Widely recognised as one of the best art hotels in the world (by the likes of Forbes and The Telegraph), The Silo Hotel houses a remarkable collection. Vibrant colours shine through as the contemporary artwork and eclectic design of Liz Biden contrast Heatherwick Studio’s stark industrial architecture.

Situated below The Silo Hotel lies the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, the world's largest contemporary African art museum. This incredible space is a momentous mark on Africa’s cultural canvas, an exciting new era for African artists, and a remarkable achievement for our beautiful continent. This public, not-for-profit contemporary art museum collects, preserves, researches, and exhibits twenty-first century art from African and its Diaspora. Containing over 100 galleries, spread over nine floors, this exquisite space houses a diverse and unique range of contemporary African art. Various tours of the museum are available, including AfriSam Audio Tours, Art Tours, Architectural Tours, and Children’s Tours.

The Silo Spa, located on the fourth floor of The Silo Hotel, has five treatment rooms, two of which can be made into a couple’s room. The Silo Spa is a tranquil space in which guests can relax and indulge in the latest therapies and spa techniques. There’s also a gym, sauna and a dedicated manicure and pedicure area. Enjoy signature treatments using top international products including Ling and Black Pearl. The Silo Spa is the only spa in Africa to use exclusive Ling products.

Robben Island, easily seen from the rooftop of The Silo Hotel, is situated only 9kms offshore from Cape Town. The island was declared a World Heritage site in 1999 because of its historic political importance, having been the forced home of Nelson Mandela for 18 of the 27 years that he was a political prisoner of the apartheid regime. It is advisable to allow us to pre-book this very popular tour for you. Allow half a day for this tour.

Table Mountain is a great source of pride to all Capetonians. At 260 million years old it is older than the Andes, the Rockies, The Himalayas and the Alps, and was once under the sea. It was recently crowned as the seventh natural wonder of the world. A four minute cable car ride will take you to the 1067m “table top”, with spectacular views on the way up.

Cape Town has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches on offer. Clifton Beaches: there are four Clifton beaches, each as beautiful as the others – pack your sunscreen, a cap, some water and your Frisbee. Camps Bay: the palm fronds of Camps Bay make for the most dramatic sunset pictures – a great spot for cocktails or a bite to eat. Muizenberg: head down to the Sunrise Beach in Muizenberg and take a surfing lesson with the local experts. Cape Point & Boulders Beach: explore the Cape Peninsula and see the fascinating penguins of Boulder’s Beach on a wonderful day trip from Cape Town. Please ask a member of our team should you need directions or transport.

The best place to experience Cape Malay cuisine is on a walking tour through the Bo-Kaap (Above The Cape) District in Cape Town, an area with steep cobblestone streets and brightly-coloured houses where former Cape Malay slaves settled in the early 19th century. Stop to enjoy a local Bobotie, Sosatie, Koeksister or Cape Malay Curry for lunch whilst learning about the rich heritage of the Cape Malay people who live there.

Set among the vineyards, Leeu Spa by Healing Earth is an immersive wellness sanctuary that offers holistic treatments and experiences by expert therapists. The tailor-made offerings are inspired by Africa’s rich natural resources, with a unique focus on the myriad therapeutic benefits of South Africa’s unique Pinotage grape. Pure and premium natural products from leading holistic wellness brand Healing Earth are used in the memorable treatments.

The Wine Studio offers a truly immersive wine experience. Housed on Leeu Estates, it is run by the Mullineux & Leeu team, whose knowledgeable tasting room staff will guide guests in the finer nuances of these handcrafted wines.

Each of our Leeu Estates in-house guests receive a complimentary wine tasting at the Wine Studio during their stay.

Leeu Collection guests are invited to take advantage of fine Franschhoek weather and the beautiful surroundings at Leeu Estates to indulge in a picnic basket filled with delicious treats. Enjoy the sweeping views of valley and mountains with a glass of fine wine in hand, and a perfect al fresco repast. Think local cheeses and charcuterie with house-made Estates preserves, fresh fruit, crackers and other seasonal treats and nibbles. All this and more will create lasting memories to take home.

Terms and conditions apply.

Offered to in-house guests only.

Picnic orders must be placed 48 hours in advance.
Weather dependent.
Only available at allocated picnic spots on Leeu Estates.

Indaba – The Meeting Place at Leeu Estates is a state-of-the-art multipurpose event and meeting venue available for all in-house Leeu Collection guests. The light-filled space, with its open roof trusses, tall windows, timber floors and natural finishes, perfectly complements the collection of art and sculptures.

The well-appointed venue can accommodate up to 60 guests (cocktail) both inside and on the terrace overlooking the beautiful valley and mountain landscape for a variety of private parties, exhibitions and product launches.

Press briefings, seminars, business meetings and management think tank sessions for up to 20 guests can be accommodated in boardroom, schoolroom or U-shaped seating. Cinema seating can accommodate up to 60 guests. Indaba, which is 140m2/1 510ft2 in size and has its own lift, boasts audio and video conferencing equipment, a 203-centimetre (80-inch) television screen and high-speed wifi. Catering for Indaba is done by the The Dining Room culinary team.

Other activities within Franschhoek that can be arranged via our Concierge includes:

- Franschhoek Wine Tram (www.winetram.co.za)
- Hiking in the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve (www.montrochellehiking.co.za)
- Franschhoek Motor Museum (www.fmm.co.za)
- Various full day and half day wine tours
- Franschhoek Huguenot Monument (www.museum.co.za)

Game drives at Londolozi are taken by professional, passionate and knowledgeable rangers and trackers, who amongst them have a wealth of 350 years of experience. With over 15 000 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 thicket in pursuit of elusive animals, simultaneously wowing guests with their outstanding knowledge and unforgettable stories.

Many of the rangers and trackers at Londolozi grew up living off the land in these parts and therefore have an unmatched knowledge of both the area and the elements of nature within this wilderness wonderland. Londolozi boasts two of South Africa’s only 17 master trackers, which only adds to the excellence of the team and the experience they are able to deliver.

Come to Londolozi and embark on the experience of a lifetime. Allow our field guides to wow you with their knowledge, move you with their stories, and bring you one step closer to nature.

Suitable for the beautiful balmy bushveld days in May, June and July; there is nothing like walking in a winter wilderness. Drift down a game trail into a dry riverbed. Feel the crisp morning rhythm of Africa with each step on the winding path as you let nature captivate you in her essence. There is no vehicle, no noise and no distractions. This is when nature speaks to you.

The birdlife at Londolozi represents a magic of diversity in perpetual motion and offers the visitor an entirely new frontier in wilderness engagement. A wide array of sunbirds seeking nectar from the flowering aloes is winter’s gift to the discerning birder, not to mention the other 450 species

which abound in these landscapes. Many fine ornithologist guides reside at Londolozi.

Yoga means ‘union’ in Sanskrit and refers to the bringing together of mind, body and spirit. Asanas, also a Sanskrit word, refers to the poses and postures developed in India to join mind and body in spiritual awareness.

At Londolozi we have added the powerful elements of nature to the yoga experience, using both the natural energy of the location and tailor made Asanas, to create a yoga form which is suitable for beginners and intermediate practitioners.

You are free to schedule a private yoga session in your room or in the shade of your deck. Alternatively, daily classes are held on the yoga deck beside Founders Camp. Please ask your camp manager for class times. We look forward to you joining us to greet the sun and strengthen the vital life of the body.

"Londolozi could well be one of the most forward-thinking emotional-wellness offerings in southern Africa right now" - Condé Naste Traveller Magazine, The Spa Guide, 2019

At Londolozi, we believe in honouring ancient ways, harmony in flow and the rhythms of nature.

After four decades of delivering a photographic safari immersion to discerning international safari travellers, we believe that the time is now to create a new space which allows the Londolozi wilderness to become our enduring source of wellness.

Our hope is that at the Londolozi Healing House, situated at Varty Camp, you will rediscover what it means to be human, and attuned to the natural world.

The Londolozi Healing House is a place of remembering, a shift from the world of doing into the world of being, a chance to re-discover your own nature and access a deep and natural intelligence which lies within the still core of your own wild self.

The Londolozi Healing House experience will help you to combine the core safari excursions with artful resting, curated bodywork and yoga in the surrounds of the expansive wilderness presence of Londolozi. We have crafted some special activities for true rejuvenation, restoration and transformation.

Working with our trained Wellness Practitioners, Therapists and Wilderness Guides, we invite you to commune with the African wilderness and to find within you a sense of wellbeing. In the hurried world of today, true luxury is time to oneself in search of self-healing and connection to nature. The Londolozi Healing House is a place where time will allow for intangible magic, stillness and contemplation to stir deep within you.

“Wilderness reminds us what it means to be human, what we are connected to rather
than what we are separate from." – Terry Tempest Williams

Londolozi’s fully equipped gym offers running, cycling and rowing machines which allow for a perfect workout, complemented by a daily routine of eating well and relaxing into harmony with nature. The gym is situated in Varty Camp and is open to all guests.

Campfires, storytelling, red wine and good company are the hallmark of any winter safari. Coming from a long line of storytellers, Londolozi’s history is steeped in the tradition of campfire yarns told late into the night. In each of the 5 exclusive camps you can hear the whispers of our ancestors and embodied in our history, are the legends and myths of the mysteries and adventures of safari. Each camp has its own spirit and each has its own campfire which awaits you.

On visiting Londolozi in 1992 Mandela saw the vision that was being lived by the employees and management in collaboration with nature.

“During my long walk to freedom, I had the rare privilege to visit Londolozi. There I saw people of all races living in harmony amidst the beauty that mother nature offers” - Nelson Mandela

It is in this light that the Freedom’s Way art installation has been completed to draw attention to the values which Nelson Mandela put forward to our nation and to compliment the Londolozi village walk which all guests are encouraged to experience.

Starting at the 1926 Sparta Camp, situated in the heart of Varty Camp, the village walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela is led by Linah Lamula. This short walk from Varty Camp is best taken after breakfast. The village walk allows guests to interact with many of our staff and their families who have lived and worked at Londolozi for over 30 years.

While it is important to recognise Mandela’s solo achievements, it is critical that we take his passion into our own lives, taking forward the elements of great leadership to heal the human affliction in the world. Nelson Mandela is an icon and leader who is loved by all South Africans, young, old, rich and poor. He is known and respected throughout the world. Through all he suffered and achieved and through his attitude and values he has taught us the most valuable lessons as a country and each of us individuals.

Courage: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid but he who conquers that fear.”

Freedom: “I have walked the long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter. I have made mistakes along the way. But I have discovered the secret after climbing a great hill, one only finds there are many more hills to climb.”

Resilience: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.”

Trust: “We signal that good can be achieved amongst human beings who are prepared to trust, prepared to believe in the goodness of people.”

Unity: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Empathy: “I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I, therefor place the remaining years of my life in your hands.”

Vision: “The power of imagination created the illusion that my vision went much further than the naked eye could actually see.”

Patience: “Patience is waiting, not passively waiting. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow.”

Londolozi is the home of the photographic safari and has long been recognised as a superb location for wildlife photography, specialising in the big cats. Incredible light, diverse scenery and a plethora of African wildlife set the stage for unsurpassed photographic theatre.

There are many ways to take advantage of this incredible location.

The Private Vehicle
For the photographic veteran, or anyone who is looking for privacy while on game drive, wanting a vehicle entirely to themselves.

A private safari vehicle can be reserved for individuals and families. A dedicated Ranger and Tracker team will focus on tailoring the safari experience around the guest’s specific needs and interests (e.g. birding, botany, big cats, photography etc.). This is ideal for experienced safari-goers or those who enjoy a little more privacy.

Included:

One morning and one afternoon game drive per day
A dedicated Ranger and Tracker team

The Londolozi Wildlife Photographic Experience
Perfect for beginner and enthusiast photographers who are wanting to make photography the main focus of their safari. For this safari option, we will pair you with a photographic tutor who will assist you both in the field and in post-processing and editing.

Londolozi is known across the world as a destination which offers remarkable photographic wildlife opportunities and is the perfect place to learn and craft this incredible art form.

Included:

A private safari vehicle
A professional photographic tutor with advanced knowledge in:
The camera & best settings
Vehicle positioning
Expertise in the use of light (especially low light conditions)
Post processing & image organisation
A dedicated Ranger and Tracker team focused on getting you into the best photographic positions possible
Full access to the Londolozi Photography Studio for post-processing and editing.
This safari type must be requested and booked prior to arrival

Rent photographic equipment
The Photographic Studio offers guests the chance to rent a multitude of professional level photographic bodies, lenses and accessories. Gone are the days of lugging heavy camera gear around the world. Now it’s as simple as pre-booking your gear and finding it ready for use upon your arrival at the lodge.

First-time photographers can also try out the latest telephoto lens and body setups by requesting the equipment at the lodge. If you want to capture a close-up of a leopard in a tree, a fish eagle in flight or zebras grooming each other, the photographic studio has the right lens to get you the perfect shot.

The Photographic Studio- on location at Londolozi- is very popular with Londolozi guests, who are able to direct and produce their own creative work. With tuition from a qualified Lightroom instructor, you can spend time between game drives editing and printing your best safari shots on wide-format canvas or high quality photo paper, along with the final edited shots on a memory stick.

Londolozi Photographic Studio at a Glance

Open daily (booking required)
Edit your images using Lightroom CC on the latest widescreen retina display iMacs - an incredible process that would enhance any wildlife photo
Print your personal images onto wide-format canvas or photo paper
Take your edited shots with you on a memory stick