Kaitlyn Rose

Review of Londolozi Private Game Reserve

There aren t enough stars to rate the perfect expe...

There aren t enough stars to rate the perfect experience I had for four days at Londolozi s Varty Camp.

Upon landing at the airstrip with two friends, we were greeted by the amazing Bruce and Robert, the guide/tracker pair who became our hosts - but more importantly, our friends - throughout our stay. Each day, we spent 3-4 hours in the morning and evening exploring the Sabi Sands. What did we see? A lion roaring into the night. A pride feasting on a zebra. Lion cubs napping. Herds of giraffe, elephant, zebra and various antelope. Pairs of rhinos. Leopards, leopards, leopards! The game viewing was such a treat, that we couldn t help but chant the names of Bruce and Rob as we drove back into camp following each ride.

But beyond that was hospitality like I ve never experienced (and I ve traveled extensively in Asia, where service is just exceptional). Our camp managers Sarah, Cry and Gracie were attentive to every small detail; our dining room staff, Margs and Colbert, were a delight serving every delicious meal that Molly, Deborah, Eric and team whipped up (shout-out for the signature sexy dressing!); Matt from the photo studio treated us like we were his oldest friends; Mama Lena and the Beautiful Ladies Choir got us dancing; and there s no denying the rugged good looks of the entire ranger staff... (Hey Guy, please come visit NYC!)

Lots of thought goes into the process of grouping the vehicles, and our trio of three 30-something ladies from NYC hit it off right out of the gate with a lovely couple from Texas (Alex and Johnny) who were celebrating their 10 year anniversary. The morning coffees (with Amarula) and afternoon sundowners (bubbles, of course) in the bush were filled with laughter and story-telling, and the camaraderie truly enhanced the experience.

Though it s hard to pick a highlight, a stand-out moment was our final night, when Bruce, Rob, Sarah and Matt surprised us with a private campfire and dinner in the middle of the bush. Bruce even broke out his guitar! Cue the swooning. <3. I understand this doesn t happen for every group of guests, and it made us all feel extraordinarily special. I m not overly emotional, yet was a ball of tears the morning we said our goodbyes (especially when we saw our dear tracker Robert waving with both arms as our plane took off).

To the whole Londolozi team: THANK YOU! I hope to return in May 2021 and share the experience with more people in my life. I am going to refer you like crazy, as everyone needs to experience the magic of Londolozi!

Lots of love from NYC!!! - Kaitlyn