Tag: Londolozi

Londolozi Earns Three Michelin Keys: Where Connection Is the True Currency

Posted on by James

The Michelin Guide has spoken — and Londolozi has joined a rarified circle. In the inaugural list of global lodges recognised for excellence in hospitality, Londolozi has earned Three Michelin Keys, the highest possible rating.

For those unfamiliar, the new system is Michelin’s way of recognising the world’s most extraordinary places to stay — where design, service, character, value, and connection to place combine into something unforgettable. The restaurant world has long had its stars; now the lodging world has its keys. And in Londolozi’s case, the metaphor fits perfectly.

Because a stay here really is about unlocking something — not just a door to your suite, but a door into the wilderness itself. The luxury is evident, of course: the seamless service, the design that whispers rather than shouts, the food that would make even a Parisian inspector pause mid-bite. But it’s the connection that sets Londolozi apart. Connection to land, to community, to guests, and to a philosophy that’s been evolving for almost a century.

You feel it in the quiet professionalism of a tracker reading leopard spoor at dawn. You feel it in the stillness of the river at sunset, when the light folds over the granite outcrops and the bushveld seems to exhale. You feel it in the staff who’ve worked here for generations — living proof that hospitality, when done right, becomes heritage.

Michelin calls the Three-Key rating “an extraordinary stay.” But that hardly covers it. Londolozi doesn’t just offer extraordinary stays; it offers perspective. It reminds guests that luxury isn’t about what’s added, but what’s revealed when everything unnecessary falls away.

Earning Three Keys isn’t just a nod to Londolozi’s excellence — it’s an acknowledgment of its ethos: that true hospitality has always been about belonging. The kind that doesn’t just welcome you for a night, but stays with you long after you’ve left.

Know Thy Camera: Why Valuable Seconds Count in Wildlife Photography

Posted on by James

The difference between the greatest wildlife photographers and those just getting started isn’t actually that much, when it comes to actual time taken to snap a shot.
In terms of the number of seconds between spotting an opportunity, lifting one’s eye to the viewfinder, dialling in your settings an pushing the shutter button, the complete rookie might take just a few seconds longer – ten at the most – but the difference in image quality is – for the most part – utterly remarkable.

So how do the pros make those few seconds count so drastically in their favour?

The main thing to remember is that you’re dealing with wildlife. “Wild” being the operative word. With no control over an animal’s movements, when a moment passes it’s likely gone forever.
There are therefore two main factors at play here:

  1. Anticipation

  2. Dialling in your settings. Quickly.

Let’s talk about the first one briefly.

As obvious as it may sound, understanding wildlife behaviour is of primary importance in wildlife photography, for the simple reason that predicting what is likely to. happen next cand and often will set you up to both be in the right position for a shot and to have everything ready on your camera, from lens choice to settings.
Realising that a lion yawning in the soft evening light means that he will likely yawn again soon and then get moving will inform you as to what shutter speed, aperture and ISO you should be using.
Being new in the game however means you will be relying heavily on your safari guide for this information, so make sure you are asking questions and looking for prompts as to what is probably going to happen next, and you can switch to part2: Dialling in Your Settings.

Although some sort of base level ISO and shutter speed will be adequate for at least capturing a memory of a scene (which modern cameras can often do a decent job with on Auto mode), the more control you are taking when it comes to settings selection the better, as you will necessarily be able to increase image quality and start to look for the photos you want to capture in terms of your own interpretation of a scene.

Believe me, the few seconds it takes to bring your camera down, look for the button you want to be pressing, pressing it, scrolling through the menu for the desired setting then bringing the camera up again to eye level, composing the shot and then snapping it, will more often than not result in the scene you originally saw or envisioned having already changed, and you will find yourself behind the 8-ball.

This is where the pros have the upper-hand; they have spent so much time adjusting settings at speed, in the field, without removing their eye from the view-finder, that a 2-second tweak with the thumb and forefinger dials can completely change what mode and settings they’re shooting on, and have them fully prepared to nail the shot.
As with so many things in life that demand mastery, the muscle memory is what sets them apart here.

Don’t get disheartened though.

The good news in the early days of anyone’s wildlife photography journey is that although the learning curve is steep at first, but you can attain a decent level quickly:

Once you hit the plateau stage, it takes hours in the field and thousands of photos. to start seeing real change, but that initial period of increasing competence can very much be fast-tracked by just knowing your camera.

You shouldn’t have to be fiddling around trying to work out how to change the shutter speed when the leopard is about to launch up the tree. It should just happen.
Sun suddenly disappeared behind some dark clouds? Low light? Raise your ISO immediately! One push of a button, quick scroll, done.

Looking at the menu above, things might seem complicated, but trust me; a few basic concepts and you’re set.
Yes you will have to take time to come to terms with what’s what, but knowing how to change settings is what’s going to make the difference.

When in a photographic situation, a good guide might tell you something like “Make sure your aperture is wide open and your ISO is at about 1600. That should get you a decent shutter speed”. It’s then up to you to get those settings set up. As a sighting unfolds, he or she might be issuing updates on the fly; “Ok the sun’s gone down.. I’d double your ISO now. Use a beanbag to keep the camera steady. Make sure your shutter speed is at least 1/320”. Or something like that.

You don’t even have to be too comfortable with what all the terms mean or how they relate to each other; as long as you can respond to a verbal instruction from your guide, you’ll at least be able to get the shot.

Sitting for half an hour before you come on safari to make sure you know what each button on the camera does, how to access menus and which dials to spin for what result will go a long way towards relieving frustration when actually out in the field, believe us!

For those interested in private photographic tutelage on safari through a specialist photographic guide, get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com.

We know where the best photographic lodges are to be found, so if you are looking for any photographic advice pre-, during- or even post-safari, don’t hesitate to reach out.

A Londolozi Revisit

Posted on by James

Londolozi was where it all began for Iconic Africa.

Years ago, around a boma fire, IA directors John Holley and Terri Abadi – ranger and guest – chatted about life, travel, and how through their respective global positions (Johannesburg and Atlanta, Georgia) and experience in the industry, there was an opportunity for a boutique travel company to service both markets simultaneously.

Fast forward just over a decade, and Iconic Africa now has guests from all over the world travelling on luxury safaris throughout the year.


Our team has grown and we now feature an office in Hoedspruit –  the heart of the South African safari industry.

We send guests across the continent on incredible itineraries and are currently looking to expand our offering to Asia and Antarctica.

We link guests with top Private Guides to create a seamless safari and create continuity throughout their African experience.

So it was with great excitement that the team assembled at Londolozi’s most newly refurbished camp, Founders.

At Founders Camp, classic meets modern. This Londolozi signature camp is clean and uncomplicated and really comfortable, leaving nothing forgotten. You will get the feeling of all the comforts of a stylish African home that is ideally situated to provide an insider’s view of the secrets of river life. Classy, grounded and timeless – Londolozi’s Founders Camp represents a safari style that is inviting and restful.

Ten bespoke and varied superior chalets repose in the shade of ancient Ebony and Matumi trees along the banks of the Sand River.

Founders Camp honours the early Londolozi staff, many of them larger-than-life characters whose names have gone on to become legend in the wider guiding and travel industries (one even attended the wedding of Prince Harry & Meghan Markle).
Their legacy continues to this day through an unwavering commitment from all staff to provide an incredible guest experience whilst doing everything possible to conserve this landscape in as natural a state as possible.

Our small Iconic team could sadly only stay for two nights, but as usual, Londolozi delivered at every turn.

Although our visit felt like it was over far too quickly (it’ll do so no matter how long you stay for), we packed so much in that we could have been there for a week.

Dinner in the bush, getting stuck in a dry riverbed, constant laughter, and more stunning wildlife than we could ever have hoped for to point our cameras at; we were truly spoilt during our short stay.


We love the safari industry for how varied it is. Africa is an incredible mosaic of destinations and accompanying experiences.

But for a stunning level of consistency across the board – be it food, rooms, guiding standard, wildlife sightings or just simply having an amazing time – we have no hesitation in putting Londolozi right up there on the podium.

If Founders Camp, or any of the other four amazing camps on this reserve, feature on your to-do list, let’s get chatting…

Get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start planning your dream safari…

Kids on Safari: Where to Go, What to Do?

Posted on by James

If you want to truly open your eyes to the wonders of nature, take your kids on safari.

There is a stunning curiosity that is innate in children, but tends to fade as we get older; a curiosity that is wide open to possibility, and a curiosity in all things, whether great or small.
The intricacies of natural ecosystems are dependent on all their inhabitants, not just the big furry things that most of us want to take photos of, and this curiosity of your kids will expose it to you in the most wonderful way.

Whether it be moulding a lion’s track out of plaster of Paris or understanding the egg case of a praying mantis, the unending ways in which kids’ interests are piqued on safari makes sure that it is one of the most stimulating trips they will ever take.

Most lodges in Africa insist upon a minimum age of 6 to bring kids on safari, with some increasing that to 12. If 6 is the number, then for the most part the lodge will also insist that you pay extra for a private vehicle, which, while being slightly more expensive, does ensure that your safari is run at your own pace, and guests not related to your group won’t be impacted in any way, or vice versa.
Private safari villas are on the rise for those for whom privacy and creature comforts are the focus. This means safari villas with their own guides, vehicles, chefs and sometimes spas. These will almost always be separate from, but associated with, a wider lodge. There’s also the possibility of exclusive-use booking of micro-camps. With these setups, it may be possible to flout the minimum age policy.

A game drive with children is likely to be far more inclusive of a wider range of senses. Nibble this delicious wild berry, feel the texture of the bark of this ancient leadwood tree, get down to eye level with this marching ant column… the longer gaps between the sightings of larger game are done away with as everything is explored, and children will find that the natural world is as broad as their imaginations.

Our favourite places to safari with kids are:

Londolozi, South Africa:

With their long-established Cubs Den Program, Londolozi has decades of experience in making young kids feel right at home in the bush. A dedicated

In the words of former Londolozi Ranger (and father of two) Tom Imrie:

A Children’s Safari Program is often set out with the intention of keeping little ones busy while the parents relax. It has a fairly rigid timetable and is usually unchanged from season to season, year to year. A Children’s Philosophy embraces the fact that each child is unique and he or she has a different departure point to fun. Our philosophy therefore promises that while the parents relax we’ll find that departure point for your children and maximize their enjoyment in this exciting environment. This philosophy comes, as you can see, from Londolozi’s nearly 100 year history and experience of five generations in the bush.

Londolozi has long perfected the art of the Family Safari. Family Land Rovers can stop often for kids to jump out and utilize their senses. Touching, feeling, smelling, throwing – it all comes into the mix and we recognize that a four hour game drive can be a long time for a child to sit still. We believe it is essential to get the little ones off the vehicle as often as possible, even if it’s just to identify tracks.

Jack’s Camp, Botswana:

With its open grasslands and seemingly endless salt pans that stretch to the horizon, Jack’s Camp is a place where the imagination can stretch…

Whilst the safari activities here are meant for anyone and everyone, many of them are of special interest to younger minds, who are able to appreciate things in a different way to adults.
Walking with the San Bushmen, sitting with the local meerkat colony as they get foraging into the morning, or cruising on a quad bike across the desert sands (for the slightly older kids on safari); all are slightly out of the normal approach to safaris, but offer such diversity of experience as to make a stay at Jack’s Camp a continual wealth of stimulation.

Kids will end the day  in blissful exhaustion after all they’ve seen and done…

Singita Serengeti House, Grumeti Reserve, Tanzania:

The Great Wildebeest Migration is one of Nature’s great spectacles. Singita Serengeti House’s enviable perch in the private Grumeti Reserve provides some of the best seats in the area to watch thousands upon thousands of wildebeest, zebra and other plains game journey in search of better grazing. Not only will you and your family be able to see this natural phenomenon first hand, you’ll also have exclusive use of the luxury house – including private onsite staff, a private safari vehicle and dedicated guide.

The Migration isn’t the only entertainment on the cards. Family bonding can take place over a match of tennis, watching a movie in the media room, or taking a dip in the 25-metre infinity swimming pool. Serengeti House also has a Mini Rangers course that’s sure to delight children of all ages. Young explorers will have the opportunity to learn how to track animals, dabble in some astronomy, upskill in bush survival techniques, put their knowledge to the test in nature quizzes, and participate in a whole host of fun competitions.

Safari doesn’t have to be for the rugged explorer anymore (although there are certainly still places that call for this kind of adventurer). It is becoming a more and more refined experience for the whole family. All-inclusive, interpretive, and deeply fulfilling, it promises to bond people together like few other journeys can or will.

If you are wondering whether or not taking your kids with you on safari is the right move, it almost certainly is.

Get hold of us through info@iconicafrica.com to find out about more amazing safari options at which you can open your children’s eyes to the magic of this wonderful world…

What Camera Do I Need on Safari?

Posted on by James

This question is as broad as safari options on the continent.
Camera bodies marketed with a huge pixel count, 96 000 focal points for auto-focus, this-and-this sensor with some kind of tracking you’ve never even heard of.

Then a lens with nitrogen filled glass systems, nano AR coating and an 11-blade circular diaphragm… is it all just designed to confuse you so you buy?

Maybe.

But choosing a camera is usually easier than you think, and doesn’t have to break the bank.

The first thing to remember, is that the best camera is always the one you have with you. No camera? No picture.

An iPhone can take great photos for memories (although they are limited in their capabilities, which we’ll get on to just now).

The main questions to consider when it comes to choosing a camera to buy (or to rent, as lots of lodges offer on-site rental options these days) is: what are you going to do with the pictures?

If you are simply going to be taking a few snaps to show your friends or send to them via Watsapp, or post on Instagram, then an iPhone – or Android – is probably more than enough to capture some memories (which is really the whole point).
But if you are going to look to print anything, make it your computer background, use it as a presentation, or anything that might require a slightly more professional approach, you’ll need to think beyond a simple phone.

The reality is that photography is about storytelling, and you need to consider how best to tell the story in front of you.
If you are sitting with a pride of lions, don’t try to get a photo of a single lioness, rather zoom out and capture the whole pride. That’ll give people a far better sense of your experience.

So what do we need for the wide-angle vs zoomed shot in terms of lens?

Well, versatility for one thing.
The most versatile lens we favour when starting out in safari photography is the Canon 28-300mm. It’s really the ultimate tool for photographers looking for the ultimate solution. Kind of like an all-in one shop. Sure there are lenses that allow you to shoot at a wider angle, or zooms that allow for a wider aperture (and more light), but for sheer number of options, there is no better than this beauty for starting out:

As one gets into more advanced photography, maybe a two lens setup (one wide-angle and one zoom) would be better, but when starting out, versatility is your friend.

Then in terms of camera bodies, you are essentially spoiled for choice.

Don’t be fooled by the big numbers presented to you in a camera’s specifications. You probably don’t want the 54 megapixels offered to you in the latest body to hit the shelves; your file size is going to be huge, you will need a bigger (and more expensive) memory card, the camera’s processor won’t be able to handle the files quite as quickly without a decent memory card, slowing your frame rate, and unless you are planning to print your photo to go on a billboard or to fill the size of a house, the megapixel count is completely unnecessary.
The camera picture below is the Canon R10. It’s a third of the price of the more professional bodies, but has more than enough processing power to get you the shots you need.
The beauty of most mirrorless cameras now (swiftly becoming the norm in photography circles) is that most of them offer a handy video component as well…

Stick around the 20 megapixel range for your first camera and you’ll be absolutely fine. Sure you might not be able to crop in as much when editing, but if you literally have to crop out half of your photo, you probably got something wrong whilst taking it in the first place.

A high frame rate can be handy when capturing action, but the difference between 11 fps (frames per second) and 20 is negligible when it comes to real-world situations. With 11 photos in one second, you will capture more than enough when there’s action happening, believe me!

Photography should be enjoyable, yet wildlife photography can be so frustrating, largely due to the unpredictability of the animals themselves. This is where a good guide comes in handy; he or she will understand behaviour to the point where they can position the vehicle in the right place in order to capture the moment, as well as being able to advise you on what settings to use when taking your pictures in what situations.

Whatever camera set-up you go for, remember to practice with it before going on safari,. You don’t want to be stuck fiddling with buttons and settings whilst the leopard is about to launch into the tree with its kill.

Any questions about photography, be sure to get hold of us at info@iconicafrica.com…

Celebrating 10 Years of Iconic Africa

Posted on by James

When Londolozi Ranger John Holley picked up guest Terri Abadi from the Londolozi airstrip to host her and her family for their safari, little did he know that over a decade later they would be business partners in a venture revolving around the ruling passion in both their lives; safari.

Although having moved to Atlanta from Johannesburg in the 90’s, Terri’s love for her home continent of Africa led her to begin her own boutique travel agency in 2013. John, having a solid business pedigree and loving the safari industry himself, was looking to get involved in his own way too, largely with the aim of using travel to help promote and fund conservation initiatives.

John Holley as a young ranger at Londolozi in 2011.

And so in December of 2014, Terri and John joined forces to turn a traditional travel agency into a world-beating online travel platform that showcases the African destinations which best represent Iconic Africa’s values of opulent luxury, world-beating African hospitality, delectable contemporary cuisine and most importantly an authentic commitment to wilderness conservation.

 

Fast forward ten years, and Iconic Africa has introduced hundreds of guests from across the world to the wonders of Africa.
From the Okavango Delta to Cape Town’s foreshore to the majestic plains of the Serengeti, Iconic has left no stone unturned in their continued search for the best options for their bespoke safaris.
Each guest has a highly experienced travel specialist work through their whole itinerary with them from beginning to end, answering any questions no matter what time of day. Although Iconic works with hundreds of lodges, the preference is and always will be for those that have a heavy focus on community upliftment and conservation initiatives, whilst reducing their environmental impact at the same time through a shift to green energy and systems that reduce their carbon footprint.

Now with an office in the safari town of Hoedspruit, bordering South Africa’s Kruger National Park, Iconic Africa keep their pulse on the latest safari trends, new lodges, flight specials, and anything else that might contribute towards making a guest’s trip that much more memorable.

It’s been an amazing decade of fun, adventure, learning and making safari dreams come true.

Here’s to the next 10…

 

 

Disconnect to Reconnect

Posted on by James

An African sunset makes you feel at peace.

There are few things on earth that can bring such a level of contentment into your life in one moment. It doesn’t matter what other stresses might be going on back home; mortgage, bills, business deals, impending board meetings… in that brief period of time, surrounded by beauty, likely with gin and tonic in hand and the sound of the African Bush shifting from day mode to night, everything seems right with the world…

Look around at who you’re with…

Wife, kids, friends… The ranger who you have bonded with so quickly over the course of your safari, he or she almost feels like an extension of your family…
The company is stellar, the view amazing. The fact that you haven’t read an email in hours, even better.

The feeling you have is one that may have been missing for a good long while. It’s the feeling of you as you were meant to be.
The authentic self can most easily be found in nature, far from any screens, wifi, advertising or media of any sort. This is where you can rekindle relationships, be at your most vulnerable and honest, and realise things about yourself that it took removing yourself completely from your normal environment to discover…

At Iconic Africa, we pride ourselves in the experiences we craft for our guests. We tailor-make itineraries that we know will reconnect people with the versions of themselves that they were meant to be. Through immersions in other cultures, deep dives into the ways of the wild and journeys into wildernesses most can only dream of, we seek to reawaken parts of peoples souls that have long lain dormant.
And through disconnecting from the fast-paced world that most of us inhabit, by switching off phones and leaving an ‘out-of-office’ response on our email, we get that much closer to true authenticity.

To quote J.R.R. Tolkein –

The world isn’t in your books or maps… It’s out there…

We’ve been out there in Africa and we’ve seen it. We encourage you with all our hearts to do the same…

 

A Londolozi of Leopards

Posted on by James

The collective noun for multiple leopards is actually a Leap, but the alternate term in this post’s title is more than appropriate, given that Londolozi practically pioneered leopard viewing as we know it today.

In the early 1970’s, thanks to progressive land-management practices and a sensitive approach to viewing wildlife, Londolozi started seeing a single female leopard fairly regularly. Carefully observing her habits and getting her used to the game drive vehicles meant that her cubs picked up her relaxed approach to being viewed, which spawned successive generations of habituated leopards. Londolozi is now viewing its 8th generation of leopards descended from that single female; most likely the most documented leopard lineage in existence.

These days Londolozi remains at the epicentre of Leopard viewing. A camera-trap study conducted by the Panthera Organisation concluded that the Sabi Sand Reserve contains the densest population of these spotted cats yet recorded in Africa, with Londolozi and its neighbours (all of whom sit at the core of the Sabi Sands) containing the highest density of them all; approximately 12 leopards per 100 square kilometres.

A combination of ideal habitat and the resulting prey availability, as well as the fact that the reserve is unfenced and open to the 6 million hectare Greater Kruger National Park, has maintained the population as stable and allowed for unrestricted genetic flow.

Experienced rangers and trackers – among the best in the business – understand the behaviour of the cats intimately and are able to find them on game drives repeatedly.
Although leopards steal the show, and are one of the reasons that guests visit Londolozi from all over the world, they are part of a much wider cast of wildlife, including all the Big 5, as well as cheetahs, wild dogs and a plethora of general game species that will your camera’s memory card up more rapidly than you could dare dream.

The camps themselves offer a wonderful diversity of accommodation options, from the slightly larger family camps – Founders and Varty – to the three-roomed Pioneer Camp, which is generally booked in the exclusive-use villa style, you will almost certainly be able to find what you are looking for.

It is the people of Londolozi that truly set the place apart however.
Since the Varty family rebranded the lodge as a stand-alone, family-run affair in 2007, the vibrant culture that permeates into every nook and cranny of the land has become more and more entrenched, and for many repeat guests, it is the friends they have made amongst the staff that sees them returning time and time again.
Some can boast over 50 visits…

Londolozi delivers time and time again, from the bush experience they offer to the food, hospitality, wellness spa and everything in between.
It may be the place to see leopards but it is also the place to feel more alive than you thought you could. Where you can reconnect with ancient energy and connect to yourself all over again…

Get in touch now through info@iconicafrica.com to enquire about rates and availability…

Iconic Africa’ Team Bucket Lists: Jess Craig

Posted on by James

Jess Craig recently joined the Iconic Africa sales team. Her love of the bush started when she was tiny, and she has been visiting the South African Lowveld since before she could walk. A career in hospitality in some of the finest lodges in Southern Africa have made her a true connoisseur of the guest experience, so when she handpicks a lodge for our clients, they can be sure it’s something pretty special.

Here are a few of her favourites…

Each of these 3 properties has a piece of my heart.  Apart from being incredible in terms of the experiences they offer and their magnificent locations, they have all played a significant role in the journey and direction of my life.

Phinda Forest Lodge

It is here that I met the love of my life. While working as the Hospitality Manager at Phinda Forest Lodge, my husband walked into my life and it has been one of my greatest gifts. The Sand Forest will forever be the guardian of my greatest love story.

Dulini Moya

Dulini was the catalyst that sparked my career in hospitality.  It was the first safari lodge I ever worked at, and it was certainly not the last.  It led to 12 years of managing some of the most beautiful and unique camps throughout South Africa. I will be eternally grateful to Dulini Moya for igniting this passion in me.

Londolozi Founders Camp

On the afternoon of my 27th birthday, while working at Founders Camp, I was mistakenly left out in the wild. It was this extraordinary experience that enticed me to become a safari guide: one of the most rewarding decisions of my career.

My 3 bucket-list properties that I hope to visit some day:

Pel’s Post

For my unwavering love of elephants and Baobab Trees.

Tswalu Tarkuni

With my family – for endless horizons, aardvarks, ochre sand, star-studded skies and family togetherness

Wilderness Damaraland

For untamed wilderness, desert elephants by moonlight and ancient geology…

Mala Mala Winter Madness

Posted on by James

Winter is almost upon the South African Lowveld, which encompasses the Kruger National Park and its adjacent private reserves like the Timbavati, the Sabi Sands, and more relevant to this particular post, Mala Mala.

One of the original photographic safari lodges in the country, Mala Mala has had its doors open to wildlife aficionados since the late 60s, and although the camps have been upgraded since then, the menu has been refined and the experience developed somewhat, the thing that has remained unchanged over all those years is what makes the place part of the epicentre of Big 5 viewing in the region; the wildlife.

Attracted by the perennial Sand River (along which Mala Mala enjoys 20km of frontage), the wildlife flocks in in droves during the winter months – the dry season in this region – when surface water is scarce but the river remains constant.
Lions lounge on the high banks, waiting for the buffalo herds to descend down the dead-end sandy culverts. Leopards slink through the Phragmites reeds, sneaking up on unsuspecting bushbuck, and the ever-present elephant herds march between their feeding grounds and the steady trickle of water that sustains life throughout these cold harsh months of the middle of the year.

And above it all, ever-present and inviting, lies Mala Mala Camp (formerly known as Main Camp).
A haven of understated luxury, combining warm comfort and superb service with unrivalled views of the Sand River and surrounding bushveld, it is truly a place of legends, where rare photographs, old maps and extraordinary mementos rub shoulders with the works of renowned contemporary wildlife artists.The camp is an unfenced oasis in the middle of the bush.

Ten luxury suites, eight luxury rooms and one luxury single suite comprise this unique slice of Africa that is sure to fill up your memory cards faster than the

The spacious and unbelievably comfortable rooms all feature the following:

  • Private decks or verandah with a view over the Sand River or a waterhole
  • En-suite bathroom with private toilet – the suites have both a bath and a shower whilst the luxury rooms only have a shower
  • 24-hour temperature control – air-conditioning, heating and overhead fan
  • Direct dial telephones
  • A mini-bar
  • Tea and coffee making facilities
  • A mini-safe
  • Bathroom amenities, insect repellent and hairdryers

It’a good all year, but winter is the time when Mala Mala truly comes alive.

Thankfully there are a number of different accommodation options available, as competition is fierce to get a booking during the peak of the game viewing months. Rattray’s and Sable Camps offer just as – if not more – luxurious stays, whilst still providing access to just as incredible game viewing experiences.

Get in touch NOW (info@iconicafrica.com) to start planning your Mala Mala safari. This is one you don’t want to miss…

Where to View Leopards in 2023

Posted on by James

In many ways, the leopard represents the African continent best.

Whilst the regal lion may hold the title of King of the Beasts, and the elephant’s great size render it the most impressive African mammal, it is the enigmatic nature of the leopard, and the mystery that surrounds it, that most adds to its allure as an animal to see on safari, and captures the essence of the African continent most effectively.

In large portions of Africa – and particularly in areas where human wildlife conflict has been a factor over the years – leopards can be hard to find. They are there, but remain invisible. Although they occupy almost every habitat from the mountains just outside Cape Town to the open deserts of the Sahara way to the north, for the most part they are unobserved creatures of the night.

Yet in a few wildlife reserves, leopards are eminently viewable. The big cats there have long realised that the game viewing vehicles do not represent a threat to them, and so allow them and the guests they contain into their daily lives.
Although there is no such thing as a guaranteed sighting, these are a few places that will give you your best chance of viewing leopards in the wild:

Sabi Sand Reserve, South Africa

Long-viewed as the epicentre of wildlife viewing in Southern Africa, a recent camera-trap survey by the Panthera Organisation firmly established this iconic reserve as containing the densest leopard population yet recorded on the African continent.
With a high availability of natural prey species and perfect habitat in which to hunt and raise cubs, the area boasts leopard numbers that around 12 per hundred square kilometres in the centre of the park.


A number of world-class lodges like Londolozi, Singita and Mala Mala have decades of experience showing guests the wonders of the area, and in particular the leopards. Experienced rangers are well versed in the habits and territorial movements of the resident individuals, and so it is in the Sabi Sands that we feel you have THE best chance of viewing leopards in the wild.

South Luangwa, Zambia

Although not as lauded as other contemporary reserves, the South Luangwa National Park has in fact been providing phenomenal game viewing for years. With the Luangwa River delivering a much-needed source of water during the dry season, the area is able to sustain healthy general game populations, and it is these antelope species  – particularly puku and impala – that the local leopard population favours.

Riparian vegetation along the river and its many tributaries provides the perfect habitat for the leopards to slink through, and large evergreen trees provide safe refuges in which to hoist kills to keep them out of reach of hyenas.

Serengeti, Tanzania

Whilst better known for boasting the largest populations of lions and cheetahs in Africa, the Serengeti/Masai Mara ecosystem in East Africa has no shortage of leopards. Although sightings won’t be quite as regular as in other reserves, it is the setting here that creates the appeal around leopard viewing.


Wide open spaces, unimpeded Acacia woodland; wherever you see a leopard – and in particular photograph it – you are likely to get the sense of space that the greater habitat brings. Vistas like you can’t believe, with the seemingly endless plains of Africa stretched out around you. If you happen to be there during the migration, you will also have the background accompaniment of a million snorting wildebeest throughout the day.
Leopard or no leopard though, the East African grasslands are a wildlife experience like no other.

Laikipia, Kenya

Our final recommended leopard-viewing destination is not what one would normally expect to be included in a list like this.
In fact until recently, it wasn’t really on the international radar as a place to see these beautiful cats.
But over the last couple of years, one or two leopards in particular in a small area called Laikipia in central Kenya, have captured the broader imagination of the safari community.
These are the mythical black leopards.

Photographer: Will Burard-Lucas

A rare recessive gene that codes for an excess of melanin – a dark pigment – results in an animal that is much darker than a normal individual. This is the black panther of legend. Black panthers can be any big cat from the Panthera genus – although they are essentially either leopards or jaguars – and contrary to popular belief they are not all black. One can still see the rosettes in their coats if you look closely.
A few individuals have been born recently in the Laikipia district, and although most of them are skittish and very hard to find, one or two individuals that inhabit the area near Laikipia Wilderness Camp have become accustomed to the presence of game drive vehicles, and spectacular photos like the above one by Will Burrard-Lucas are now possible.

Even without the viewing of this most special of leopards, Laikipia is a spectacular area to safari with its high number of unique species.

Leopards capture the idea of safari beautifully. They are on many safari-goers’ bucket lists, but many visitors to Africa entertain little hope of actually seeing them.

If they are an animal which you really to want to see though, we have a number of lodges we recommend highly to give you your best chance.

Get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start planning your safari…

 

The Dog Ate My Homework (African Version)

Posted on by James

One of our regular contributors, James Tyrrell, spent over a decade living and working at Londolozi Game Reserve. Although he now runs his media operations out of Cape Town, he shared this piece that he wrote when he used to fall asleep to the sound of hyenas and lions calling in the distance…

It’s human nature to become jaded.
The situation in which you’re living, whatever it is, whilst not necessarily becoming completely stale, will inevitably lose a bit of its gloss over time. This simply can’t be helped.

The 100th leopard hoist you see as a guide (that’s pretty excessive; not many hit that number!) won’t be quite as exciting as the first. The 15th pair of running shoes – to use a non-bush example – you buy as a trail-running fanatic will have the emphasis more on function and necessity instead of the thrill of the purchase and the opening of the box when it was your first pair.

The dopamine response we get from these situations loses its strength with repetition of the same stimulus, so that stimulus needs to be strengthened or changed for you to keep getting that same thrill.

Inevitably, as things lose a bit of their edge as you get used to them, comes the nit-picking, the pointing out of how things could be better.
As photographers we know this well: “There’s a branch in front of the leopard’s eye”, or “These lions aren’t doing much”, are things we’ve probably all said at one time or another. Yet by simply taking a step back and contextualising what those complaints are exactly, and the position we need to be in in order to make them, we come to realise just how special it is to actually have the “problems” that we think we do.

The title of this post comes from the fact that I had my favourite pair of bush shoes eaten by hyenas a few nights ago. Totally my fault, as I left them on my porch to dry after wading into the Sand River (no I wasn’t stuck!), and later that evening one of the local clan clearly took a liking to them and whisked them off into the darkness. I still haven’t even found a scrap left over.

Hyenas: a curse or a blessing? I vote for the latter, but I’m sure the local leopard population would disagree, given how many kills of theirs get stolen by the marauding scavengers.

Needless to say I cursed the culprit in the morning when I made the discovery of the missing shoes, saving some reprimands for my own stupidity at the same time, especially because these certainly aren’t the only shoes of mine that have disappeared along the same route. For the rest of the day I vented my anger at the general hyena population to anyone who’d listen.

Then I forced myself to pause and reflect, and ended up giving myself a stern talking to about just how fortunate I am to be in the position of having my shoes stolen by hyenas in the first place. Or my food being grabbed off my plate by one of the resident monkey troops. Or any of the myriad “problems” that come with bush living.

The pair of Lesser-Striped Swallows that nest in the eaves of my porch every year leave quite a mess from the materials they use to rebuild their seasonal home, but what a thrill it is to be able to look out the window and see the industrious parents daubing mud during the construction and then bringing in feathers to line the inside. And if I’m very lucky, I get to see their chicks take their first flights. Who cares about a little bit of mud spatter and some bird droppings on the balcony when that’s the only trade-off for being able to watch something so special play out over the course of a month or two?
They should actually be arriving any day now to start this year’s breeding attempt, and I look out my window daily, eagerly anticipating the sudden flutter of wings that announces that one of them has come in for a landing.

I wrote a post once about the gratitude we need to feel when we miss shots in wildlife photography, as the fact that we’re out there pursuing our passion should be the base reward, and nailing the shot is simply a bonus. It’s the same in our day-to-day. Are the things we classify as problems really problems after all? Or are they simply punctuation marks that reinforce the fact that we are living an incredible life immersed in nature. Glass is half full vs. glass is half empty approach. I’m not trying to be preachy here, these are simply some of my own musings that I use to keep myself in check. Right now I’m watching a painted skink burrow behind a cushion on a chair outside. I’ll probably get the fright of my life when I sit there later – having totally forgotten about the skink – and it rushes out cross my legs. And that’s brilliant.

There’s a great scene in the movie Good Will Hunting in which Robin Williams’ character is talking about his deceased wife, telling Matt Damon about how the so-called imperfections we attribute to people – particularly our partners – are not actually imperfections; they’re the good stuff. It’s the same thing anywhere. There’s no such thing as the perfect place to be or live, it’s just whether or not it’s perfect for you.

I’ll take my shoes being eaten by a hyena in a heartbeat.

A Camp All to Yourself: the New Normal of Luxury Safari

Posted on by James

Humans can be funny creatures. No matter how exquisite the experience, we still ask ourselves “how could this be just that tiny bit better?”.
Often when it comes to idyllic destinations, we find ourselves wishing that it was just us there; either our family or only the group of friends we are travelling with. A whole camp all to ourselves, somewhere in the African wilderness.
Given that the capacity of bush camps is regularly 20 or so guests though, this is a tough order, as the majority of travelling groups aren’t as big as that.

However, recent developments in the safari industry have seen a marked move towards the development of smaller, exclusive-use camps, and given that the trends are leaning more and more towards longer stays, these homes-in-the-bush are coming into greater and greater demand.

Your own private ranger and game drive vehicle, your own chef, the freedom to decide on your own timetable… imagine the ultimate flexibility in the ultimate luxury, with the ultimate wildlife viewing experience right on your doorstep.

We’ve picked a few of our favourite exclusive-use camps for you to ponder on…

Singita Castleton

Feel like a game of lawn tennis whilst elephants lumber slowly past and a herd of wildebeest grazes peacefully in the distance? Then Singita Castleton is for you.


A conversion of the Bailes family homestead (the Singita founders) in the year 2000, Castleton Camp is positioned on a sprawling open hillside overlooking a pristine waterhole. Many are the lion sightings from the open lawns in front of the main area, and the central positioning of the camp within the greater reserve means that all sections and habitats are equally accessible.


Sip a gin and tonic on the edge of the expansive pool during the warmth of the African midday, or enjoy a glass of fine wine under the stars around the fire, where everything is forgotten and the conversations are just those between you and the people you have chosen to travel with.
Singita Castleton is truly a special place.

Londolozi Pioneer Camp

Since the 70s Londolozi has been the blueprint African Safari destination. THE place to view leopards, the lodge is set in the Sabi Sand Reserve, and boasts 5 magnificent camps strung out along the Sand River, all operating independently of one another.


The western-most camp, Pioneer, although not specifically classified as an exclusive-use camp, generally has its three stunning suites hired out by travelling groups or families, and its separation from the rest of the Londolozi Camps is such that you truly feel as if you are miles from anyone else. The spacious rooms all have uninterrupted views over the Sand River, and breeding herds of elephants are almost a constant feature in front of the camp decks.

The beauty of Pioneer Camp is that one still has access to the rest of the Londolozi Camps, so a trip to the Healing House, the Boutique Living Shop or children’s involvement in the Cubs’ Den program are all easily facilitated.

Pioneer Camp normally takes six guests in its three suites, but for visiting families the rooms can be tweaked to easily accommodate more family members, and capacity can be pushed to 12.

Royal Malewane Africa House

Royal Malewane’s reputation precedes it as one of the ultimate African Safaris. Sought out by celebrities aplenty, their experienced guiding team and prolific game viewing are already world-renowned.

 

Now add in the recent addition to their portfolio of the Africa House, an exclusive-use villa that sleeps up to twelve guests, and you have the perfect destination for a large family getaway.
Africa House is a totally self-contained bush paradise where you can relax in the most opulent and easy-going style. Although designed to suit families and close-knit travelling groups, each of the six air-conditioned rooms has its own private deck and outdoor shower, and magnificent views of the surrounding bush.

Angama Safari Camp

Tucked away at the base of the Oloololo Escarpment (although officially the site is mobile and able to change locations) and a few kilometres south of the main Angama Mara Camp, the Safari Camp, which sleeps up to 8 guests, is perfectly placed to avoid the busier sections of the reserve, and is far enough away from other camps to be able to enjoy the first part of game drive hours without any other vehicles near.

The camp is tented, and having just a wall of canvas between you and the African bush makes for a wonderfully immersive experience, with the evening song of the nightjars and the roar of the lions making sure your stay feels like a true connection to the primal part of yourself.
The light footprint of the Safari Camp is exemplary, and this is a place where you genuinely feel as though you are leaving the world behind.

The above four camps are by no means the only ones in our extensive list, they are just a few of our favourites.
In a travel climate in which Covid fears are steadily dissipating but many are still nervous about mingling with other guests, exclusive-use camps have seen a dramatic rise in popularity.
Given their very nature however, the timing of a booking is more important than ever, so get in touch with us if this sounds like the kind of safari stay that you’d be interested in…

The Leopards of Londolozi

Posted on by James

It’s been over 40 years since Londolozi first viewed the original Mother Leopard, a young female who for some reason was more relaxed around the Land rovers than her predecessors or conspecifics on the reserve at the time.

For the next decade, Londolozi co-founder and Tracker Elmon Mhlongo would follow her life, watching as she raised no fewer than 9 litters of cubs to independence; a feat that has not been recorded in a leopardess since.

Londolozi offers the perfect leopard habitat…

The early years at Londolozi did not feature leopards as part of the standard viewing on a game drive. Conflict with man over the course of the previous half-century had made them skittish, wary, and extremely distrustful of anything unnatural in their environment, which included vehicles and people on foot.
Tracks in the sand, the remains of a kill stashed high in a tree or even a fleeting glimpse in the spotlight after dark were all the evidence the early visitors to Londolozi had of this elusive predator.

A female leopard comes scurrying down from the canopy of a marula tree.

Yet when the Mother Leopard arrived and allowed people into her secret world, all that changed. Her cubs grew up recognising that a Land Rover parked at a respectful distance was neither a threat nor a food source, and their cubs in turn did the same. From that first female came generations and a subsequent dynasty of habituated leopards, which quickly put Londolozi on the map as the place to view them; a reputation it continues to enjoy to this day.

A male leopard stares right back into the camera while drinking…

Not only does Londolozi currently sit in the heart of the densest leopard population yet recorded in Africa, with the bulk of the cats completely ignoring the presence of the game drive vehicles, but the rangers and trackers – many of whom have lived and worked on the land for decades – have an intimate knowledge of most of the individuals.
Life-histories, relatedness, matrilines, territories… it has all been recorded in one of the most closely documented records of a leopard population known on the African continent.

A leopard cub peers cautiously out from behind a tree as its mother moves away from it.

Although there is no such thing as a guarantee in the African bush, Londolozi is as near as can be going to provide leopard viewing the likes of which you’ve never experienced before. The almost supernatural skill of the Londolozi trackers and rangers is almost certain to give you front row seats to what has to be some of the greatest wildlife sightings on earth, with the enigmatic leopard more than likely taking centre stage.
It’s an experience that has guests returning year after year to follow the lives of these magnificent cats, and one that is certain to redefine the way you view the symbiosis between man and wild…

The Best Lion Viewing Destinations in Africa

Posted on by James

Lions are one of, if not the, main reason people travel from all around the world to partake in an African safari. Apex predators in every environment they inhabit, they are the epitome of the wild nature of the continent itself.
Sadly, the reality is that over the last century, lion numbers across Africa have dramatically declined, primarily because of human encroachment and the subsequent loss of habitat for the big cats. Yet in major game reserves in a number of countries, their populations are stable if not recovering.
And lion viewing in one part of Africa may be very different to another.
Here then are our 5 suggested lion viewing destinations, chosen for their variety…

A lioness in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater

Serengeti/Masai Mara

For sheer numbers and scale, the great open plains of East Africa simply have no equal. Apart from the huge herds of wildebeest that make their way through the ecosystem as part of the Great Migration each year, every other animal seems dwarfed by vastness of these grasslands, the king of beasts included.

The scale of the landscape is what makes much of East Africa’s lion viewing special.

The contiguous Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems boast roughly 4000 lions between them, and unlike the wildebeest herds that move between the two in a great loop, the lions – being territorial – are around all year, meaning viewing is constant and incredibly varied depending on which season you are in.

You won’t ever forget viewing lions with the endless grasslands of Africa stretching out to infinity behind them…

Duba Plains

Situated right up in the north of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Duba Plains became famous a few years ago for the specialised lion prides inhabiting the area, that had learnt the knack of using the Okavango’s myriad water channels to hunt buffalo.
Huge cats, developing much thicker than normal upper body muscles from wading through the water courses, these lions use special tactics to isolate individual buffalos – even the big bulls – and drive them into the water where the bovines’ manoeuvrability and ability to defend themselves is greatly reduced

Duba Plains lions face down their eternal enemy. Photograph courtesy Leigh Kemp
The lions of Botswana’s northern waterways have learnt to use the channels to their advantage. Photograph courtesy Ed French.

There is of course no guarantee of witnessing such amazing buffalo/lion interaction, but for idyllic habitat and lions that have the know-how, look no further than this destination for your lion fix.

Sabi Sand Reserve

South Africa’s world famous wildlife reserve in the north-east of the country is essentially the big cat viewing destination against which all others are measured.
Not only does it boast a particularly high density of both lions and leopards (the leopard population is reputedly the densest in Africa), but the guides have an intimate knowledge of the prides and the individuals they contain. This means that sightings take on a life of their own as it isn’t just lions you’re viewing; it’s these lions…
Individual life stories and entire family trees are accessible through the guides and trackers, so even a sleeping cat can become the most fascinating creature on earth as its trials and tribulations are revealed to you.

Cubs like this will be known to local guides and trackers, and descriptions of the complex make-up of the pride will all be part of the fascinating viewing.

As the Sabi Sand is all privately owned, off-roading is allowed (conditions depending), so one is able to get intimate views of all wildlife, not just the local lion population.

Incredible lion viewing at Londolozi Game Reserve.

Click here to view some of our favourite lodges in the Sabi Sand Reserve…

Ruaha National Park

South-centrally situated in Tanzania, Ruaha National Park is one of only six reserves that can boast a population of over 1000 lions. It is part of the greater Ruaha Landscape, a 50,000 square kilometre section of East Africa that serves as one of the continent’s most important wildlife areas.
Its rugged scenery, prominently featuring the iconic baboab tree, is a haven for predators, particularly in the dry season (May to October), when wildlife centres its activities around the Ruaha River where the remaining water supplies are, and the lions in particular take advantage of the weakened state of the herbivores to hunt along the river fringes.

 

Ruaha is defined by spectacular landscapes…

Although not as well known as its sister reserves further north, Ruaha’s wildlife viewing is just as spectacular in its own right, and a multitude of luxury safari options that generally fly below the radar are available to those wanting a safari a bit more off the beaten track.

North-West Namibia

You are less likely to see lions in this inhospitable part of Southern Africa, but if you do manage to get a sighting (and many of the specialised camps are masters at finding where the roaming prides of desert lions are to be found), it will be like no other you’ve ever had.
Lions plodding their way over soaring sand dunes; lions threading their way along long-dry desert watercourses; lions on the beach…
The uniquely adapted desert lion population of north-west Nambia is highly specialised for their environment.

 

A lioness reclines on a sand dune. An incredibly special sight. Photograph courtesy Wilderness Safaris.

Some hunt the giant desert giraffes, some have been known to hunt seals on the beaches of the aptly named Skeleton coast, and some lions have even been known to eat the desert-growing Tsama melons.

Just a chance to see these unique cats is well worth looking into Namibia as your next safari destination with a difference…

 

A lion pride in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater

The beautiful thing about Africa is its sheer diversity of wildlife offerings. If lion viewing is your main reason for visiting, be sure to get in touch with our sales representatives, and we can start planning your dream lion-viewing safari…