“If I go to the good Hopi Indian quote, ‘We don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.’ I sit in reflection of that and I hope the future generations will lead with heart and they'll be guided by the values that built this legacy to date. That they honor the past by innovating with purpose and with integrity. Everybody's always got to remember that stewardship is a sacred trust, and one that turns heritage into hope.” We’re in great company with Shan and Bronwyn Varty, the mother and daughter duo behind Londolozi, who, with their family’s one hundred years of history, are pioneering one of South Africa’s original private game reserves as a living model of conservation development. Here, they are nurturing a Futuristic African Village, a prototype for village consciousness where wild animals and people alike, live together in dignity and harmony, with each other and the land. It is with an abundance mindset that they have chosen to share this land and legacy with worldly guests, committing to excellence in ecotourism with their accredited Relais & Châteaux status. In celebration of Mother’s Day, in this episode, Shan and Bron paint for us a picture of luxury in its purest form—with time as the artist, the senses as the medium, and Mother Nature as the muse. Top Takeaways [2:10] With 100 years of family history living on this land, the Varty’s roots run deep and strong as they grow and evolve with their environment. [4:50] The name Londolozi is Zulu for ‘Protector Of All Living Things,’ reflecting their ambitious conservation ethic in stewarding our human relationship with the natural world. [7:00] They say “it takes a village to raise a child,” and there is sincere truth in that there is a power of resilience in community, as both Shan and Bron learned early on. [12:30] “When you live in nature, you live in an ecosystem of connection, not comparison.” [15:15] How meditative design is a way of practicing presence, learning to get out of the way and allow nature to lead, creating a sense of place that meets you where you are. [20:00] Londolozi’s Camps are a collection woven together with a “Golden Thread”—each with their own significance, but all along a journey through legacy and luxury. [29:15] The Varty’s are proud “Artists of Experiences”—curating luxury safaris for every chapter of life—from first-time safaris to multigenerational family trips, from honeymoons to wellness, with photography and more in store, [36:40] The “Ripple Effect” stands for Restoration, Innovation, Protection, People, Leadership, Education. [41:00] Rather than creating something new, Shan and Bron are celebrating 100 years of history by bringing back the old, polishing and preserving along the way. [46:15] Mother Nature’s wisdom is in embracing a state of flow that changes with the seasons—recognizing that mothering is not something that is done, it is something that is felt—and can only be done so by slowing down. Notable Mentions Nelson Mandela Maya Angelou The Leopards of Londolozi Peter Reed Linens Land Rover Sesaties, South African Kebabs Good Work Foundation Tracker Academy Healing House Visit For Yourself Londolozi Website | @londolozi Images courtesy of Londolozi Game Reserve
