As is tradition here at Londolozi – we celebrate Mandela Day!! We take the time to pay homage to Nelson Mandela, the beloved Madiba, father of our country, whose remarkable presence at Londolozi left an indelible mark on this land, its people, and humanity as a whole. We have deep gratitude for the lessons he imparted to the Londolozi Village during his time with us and for the wisdom, grace and inspiration that is this extraordinary man.

Mandela Day is more than just a date on the calendar; it is a global movement that encourages individuals to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to making the world a better place. These 67 minutes symbolise the 67 years that Nelson Mandela devoted to fighting for social justice, equality and freedom. This day serves as a reminder that each of us has the power to drive positive change and contribute to the greater good.

On the 18 of July with anticipation and excitement in the air, the Londolozi staff and guests walked through Mandela's Way and stopped at the Mandela Mural for an introduction to our first-of-its-kind event. It has always been tradition, that on Mandela Day we plant aloes and trees that then flower a year later on his birthday.

This year, we decided that we wanted to set a new challenge!

Duncan MacLarty (General Manager) explained that for the next 67 minutes, we were to choose a station that was in service to various Ripple Fund projects. We were ready! The stopwatch started and what ensued for the next 67 minutes was absolute joy and really showcased the power of Ubuntu and the village consciousness of the Londolozi family.

Charles Mdluli officially started his nursery 5 years ago but has been growing informally and selling plants that he has carefully sowed for about 15 years. He started out carving artefacts out of wood and grew to absolutely love the plants that surrounded him. Charles collects seeds or small cuttings from plants that he has seen or has already grown to propagate more to grow and now sell. He reuses all his containers and bags and now has an expansive beautiful nursery along the road outside of Londolozi. Charles is an outsourced grower for the Londolozi Ripple Fund. We assist him with seeds that we want to plant in our camp and village gardens, and he grows and looks after them for us, once they are ready, we buy them back for planting on our camp paths and in our village. We also assist Charles with equipment that may make what he is doing slightly easier.

In total, we were able to create 489 seedling bags for Charles Nursery!

We Ran Wild for Ripple, a small group of guests and staff started running as the stopwatch began its countdown. Running a 1.5km route through the beautiful camp, village and then a small section out in the stunning wilderness of Londolozi. For 67 minutes the Londolozi family ran, and it ended with an incredible 176 loops completed in the time. For every loop completed, Londolozi made a R1000 donation, totalling an impressive R176,000. Some of our guests were generous enough to match fund the Londolozi donation, click here if you would like to join them.

Nhlalala is a beautiful little preschool in the village of Somerset. The school looks after 85 fun and curious little preschoolers. The centre is run by an exceptional woman by the name of Zanele Sibuyi, she is making sure that the children in her care get the best she can give, with limited resources. By way of example, this teacher was sellotaping her posters so that she could ensure longevity and was unable to afford to get them laminated. We have previously donated a laminator, printer, stationary, toys, and dining accessories to help with the daily meals that the children are given at school, as well as fencing to keep the chickens out of their vegetable garden. The children have a beautiful classroom building and area to play in however the classrooms lack equipment and resources, this is an area that the Londolozi Ripple Fund plans to assist with.

In 67 minutes, we packed 22 bags filled with school supplies and 2 large boxes of educational toys and resources for their classrooms. We are thrilled to soon deliver these to the children! This will make an immense difference to the lives of the teachers and students at Nhlalala.

The Londolozi creche was started to assist working women who were having to quit their jobs in order to look after their children. The creche allows for families within Londolozi to stay together in the early development years, instead of babies having to live with a relative outside of Londolozi so that mothers can continue to support their families with their jobs. The kids are able to remain close to their mothers in a safe, fun, and loving environment when they are at work. Children between the ages of 4 months - 5 years old attend the Londolozi creche. Quality daycare, environment & teaching activities are based on Montessori principles & fun. A team of passionate women look after the children, and they are open from when the first shift starts to when the last ends in the day. Children are given breakfast, a snack, and lunch in the preschool, the kids can have their naps, bottles & bedtimes in the creche if need be.

Our creche is now bright and beautiful and the kiddies are overjoyed!

Planting seedlings in and around our Londolozi village has been our tradition on Mandela Day for over 15 years. Not only does this keep our village and camps beautiful, but it ensures that we work within the principles of permaculture that guide our Futuristic African Village philosophy. All plants are grown from Londolozi’s indigenous nursery which was officially started in 2007. On average we plant roughly 1100 trees per year. In addition to our own Nursery, we support Charles Mdluli who sews seeds and grows indigenous plants in the local community of Belfast, which we then buy back from him. Chalres' green fingers helps Londolozi to grow and plant many trees and plants as a result.

We planted 280 Aloes, 100 Speckboom and 8 trees that  are now making our village shine!

Tshemba Hosi is a centre for the disabled situated in the neighbouring community of Lillydale. It was registered as a school for the disabled in 2001 and sees to the children in the greater area who are unable to fit into the standard schooling system. There are 30 children at the centre ranging in age between 4 - 17 years. We encountered this very special centre late in 2023 where we ran the first pilot project for Lessons in Conservation (LiC). Subsequently, we have sent many physical donations to the school, things like sporting equipment, stationery, toys and games and are hoping to have replaced their jungle gym with a really fun, beautiful safe jungle gym by the end of the year.

The children and teachers of Tshemba Hosi were overjoyed with the delivery of 35 litres of vegetable soup which was lovingly made on Mandela Day.

Mandela Day is not just an occasion to honour the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela; it is a profound reminder of the values that guide us at Londolozi. Mandela's unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and the spirit of Ubuntu is woven into the fabric of our village. His belief in the power of community and the importance of giving back resonates deeply with our mission to create a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. At Londolozi, we strive to live Mandela's legacy every day by fostering a sense of unity, compassion and shared responsibility. The principles he championed inspire us to uplift and empower those around us, ensuring that his vision of a better world continues to flourish in our hearts and actions.

Londolozi welcomed Nelson Mandela into its embrace during a time when he sought solace and reflection. Offering him the chance to reconnect with nature, find peace in the company of wildlife, and draw inspiration from the rhythms of the wilderness. In the vastness of Londolozi, Mandela found a sanctuary for his soul, a place where he could reflect, recharge, and reaffirm his commitment to the ideals he held dear.

Walking in his footsteps, we feel his legacy all around us every day.

The Ripple Fund's initiatives are a testament to the power of collective action. From providing scholarships to young learners to building clinics that offer vital healthcare services, each project is a beacon of hope and progress. Your donations ensure that these efforts continue to thrive, bringing tangible benefits to those who need them most.

The very essence of the Londolozi safari business, supported by each guest who visits us, naturally sets in motion a number of virtuous social, ecological and economic cycles. To give greater relevance to our presence in the region we already commit  1% of Londolozi’s annual turnover to The Ripple Fund.  Many of our guests, after time with us on safari, offer their support to this endeavour by assisting with further funding, thereby accelerating its effect in creating regional economic and social upliftment.

To stay connected, we have established a Londolozi Ripple Fund Impact site where you can follow regular updates on projects and donations as they unfold and follow work that has already been successfully completed. If you would like to receive the Londolozi Ripple Fund Impact newsletter, please let us know at ripple@londolozi.co.za