I first learned about Few & Far Luvhondo when it opened this year with just six suites and a long-term restoration plan for the surrounding bio-reserve. The luxurious resort sits in South Africa’s Soutpansberg Mountains in northern Limpopo, a region of sandstone cliffs, deep ravines, high plateaus, and small pockets of Afromontane forest that create a mosaic of habitats in a relatively compact area. It’s in the UNESCO-recognized Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, which supports everything from rare bird species to primates and shy predators. Factually, it’s one of the most ecologically varied corners in the entire country.
You may have already read my colleague Suzie Dundas’ story about how Luvhondo is experimenting with a pay-what-you-want model, which is another reason it caught my attention. The lodge asks travelers to submit a short application with their dates, group size, and a proposed contribution. Each request is reviewed individually. If I ever did have lottery money, I’d happily pay a hefty rate without hesitation. But I appreciate that the model makes this kind of safari accessible to people who couldn’t normally consider it — myself included.
Photo: Few and Far Luvhondo/Solyrus
And the wildlife experience reflects that complexity. The area supports a wide range of species, including multiple antelope, primates, and more than 500 recorded bird species, along with more than 100 reptile species and a rich assemblage of butterflies and smaller creatures that thrive in these microhabitats. African leopard density here is unusually high, too. Sightings are rare, but guides often point out tracks or signs during walks and drives.
By 2026, the lodge expects to open Solyrus, the world’s first solar-powered aerial safari. The roughly 25-mile-long cable route will not only provide a way to move through the upper parts of this landscape and have a bird’s-eye view of wildlife, but it will also avoid the need to carve new tracks through areas under active restoration by the conservation team.
Photo: Few and Far Luvhondo
Luvhondo sits at the center of a long-term project to restore degraded land in the western Soutpansberg and reconnect fragmented habitat. Much of the area has been ravaged by unsustainable hunting and plant harvesting, causing wildlife populations to decline and forests to degrade. However, the lodge’s founders are working with conservationists to reforest slopes, clear invasive plants, and reestablish wildlife corridors. A portion of each stay supports these efforts, and guests can join rangers for activities like removing old snares or checking wildlife camera footage. I like the idea of contributing during a stay rather than simply adding another footprint to the delicate environment.
The lodge also operates at a standard that’s firmly high-end, and the solar-powered cliffside suites have plunge pools, large glass walls, and soaking tubs facing the mountains. Meals draw on regional ingredients, the staff is largely from local Venda communities, and the property is not just carbon-neutral, but carbon-negative.
Luvhondo is often billed as not being for safari destination first-timers, but I question that. As long as you’re content with not chasing lions or elephants, why not do a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa and stay somewhere you know your presence supports the work happening in the community? It’s the perfect example of the value of the travel experience being measured in impact rather than dollars.
