Meet the Res Team

Didi grew up in Johannesburg before deciding to spend three years on the beautiful islands of Cyprus.  She is a member of the Marketing/Res team whose philosophy is to “follow your dreams, take one step at a time, don’t settle for less, just continue to climb.”  Didi is passionate about travel, life, family and friends and recalls her most memorable Londolozi experience as the year end Christmas party which was followed the next day by a mud bath.

Born in England before moving to Scotland and then South Africa for good in 1980, Linda is a travel expert.  Having been in the industry for over 27 years, she recounts her most interesting trip as going to Rio de Janerio for the weekend.  When it comes to Africa, Linda loves the quote by R Eliot which says “If you only visit two continents in your life, visit Africa twice.’

Leighanne grew up all over South Africa from East London to the Free State, Pretoria and finally Johannesburg.  Her passions are nature, family and a well cooked pizza.  She is known as the joker in the office owing to her wonderful sense of humour and imitations of people.  Leighanne recalls her favourite Londolozi experience as hearing and seeing a pride of 12 lions surround the vehicle and all roar at the same time.

Chantel is a Joburg girl through and through having been born and raised in the city. This however, has not stopped her from taking road trips through the country and its wilderness areas such as the Kruger National Park. Chantel is interested in social relevance and development as well as alternative healing therapy. With her creative imagination, her most memorable moment at Londolozi was standing out on the deck at Varty camp and looking out into the vast open bush. She describes it as ‘instant soul renewal’ and an ‘AHA’ moment.

Elsje is one of the long standing members of the Londolozi family.  Having worked at the lodge many years ago, she recalls sleeping in the tree house with Big Black (the infamous black maned lion of Londolozi) roaring a few meters away.  Elsje is based in Johannesburg, however she still enjoys travelling all over the globe.  Her most interesting trip was around the world in just 12 days.

Christy grew up in the Eastern Cape before deciding to begin working in the bush where she found one of her true passions.  Having travelled to various parts of Africa she recalls Western Zambia as one of her favourite trips.  When Christy is not working, she spends time in her garden.  Passionate about the Londolozi and her family, Christy recalls her best moment was with the rest of the reservations team going ‘undercover’ as Madonna on a surprise trip to the lodge.

Vida has been the backbone of the Londolozi reservations team for many years now and is one of the original members of the Londolozi family. Apart from her love of Londolozi, her passions also lie in her family, friends, the ocean and horseriding. Vida has one of her most memorable experiences at Londolozi in November 2009 when she went out with Julius and Richard for an extensive big cat experience with what she describes as ‘the most awesome leopard and lion sightings’.