Carved into the Soutpansberg mountains of Limpopo, South Africa, and surrounded by UNESCO’s Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, Few & Far Luvhondo is a new carbon-neutral safari from the founders of Under Canvas. And in January, I was the first journalist to stay at the six-suite resort near South Africa’s northern border with Zimbabwe.

“When we built Under Canvas, we sought to reimagine the safari experience in the United States, but to come to Africa and reimagine it again in the home of the safari felt like an extension of work we’ve been doing for 15 years,” said Sarah Dusek, who co-founded Under Canvas with her husband, Jacob. “We want people to fall in love with being in the wilderness, slowing down, hearing the birds, drinking great coffee, just having a lovely time.”

Cresting the rugged mountain trail in our 4×4 open-air Jeep, the sound of drummers signaled our arrival. Nonhlanhla Tshabalala (Noni to me) greeted us with a warm, sweet orange-scented towel and a lychee lemonade studded with fresh blueberries.

Noni shepherded us to the main lodge to introduce the staff and give me the lay of the land for the next week. We passed a curious herd of impalas, an antelope-like creature with dramatic horns, and heard baboons barking nearby.

Designed in collaboration with South Africa-based Nicholas Plewman Architects and Ohkre Collective, Few & Far Luvhondo’s curved main lodge has a tree-topped canvas roof to blend into the landscape. A spacious wraparound deck has a tree growing in the center. A nearby Baobab tree laden with fruit shades the deck, barbecue pit, and dance area where Venda drummers and heritage dancers perform. On my first day, I got comfy on the deck’s L-shaped creamy bouclé sofa, under a chunky knit throw, to take in the panoramic view of the Forgotten Mountains.

On my first game drive, Mzwandile Ntloko (Zwa) pulled the Jeep up to a tower of giraffes munching on some Acacia leaves. Seeing them in their wild, natural habitat without fences or coin-operated feeding machines filled me with awe. Along the drive, we saw more impalas, a dazzle of zebras, and a shy wildebeest. Zwa pulled into a low grassland area and set up a makeshift bar as the sun set, all while pointing out leopard tracks nearby and identifying the birds serenading us. Then, he handed me a gin and tonic.

Here, my review of Few & Far Luvhondo, in Limpopo, South Africa.

The Rooms

There are only six suites on property. I stayed in Clifftop Suite #3, and the 550-square-foot space afforded me floor-to-ceiling screened doors with cream blackout curtains, a conversation nook with a pair of caramel leather chairs, and a king-size bed with a sheer mosquito canopy. Sleeping in it felt like spending the night in the fairytale princess bed I dreamed about as a child. Each bed has an air-conditioning unit built into the headboard, while a slim overhead fan provides good air circulation.

The bar area has wine, beer, and an assortment of beverages. Bottles of Capetown’s New Harbor Distillery whiskey and gin, canisters of snacks, and a fully stocked coffee and tea station round out the in-room offerings. Just outside, my large wraparound porch had an outdoor shower, comfortable lounge area, dining table and chairs, and a refreshing plunge pool, all overlooking the incredible mountain and valley vistas.

Each suite has design elements that reflect the surrounding landscape, including the shower with its smooth rock floor mirroring the riverbed we drove through on a morning game drive. Elegant brass fixtures and finishes blend seamlessly with the abundant texture within the suite. Rooms range from $1,800 per night for a shared suite in the low season to $3,400 per night for a single-occupancy suite in high season. Discounted rates are available for children, and kids under 6 stay free.

Food and Drink

Chef Sox lets the food speak for itself. He strives to bring the flavors of Luvhondo to the plate—out on game drives, you smell the rain and see the wildlife, and at Sox’s table, you taste the landscape. Sox preps and cooks everything daily; the kitchen only has one fridge. Throughout the week, I tried a multicourse tasting menu at the main restaurant, a Boma Braai (a traditional barbecue experience, usually served outside), and a dinner in the bush. Each featured fruits and vegetables sourced from the on-site farm. When the weather cooperates, guests can opt for cookout breakfasts and picnic bush lunches enjoyed amid the lush wilderness. Each morning, I went to the main restaurant for breakfast, where a spread of croissants, homemade jam, fresh fruit, granola, and yogurt accompanied my choice of entrée. The build-your-own breakfast sandwich was my favorite until the last day when a shakshuka redolent with warm spices and jammy tomatoes from Luvohondo’s farm graced the menu. Lunches stayed light, while dinners were a feast of tender roasted lamb, seared trout nestled in a fresh pea purée, and classic South African specialties like boerewors (sausages) with chakalaka sauce. The beverage options abound, but I stuck to sommelier Erica Taylor’s hand-selected South African wines from sustainable producers, such as the smoky pinotage poured the first night.

Activities and Amenities

The eco-lodge has an infinity pool perched at the edge of a cliff where staff will bring you a cocktail and towels on demand. The upcoming Solfari electric cable car, which will glide noiselessly across the treetops to even the remotest parts of the reserve, will of course be a property highlight. But the game drives are, predictably, the star of the show.

At 6 a.m. every morning, Zwa gently knocked on my door after he loaded a tray of freshly brewed coffee and homemade biscotti into the cubby pass-through built into the suite. Properly caffeinated, we headed out into the bush, through the arid savannahs and subtropical forests, to observe giraffes, kudus, zebras, water buffalo, hippos, and more 600 bird species. He taught me how to identify tracks as we looked for the elusive leopards across the reserve and pointed out a Giant African Land Snail that looked like a character from Alice in Wonderland. On the way back one day, we happened upon a pair of male nyalas dancing around each other in slow motion, vying for primacy in the herd.

Guided nature walks and hikes provided up-close encounters with more of the region’s flora and fauna, as well as the opportunity to swim in the rushing waters of one of the property’s majestic waterfalls. Staff can also arrange trips to Mapungubwe National Park, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. E-bikes are also available for exploring the rugged terrain, or visitors can opt to be Conservationists for a Day and participate in several biodiversity preservation efforts like removing poacher snares, clearing thickets to allow natural grass and plants to flourish, and aiding in census data collection for the leopards.

The Spa

Soft music and the scent of Baobab oil drew me along the meandering path to the little hut housing Vhudziki spa. Across from the entrance sits the Ancient Baobab tree, estimated to be 3,000 years old. Nungo Ravele, the spa therapist, greeted me at the door with a wide smile. With more than 15 years of experience, she offers a variety of massages, a detoxifying Baobab body wrap, and a selection of facials, all grounded in locally sourced, organic ingredients. Before my Baobab Radiance Facial, she guided me to a warm foot soak and began shaking the rain stick to encourage my deep, rhythmic breathing. The low light and cool space lulled me into a close-to-slumber state as she massaged, exfoliated, and moistured my face with the rejuvenating Baobab oils and creams.

Family-friendly Offerings

In creating the Few & Far Luvhondo experience, the Duseks knew they wanted to go beyond the traditional ride-in-a-vehicle safari. They wanted to create a magical journey where adults and children could immerse in the natural world. The lodge offers a variety of activities that cater to families, including customized safari experiences. The Young Explorers program includes guided nature walks, educational games, and wildlife tracking. Snake handling, geocaching, waterfall hikes, and more can be tailored to any age.  Sarah added, “Dawn, our in-house Conservationist,  has a whole menagerie of weird and wonderful animals children can hold and touch. Teenagers will love exploring the caves on this mountain. We can animal track on foot, and then make a model of the footprints to take home. If I’ve got a kid fascinated by dinosaurs, we can craft a whole adventure around looking for prehistoric artifacts or footprints.”

Ahead of the stay, guests fill out a survey that gives the lodge staff direction about each child and their passions. Babysitting services allow parents to enjoy a private dinner or sundowners while their children hang out in the lodge with qualified staff. Few&Far also offers accommodations for childcare workers traveling with families at a discounted rate.

Location

The luxurious Rovos Rail goes from Victoria Falls directly to Few&Far lodge. You can take the Polokwane route. Sarah Dusek recommends guests fly into Johannesburg International Airport. “Then, either fly up to Polokwane on an airlink flight and we’ll meet you at Polokwane and take you up to the lodge. Alternately, you can drive to the lodge from Johannesburg with a private driver. The flight is slightly more efficient and the costs are similar.” For more information, visit the getting there section of the hotel’s website.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Few & Far Luvhondo currently does not offer accessible accommodations, but the Duseks are looking to build this into future plans.

When designing this lodge and safari experience, the Duseks wanted to build something regenerative, powered by renewable energy, and built with a zero-waste model. You won’t find single-use plastics here. Amenities like robes and slippers are all crafted from sustainable materials. The lodge operates on 100 percent solar power, uses well water, and minimizes food waste through innovative composting initiatives and an on-site farm. The plan is to use only electric vehicles, though this is not yet a reality.

The Solfari, the upcoming solar-powered cable car, will provide a first-of-its-kind aerial safari. It will span 24 miles.

The Duseks remain committed to building only where wilderness has been lost and restoring degraded areas to rebuild the natural wildlife corridor that existed here before cattle ranches and fences.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

As an independent, all-inclusive property, value is found more in the packages on offer. If you book a stay between now and March 31, 2025, Luvhondo offers an incredible deal: $500 per person per night, exclusive of the conservation levy. South African residents enjoy a 25 percent discount if they stay between now and April 30, 2025. Low season runs January and February, and May to October. This is considered rainy season and can be pretty warm, but it offers some of the lowest rates, starting at $1,800 per person per night. June through August and the month of December clock in with the highest prices, starting at $2,400 per person per night.