Our safari vehicle climbed into the Soutpansberg Mountains, passing ancient acacia trees, rugged red cliffs, and striped kudu grazing among the bushes. With each switchback, excitement grew for our South African glamping experience at Few & Far Luvhondo, a notable comeback for Sarah and Jacob Dusek in outdoor hospitality following their sale of Under Canvas in 2018. Rather than establishing glamping camps near popular national parks, they opted for a secluded area in Limpopo, dubbed “The Forgotten Mountains.”
Although the Soutpansberg Range is rich in biodiversity, hosting many rare and endemic species within the UNESCO Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, it has been gradually deteriorating from deforestation and mining, and now faces additional dangers from proposed industrial developments. Taking on the challenge of ecosystem restoration, along with combating mining interests and governmental red tape, is no easy task. However, if you’ve read Sarah’s book, *Thinking Bigger: A Pitch-Deck Formula for Women Who Want to Change the World*, you’ll know she is more than capable of the undertaking.
Welcome to Few & Far
The sounds of African drumming, a tray of lychee lemonade, warm hand towels imparted with welcoming scents, and friendly smiles greeted us at the entrance of Few & Far Luvhondo. Giselle, the GM, led us into the main building, which featured a canvas structure that curved around a tree, echoing the form, strength, and timeless beauty of the baobab. The Limpopo Province, and specifically this estate, boasts some of the largest baobabs in Southern Africa. These “Trees of Life” serve as significant inspiration for the Duseks’ design ethos and Few & Far’s profound connection to the land.
*Behind the Scenes: The dining area’s canvas awning did not arrive with the necessary opening, therefore co-founder Jacob was chosen to perform the tense task of making the precise cut to allow it to fit around the tree. Transforming a design hiccup into a family endeavor, it was ultimately installed with assistance from the Duseks’ two teenage sons!*
Cliff Suites
Giselle guided us to our cliff suite, a curved canvas and wooden structure offering stunning views from both sides. She highlighted the Few & Far field guide and binoculars on the desk, adding, “Watch for giraffe, nyala, and zebra; they are frequently spotted along the valley floor.” I envisioned embarking on a safari adventure right from our outdoor shower, clawfoot tub, and luxurious canopy bed, and couldn’t help but smile.
After wishing us an enjoyable stay, the warm hospitality continued with a handwritten note placed on the cocktail-and-espresso-bar, “Welcome to Few & Far Luvhondo, we’re thrilled you made it to our forgotten mountains. We hope you’ll feel at home, discover some magic in the wild, and perhaps take a piece of it with you when you leave.”
Dining with Purpose
Lunch was served by the infinity pool with a special guest, Dr. Dawn Cory Toussaint, Few & Far’s resident ecologist and reserve manager. With an ambitious vision to safeguard, rewild, and rejuvenate a continuous 100,000 hectares of the Soutpansberg Mountains, Dawn was one of the first hires in 2021. Small and cheerful, she doesn’t fit the typical image of someone operating an excavator to eliminate invasive species or extracting hundreds of poaching snares, but, like all the women in Sarah’s sphere, they should never be underestimated. While relishing a delicious lunch of beetroot gnocchi and brick-oven pizzas made with vegetables from their farm, Dawn shared the positive news.
Conservation Goals & Achievements
Thanks to the efforts of Few & Far and the Endangered Wildlife Trust, 11,000 hectares of the Soutpansberg Mountains have recently received formal environmental protection, with an additional 25,000 hectares on track for formal recognition later this year. We raised our glasses in celebration and admiration of Few & Far’s 50-year plan aimed at preserving a mountain range and sequestering 100,000 tons of carbon each year.
*Behind the Scenes: A conservation fee of $100 per person per day is included in a guest’s stay, which funds Few & Far’s carbon offset initiatives and ecosystem restoration endeavors. For those interested in making a tangible contribution, guests can engage in the “Conservationist for a Day” program, which involves rewilding and carbon capture through the removal of invasive species and planting of native trees, shrubs, and grasses.*
Female Empowerment
“Are you prepared for your afternoon game drive?” inquired a young woman donned in shades of green. With Sarah maintaining her role as managing partner of Enygma Ventures, an investment fund supporting African female entrepreneurs, it is fitting that she hired Lizzie as a safari guide. Lizzie grew up enjoying many of her meals at a nature reserve’s soup kitchen, but would stay additional hours each day to volunteer and acquire knowledge about the ecosystem.