Travelers dreaming of a luxury South African safari but think it’s outside their price range may be in luck thanks to a new pay-what-you-can initiative aimed at helping visitors engage with their surroundings.
It’s all thanks to Few & Far Luvhondo, a carbon-negative safari retreat in South Africa’s Limpopo province, which launched the reservation system as a way “to challenge the old ways.” The limited program opens the lodge “to anyone who needs it, regardless of budget.”
To participate, travelers must fill out an application covering their dates, the number of guests, why they are drawn to the property, and what they are able to pay. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
“Travel isn’t a frivolous indulgence—it’s a vital act of connection,” Sarah Dusek, a co-founder of Few & Far Luvhondo, said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure. “It nurtures our well-being, strengthens global empathy, and fuels the preservation of our planet. We launched this initiative with the belief that when you truly experience a place, you begin to care—and when you care, you naturally want to give back.
“By removing cost as a barrier, we’re making transformative, purpose-led travel more accessible without diluting its impact,” Dusek added. “Today, true luxury isn’t just comfort or exclusivity—it’s a conscious choice. It’s choosing responsibility, choosing connection, and choosing to leave the world better than you found it.”
Jemma Wild/Few & Far Luvhondo
The luxury property, which was opened by the founders of the popular glamping brand Under Canvas, features six tented cliff suites in South Africa’s Soutpansberg Mountains, surrounded by UNESCO’s Vhembe Biosphere Reserve. Guests are treated to over-the-top amenities like private plunge pools and expansive decks to spot wildlife from, along with sustainably-minded design featuring highlights like locally-sourced eucalyptus wood.
Bespoke activities beckon from guided nature walks and scenic e-bike rides to excursions to Mapungubwe National Park where you can spot elephants, leopards, wildebeest, lions, and more. In October, the lodge plans to open a solar-powered cable car, offering a unique way to take in the landscape and wildlife that call the area home.
Few & Far Luvhondo also offers the opportunity to become a conservationist for a day, including participating in a vet visit or helping the carbon sequestration team plan shrubs, trees, and grasses.
The luxury experience is extended to dinners where you can feast on five-course tasting menus in the lodge restaurant or enjoy a torch-lit meal under the stars out in the bush.
