Three Months at Laluka: How a Belgian Student Found a Second Home in the South African Bush

Part 1

My three-month journey at Laluka Safari Lodge began in a way that felt almost accidental. Someone who had once stayed there mentioned that Laluka was looking for a content creator for an internship in 2024. They thought of me because I was working as a freelance photographer, loved travel, and had already collaborated with lodges across South Africa and Namibia.

I wrote a motivation letter, sent my portfolio, and waited. Weeks passed. Selection rounds came and went. Somehow, I remained in the process. Knowing how many people had applied made the waiting both exciting and unsettling.

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I still remember exactly where I was when I read the words: “You’ve been selected.” My parents were away, and I was home alone. When you apply for something like this, you hope — but you don’t expect. Suddenly, I was preparing to live in the African bush for three months.

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Saying Goodbye & Setting Off

January arrived quickly. I said goodbye to family and friends, packed my camera gear, and followed a route that still feels vivid: Belgium to Dubai, Dubai to Johannesburg, and then a three-hour drive into the Welgevonden Game Reserve.

By the second flight, after nearly twenty hours of travel, I became seriously ill. When I finally arrived at Laluka close to midnight, exhaustion had completely taken over. But the moment I was welcomed by Giulia and Phillip and shown to the safari tent that would be my home for the next ten weeks, something settled. Despite the fatigue, I felt safe — and unexpectedly calm.

Settling In & Finding My Rhythm

The first two weeks were about adjustment. This was my first solo journey, and I arrived knowing no one. I was learning new routines, pushing personal boundaries, and slowly finding my place.

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The guides — with whom I would spend most of my time — welcomed me openly. We connected quickly. Soon, the rest of the team felt the same. Conversations were honest, laughter easy, and daily life refreshingly simple. It didn’t feel curated. It felt real.

What My Days Looked Like

My role was to photograph and film daily life at the lodge: game drives, meals, the spa, quiet moments, and everything in between. I edited and shared this content on Laluka’s social media channels, shaping how future guests would experience the place before arriving.

I often thought back to the first time I brought my camera to Pairi Daiza zoo in Belgium and told myself, “One day, I want to go on a real safari.” Now I was on safari almost every day, watching animals move freely through their natural habitat.

My days followed a rhythm: early mornings, afternoon drives, meals shared with guests, sundowners with the team, braai evenings under the stars, and long conversations with guides about animal behaviour and the bush. Over time, these people became friends.

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A Birthday to Remember

As the weeks passed, my birthday arrived — the first I had ever spent away from home. Simon and Giulia made sure it didn’t pass quietly. That evening, we gathered around the fire with the guides, shared a simple braai, and raised a glass of brandewijn under the stars. It was one of those moments that stays with you long after the date itself fades.

Understanding the Place from the Inside

Living at Laluka allowed me to see how the lodge functions when guests are not watching. I saw the thought that goes into small gestures, the care behind private dining setups, and the excitement of helping plan an engagement proposal.

What stood out most was how sustainability wasn’t presented as an idea, but lived daily. Food came directly from the farm. Nothing felt decorative. I joined the team one day to collect honey from beehives around Vaalwater — standing surrounded by thousands of bees, fully present in the moment.

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Growth, Gratitude & What Comes Next

Those three months shaped me deeply. I became more independent, more attentive, and more confident in my creative work. I learned to observe ecosystems patiently and to tell stories with greater intention.

When it was time to leave, the emotions were mixed. I was ready to return home — but leaving the people I had come to care for was unexpectedly difficult. At the time, I didn’t know when I would return.

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That farewell turned out not to be final.

A year later, I now return to South Africa several times a year to continue working with Laluka — creating content, maintaining their social media presence, and reconnecting with a place that no longer feels temporary. What began as a three-month internship has grown into an ongoing relationship, one that continues to shape both my work and my sense of belonging.

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This story doesn’t end here. In Part 2, I return to Laluka — not as a newcomer, but as someone who already knows the rhythm of the place. Stay tuned.