Archive for October, 2009
the wildebeest migration returns to northern tanzania
The Sabora Tented Camp, located in the wilderness plains of Singita Grumeti Reserves in northern Tanzania, is yet again in the midst of an annual migration. Enormous wildebeest herds are returning from the northern Serengeti to join existing populations of zebra, Thompsons gazelles and topi. At this time of the year the herds are typically further north. East Africa has however been experiencing an extended dry spell and last month’s early rains in the Grumeti Reserves created a spectacle more reminiscent of the migration seen during the months of June and July.
For a luxury safari we couldn’t recommend Tanzania highly enough and we’re rather good at organising them, whether it be a honeymoon safari or that once-in-a-lifetime trip you’ve been planning for years, we’ll ensure you do it in style. So if you want to see this spectacular phenomenon first hand, or to spot the big 5 in all their splendour, get in touch with one of our safari experts and we can start helping you plan your trip.
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Loading ...enchanting sri lanka and maldives
Hi, it’s Carolyn here.
I’ve just gotten back from a totally entrancing visit to Sri Lanka which I wanted to share with you all.
We kicked off our trip with a few days lying on what has to be the world’s most achingly perfect beach at Cocoa Island in the Maldives – perfect shock therapy for our London-frazzled nerves (and a highly recommended way to start).
Sun kissed and de-stressed, we landed in Colombo primed for adventure… we knew we’d like it but we were totally unprepared to love this tear-drop island so unreservedly. Beyond its many obvious advantages (piles of UNESCO World Heritage sites, lush and varied scenery, soul-stirring palm-studded beaches), there are two things that make Sri Lanka such an amazing discovery: the first is the people – from the waving schoolchildren to the smiling villagers, this has to be the friendliest country ever. The highlight of was our cultural ambassador (our heaven-sent chauffeur-guide) who spent the drives in between our many destinations regaling us with everything from the latest cricket updates to ecological factoids to ancient local lore… he was indispensable, utterly charming, and made the whole adventure an absolute dream.
The second incredible advantage to Sri Lanka (and a reason to hurry there now rather than later) is that the recent (now resolved) political turmoil has kept away both masses of tourists and the mass-market hoteliers that cater to these unwieldy hoards. Instead, Sri Lanka’s many stylish accommodations are by-and-large operated by artistic, bohemian types building a life and legacy here as a labour of love – each place we stayed was imbued with a totally different and equally enchanting character.
Coupled with the lack of high-speed motorways that make travel necessarily leisurely, Sri Lanka is a perfect embodiment of the boutique, slow-travel ethos. From the baby monkeys playing on our balcony on our first morning to elephant families in Minneriya National Park to the rickety colonial-era train we took up to the tea country and the breathtaking views when we got there, we were totally hooked and by day three we were plotting a return with family, friends – anyone we could physically push onto a plane.
Get thee to Colombo – you won’t regret it.
If you like the look of this trip to Sri Lanka check out our countryside to coast experience or give us a call on 0207 426 9888 and we can help design your perfect trip.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...sunday shining
This office is always full of stories on a Monday morning. People returning from weekends spent discovering new travel experiences abroad. It all makes for a frequently exotic response to the usual ‘what did you get up to this weekend’ question in the office kitchen as we’re preparing pots of caffeine to get us through the day.
And whilst we love heading off to discover the new, the weird and outright wonderful, I think that sometimes it pays to look a little closer to home. With that in mind I enjoyed a day this weekend, that was, well, hardly exotic but gave me a lovely little slice of London life that for anyone reading this blog outside of the UK, should absolutely make sure they do next time they are in our manor.
No, it’s not edgy and no it’s not pushing boundaries but it is what the English do very well. Relaxing in gorgeous pubs and parks and in this instance without another tourist in sight…
I managed to make the most of the sunny weather this Sunday with a stroll down to my pub of the moment, The Prince Arthur. The pub is one of those places you could spend an entire week in, let alone a Sunday armed with the nation’s finest broad sheets (the News of the World was left on the shelf this weekend). So I made the short walk from Hackney over to London fields with a couple of friends to see what all the fuss is about.
The pub is immaculately turned out, with antique pictures of the surrounding area (Dalston Lane, Mare Street, Hackney Central) along with stuffed animals on the walls, and the staff are very friendly. The food is exceptional (the monster sized onion rings are perhaps the best I have tasted in London) and the roast dinners are so big they could almost qualify as torture.
After putting ourselves through a pretty strenuous food-based workout, we decided that a stroll through London Fields would be the best form of working off the excess calories. With the leaves still falling from the trees, the park was in full autumnal flow and the brief walk down to Broadway Market encapsulated how diverse and enjoyable this city really is.
A couple of beers with an old school chum in the evening topped off an amazing autumnal day in London.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...our favourite mexican: green & red
Don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed that the shops in London have started stocking Xmas decorations already. It’s only the first week of October and I’m already starting to get annoyed. With this in mind, I spent most of Wednesday afternoon working out where I’d rather be right now (the answer is on a beach in Cabo San Lucas). After fielding a call from my little sister (very happy – just got a new job) I suggested we head out to celebrate somewhere a bit Mexican.
Our chosen destination was GREEN & RED, and if you haven’t been, it’s one of those rare finds – a Mexican cantina without a single Burrito or Fajita in sight. The cuisine is 100% authentic, with a mains and tapas-style menu offering a huge assortment of dishes.
Once welcomed in from the rain, we headed straight for the bar which served several different varieties of Margarita as well as a selection of wines and local beers. We tucked into a couple of margarita’s and decided to order some tortillas and guacamole while we waited for a table (no reservation – not very “American Psycho”).
We were sat pretty quickly and I was glad to find that the menu (in Spanish) was accompanied by a glossary (in English) called “WTF am I eating?” which made ordering less hassle than expected. We decided to order a selection of tapas, and given my predilection for passing out after a sniff of Tequila, I swiftly moved on to one of the local beers.
When they arrived the dishes were fantastic: the Picadillo de Jalisco, a spicy Mexican chilli with slices of what looked like chorizo (It’s always hard to tell with chilli) was excellent; the Ceviche de Pulpo, a squid ceviche, was tangy and took some of the bite out of the chilli; and the Sopa de Frijoles Negros (a bean and tortilla soup) was outstanding.
The service was a bit slow at times but primarily because the restaurant was packed on a Wednesday evening. When the bill came it was under £30 a head all in – very reasonable. Definitely going again.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...skywalker
We at Black Tomato consider ourselves fearless in terms of finding new experiences to make your travel plans a bit more exciting. However, after watching Daredevils on Channel 4 last night we’re all suffering from a bit of vertigo today.
If you didn’t manage to catch the programme, it followed Dean Potter and his attempt to walk across a slack-line, unaided over a 3,000 feet drop in Yosemite National Park (imagine a huge length of rope tied between two rocks and you get the picture). Dean is one of the most famous extreme slack-liners in the world, and the only one to attempt to cross these ropes at such a high altitude without a pole (used for balance) or any kind of safety equipment.
There are echoes of Man on Wire with this breathtaking feat. Dean doesn’t have the Gallic flair of the enigmatic Frenchman, Philippe Petit, who crossed the twin towers of the World Trade Centre on a high wire, but he has an inherent likeability stemming from his quiet and understated nature on camera.
What really sets his crossing apart from the Frenchman’s is the mental strength he exhibits in attempting to carry out the walk totally unaided. That, combined with amazing views of the valley floor, over 3,000 feet below him make this an unmissable spectacle (to put this into perspective the drop would fit both of the former World Trade Centre twin towers stacked on top of each other with room to spare).
If you want to follow in Dean’s footsteps we can recommend our Heavenly Landscapes trip to Patagonia, Chile. Dean was himself the first ever climber to free solo climb (without ropes or assistance) two of the most challenging routes in Patagonia, and you can explore the area from the truly unique and wonderful Hotel Remota in Puerto Natales, the geographical and cultural heart of Chilean Patagonia. The Hotel Remota is 93 miles from the Torres del Paine national park and must rank as one of the most striking locations of any hotel in the world.
You can catch a replay of Skywalker in full on 4oD and we wholeheartedly recommend it (but not for the faint hearted though).
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...how to travel back in time (no flux capacitor required) by black tomato
This New Year’s we’ve come up with an amazing trip-of-a-lifetime that lets you to ring in 2010 not once, but twice.
Fly off on Boxing Day to Auckland and arrive at the luxurious Westin Auckland Lighter Quay. Spend your days chilling in the spa, or if you fancy, head out and explore the city.
On December 31, don your party hat and take in the fireworks over the Harbour Bridge as you sip on a glass of bubbly to welcome in the New Year…. for the first time.
After the revelry of your city celebrations, it’s time to hop in your Delorian (alright, so it’s an aeroplane). Leave Auckland on January 1, 2010, and by the time you get to the island of Aitutaki (part of the Cook Islands) it’ll be December 31, 2009. Neat huh?
Once you’ve ditched Doc Brown (he’s off to stock up on his plutonium) settle in to your luxurious waterfront bungalow and get ready to enjoy your last meal of 2009 (really this time). Then it’s time to dust off your party hat and bring in 2010 for the second time; except this time skyscrapers and crowded streets have been replaced by tall palm trees and pure white sand. Amazing.
Find out more about this amazing new year holiday.
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