Archive for the ‘safari’ Category
safari chic
Elephant Outside Suite
your safari wake up call…
Out on the sun-crisped savannahs of South Africa, amongst grazing herds of elephants and rhinos, and hidden like its pride of lions in the long grass of the river banks, Makanyane Safari Lodge holds a secret that will surprise, thrill and change you: You can have a luxurious, and fun, family holiday.
Think safari-chic contemporary suites, with enormous beds, textured walls of natural rock and dried tree trunks, and glass walls to give you spectacular views onto bush scenery below. Pamper yourself in the open air bathrooms, equipped with opulent roll-top tubs for that special get-back-in-touch-with-nature soak, you might have an elephant for company mind…
Tired out from the exhilaration of seeing the wildlife and a day spent in the sun, then curl up on the sofa and retire with some world-class South African wine, gazing at the star-flecked sky sparkling through your bedroom windows. Simply dreamy.
(5 votes, average: 4.20 out of 5)
Loading ...let the pictures do the talking
We’ve gathered a few snaps together from our brand spanking new photography competition, View Finder, to tempt you this weekend with some pure unadulterated wanderlust. Fancy entering yourself and winning a trip to South Africa to stay at the luxurious Makanyane Safari Lodge (yes please) click here.
ballooning over namibia
the electrifying northern lights
sun-kissed bathing in turkey
the salt flats of bolivia
the majestic swiss alps
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...follow friday in focus
With the recent launch of our epic photography competition, View Finder, we have photography on the brain (and little else).
worth a 1000 views
To celebrate this beautifully sunny Friday (hmm, good light conditions) our minds are drifting off to the sun-kissed plains of South Africa to the luxurious Makayane Safari Lodge for a touch of inimitable Savannah chic.
Could your holiday pic make you our View Finder? Show us your snaps and you could be jetting off to Makayane faster than a herd of antelopes.
How to enter?
-Upload your best view on our Facebook wall**
-Get your friends, family, anyone you know, to ‘Like’ your photo in our album
-Friends who vote are in with a chance of winning a KODAK PLAYSPORT so they have a good reason to…
-On April 7th we’ll announce the 20 finalists with the most ‘Likes’ on Facebook
Simples. Good luck and get snapping.
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...africa is a big place
africa is a big place
Lauren Scott, another of our travel experts / safari addicts reports on her latest adventure into one of her favourite countries: Kenya.
head out on safari
Africa is a big place. You’ve seen the Lion King, watched Born Free more times than you would care to admit and know everything there is to know about Dennis Finch-Hatton. You want to go on safari. Now.
But where to start?
As Googling “safari” gets you the latest apple software (and your ruby red slippers are broken) you’re going to have to call in reinforcements. You need a “fundi” (an expert).
Now I am no fundi, but I have, by chance, luck and various stars aligning been on a number of safaris, the majority of which have taken place in East Africa. I have slept in camp beds, sleeping bags, hammocks and king sized doubles – I am generally happy as long as I can see the sunrise when I wake up and the stars when I go to bed, but there are some safari trips, select itineraries and destinations that combine to exceed every expectation.
I have just had one such trip.
Three stops, three totally different experiences with one thing in common – pure, unadulterated, authentic, African luxury. I won’t give away all the secrets – you will in due time, if I do a good enough job with this article, discover them for yourself. But here is a little of what I saw and am now, very strongly, encouraging you to see for yourself.
Stop One. Sirikoi
zoe the zebra at sirikoi
You start at Sirikoi, which is where my love of safari began. If my first trip to Kenya, (to the Chyulu Hills) gave me a little crush then Sirikoi is where I realised this might be something serious. I came for the first time three years ago and have dreamt my way back there on many a noisy night in New York City.
The camp is on Lewa downs, hand-crafted, owned and run by safari legend Willie Roberts and his wife Sue, whose shamba (vegetable garden) is a sight to be seen. Sirikoi was built with an intrinsic understanding of, and respect for, the land which they both know and love so well, and you can see it in every detail. It is the definitive safari lodge.
The main difficulty here seems to be convincing the guests to leave when its time to go home. (I was once such difficult guest).
Accommodation ranges from beautifully decorated tented rooms (strewn with first edition Africana and family heirlooms) to a palatial cottage (ideal for those who need a few more creature comforts). Meals take place in the company of the resident Vervet monkeys, whole herds of elephants (less than 50 feet away at the camp’s watering hole) as well as the camp’s newest addition, Zoe the Grevy Zebra, who has adopted all who live there as her herd. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, Sirikoi is special.
Stop Two. Lemarti’s
lemarti's camp
When you do finally manage to leave, I suggest the next stop as Lemarti’s camp. By now you have seen some game (in fact its highly likely that you have seen all of the big (and little) five in the space of a few short days) so its time for some culture. Kenya is a beautiful place, but it becomes infinitely more so when you spend time finding out about the people who call this their home.
Lemarti’s camp is situated on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiru river, in Northern Lakipia and has already become a legend in the safari world. With only five guest tents, the camp is intimate and, in the twinkling paraffin lights of the night, hugely romantic.
Built around a centenary fig tree (considered sacred and annually blessed by the local tribesmen on whose land you are a guest) it is believed that the tree blesses all those who come to it. There is magic in the air.
lemarti's camp grounds
This camp, owned and run by fashion designer Anna Trzebinski and her Samburu husband Lemarti, is all about authenticity and glamour. Anna has personally designed every detail of the camps aesthetics with beautiful results. There are so many spaces for lying around that it’s easy to begin to feel as regal as you are, no doubt, looking.
But this place doesn’t only look good, at Lemarti’s you don’t simply “witness” the Samburu way of life, you have a rare opportunity to become part of it. Lemarti, and his best friend from childhood, Boniface welcome you into their extended family, teach you the ways of the Samburu and Maasai people and share their customs with you with an irresistible warmth and charm.
Trips to the market and local school, bush walks and games of boa fill the days with stories round the fire and the smell of paraffin throughout the nights.
In all my travels I have seen nothing that compares.
Stop Three. Manda Bay
manda bay
Safari’s can be surprisingly tiring, which is why most good agents (and fundi’s of course) recommend a few days of total R & R at the end of the trip. My final stop was the coast in Lamu, a coastal town where African and Arabic culture’s merge with spectacular results.
Manda Bay is one of a number of possible destinations here but, in my experience, for sightings, sundowners and stories, the best possible option. Part owned and run by Andy Roberts’s (Willy Roberts’s, of Sirikoi’s brother), the lodge is totally Roberts(on) Crusoe
White sandy beaches + cocktails on one of the beautiful old dhow’s….I don’t need to say much more! (but I will)
Apart from the obligatory lounging around (on your swing, sun beds, and sofas – you choose your poison / position) there are a huge amount of possible pastimes here. Fishing (for sailfish), exploring the local ruins (stunning), snorkelling, scuba diving….massages with “Alice who takes you to wonderland”. This.place.is.heaven and the ideal end to this spectacular trip.
And so this is my (the) ultimate safari. You will come back with photos, stories, a tan, and, most likely an addiction to African exploration that will be impossible to cure.
You’re welcome.
(Dennis Finch-Hatton not included. Sorry.)
(4 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5) Loading ...paul heads to the pearl of africa
trekking through uganda
Our African expert, Paul, is always heading off on those once-in-a-life-time-trips that gets us all green with envy back at HQ. Read on to find out why Paul’s last trip to Uganda got our hearts melting.
We hadn’t been trekking for very long when the porter who was walking in front of me said “look, there they are!” I lifted my binoculars to my eyes and could hardly believe it – a young gorilla was feeding in the top of a small tree. I had imagined us negotiating muddy trails up slippery, steep hillsides for hours before finding them. It had taken us just 30 minutes and we had hardly broken a sweat.
the teenagers hanging around
After another ten minutes or so we were with them. For so many people, it’s life long ambitions to see gorillas in the wild, and I can easily understand why. They’re fascinating creatures and I was immediately engrossed by them. I think what sets them (and chimps) apart from other mammals are their human characteristics. They mostly took no notice of us while going about their daily routine of sleeping, playing, grooming and eating. The youngsters are particularly entertaining as they play fight and chase one another, just like little kids on the playground. A little infant had my undivided attention for awhile. It lay on its mother’s back while looking at me with its huge brown eyes. It was one of those moment I won’t ever forget.
The older ‘teenagers’ were trying to impress by climbing up to the tree tops as quick as they could only to crash back onto the ground within a few seconds. And then of course there is the Silverback. He had such a massive presence and instantly commandd respect. It’s hard to believe that something so massive and imposing can be so gentle. He was totally relaxed in our presence and not once did he show any aggression or irritation. After what seemed like barely minutes, our guide said that our time was up and we needed to start heading back.
the silverback snacking
It’s not only the gorillas that draw people to Uganda. There are 13 species of primate including the Chimpanzee, Black and White Colobus, the Red-Tailed and Blue Monkeys. It’s also a bird lovers paradise with over 1000 species ocurring in a country smaller than the US state of Oregon. It’s home to the legendary snow capped Rwenzori Mountain Range, often referred to as the Mountains of the Moon. It’s also the source of the mighty Nile River and the town of Jinja is home to some of the best white water rafting in the world. As a pioneering tourist, Winston Churchill referred to it as the Pearl of Africa.
People often associate Uganda with the monster that was Idi Amin. Those days are long gone and stability has returned to most parts of the country. Tourists are welcomed with open arms. Wherever you go you will be greeted with “Hello Mzungu!” which means European, or aimless wanderer. I would have happily been a wanderer here awhile longer…
To go on your own gorilla safari in Uganda, get in touch with Paul and he can help you plan an unforgettable experience.
(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5) Loading ...our top 5 african safari destinations
Africa. It’s a pretty big place, so we don’t blame you if you’re not quite sure where to start. So to help you out, we’ve narrowed down our Top 5 African destinations that you simply have to go visit at least once in your life.
flamingos flocking to kenya
Famous for its scenery as much as its safari wildlife, Kenya is a must-visit destination, no matter if you’re a first timer, or an African connoisseur. From millions of vibrant pink flamingos to the sombre masses of wildebeests, rolling grass lands of the Maasai Mara to the Luna landscapes of Hell’s Gate; you’ll be amazed at the magnitude of the things to see in Kenya.
Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania isn’t just another Safari, it’s possibly the best place in the world to see the Big 5. Witness the migrations and watch as the predators follow for a snack on the run. Visit chimpanzee sanctuaries and interact with our not so distant cousins. And have we mentioned the Zanzibar archipelago? The perfect island paradise to recover from days spent following Wildebeest migrations across sweeping plains. Bliss.
the brilliant okavango delta
The jewel in the Botswana safari crown is the Okavango Delta which floods every year from March to June, bringing with it an abundance of wildlife. The perfect place to watch nature unfurl its wings as wildlife migrates towards this massive water source making the game much easier to locate. Where there’s water, there’s life.
Every safari aficionado in the world has heard of Kruger National Park and with good reason. The reserve’s untamed and unspoiled environment offers up a feast of African game just the way you’ve always imagined it. And with an abundance of luxury lodges you’ll be able to relax in style and soak up the surroundings.
go on a walking safari in zambia
Stalk the plains of Zambia through waist-high grass, traversing national parks on a walking safari that will allow you to get as up close and personal with the animals as anyone could hope. All a bit Jurassic Park (except without the Raptors). Feel at one with nature as you explore the lush landscapes with a travelling camp (luxury of course). Why safari by jeep, when you can get a whole new perspective on foot?
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...
