Phinda Game Reserve
Phinda reaches the pinnacle of excellence when it comes to guiding. The &Beyond company have always considered this a priority (also under its previous name CCAfrica) and I can’t fault it. Good guiding is so often lacking, so it’s such a pleasure to get guides that not only know their stuff (anyone can regurgitate facts)...
Green Season in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley
“There is no game in the green season…….!” This is a phrase used about Zambia’s Luangwa Game Reserves in the green season, but “It’s simply is not true!” says Christina Carr of Norman Carr Safaris. The Green Season covers the months from January to March, when the summer rains turn everything green, the bush it at...
Mumbo Island ranked in Top 100 Hotels in World – read what I think…
Is Mumbo Island one of my Top 100 places to go in the world…..YES absolutely! People often ask me where is the best place I have been and when reeling off my personal favourites Mumbo Island is definitely in the Top Ten. Chosen...
UGANDA; Gorillas, Chimps & tree-climbing Lions
Uganda doesn’t get talked about that much when it comes to safari and most people don’t even know it’s got much more than gorillas. In a country the size of UK, there’s so much more……. including: a whopping 1000 species of birds tree climbing lions...
Mosiac Farm
I do like a generous size bath and the big oval bath in the lagoon-side safari suite at Mosiac Farm, could fit little ole me and my 6ft man. The only problem was that that neither I nor Man, could reach both the spout and the taps at the same time. We had to run...
Oyster Bay Lodge
As I galloped along the water’s edge of Oyster Bay Lodge’s own 3.5km beach, I couldn’t help letting out a “yeehaa”.
Singita Lebombo Safari Lodge
I wouldn’t mind going to Heaven if it was like Singita Lebombo. I have been here once before (Lebombo, not Heaven) but this visit had a more profound effect on me. The subtle change in décor, from touches of lime green and grey amongst a sea of white, to a palate of ripening corn through...
Elandsfontein and Sonqua Manor
Here I am, gobsmacked, at Elandsfontein Private Nature Reserve, about an hour north of Cape Town along the West Coast. It’s so blimmin’ nice here and I hadn’t expected it. Sonqua Manor – the accommodation on the Elandsfontein reserve – is a full-on safari lodge of the best sort, in an area where good taste...
Sediba Private Game Lodge (Letlapa and Letlapala Lodges)
Game Experience: Play hide and seek with the Big Five in this bushy, hilly reserve. Rangers: Ask for Justinus by name and you will get a top guide who’s funny too. Decor: Mediaeval heavy metal with 21st century twist – very masculine but very luxurious with private Jacuzzi sunk into each deck. Food: Fabulous in...
Nedile Lodge
Nedile Lodge Overview: Game Experience: Riaan the Ranger’s party trick is finding lion and leopard in 38,000 hectares of Big Five reserve. Decor: It doesn’t get more traditional safari than this; wood, stone, thatch and African artefacts harmoniously combined in tones of brown. Food: Delicious dinners with local game meats a speciality, but unmemorable lunches....
Ka’Ingo Private Reserve
Ka’Ingo Overview Game Experience: See lots of game like lion, rhino, buffalo and elephant, giraffe, lots of buck and snuffling warthog. Decor: Inviting beds and a bright refurbishment in progress as I left. Food: Malawian’s are renowned for being great chefs and there are two at Ka’Ingo. Taste some of the best meat in SA,...
Motsentsela Tree Lodge
Maun is the gateway town into what is perhaps the ultimate safari area; Botswana’s Okavango Delta. But only a couple of years ago the choice of accommodation in Maun was pretty dire. So why stay in Maun you might think? Well, firstly it is the only town for many miles, secondly after a long international...