The only view most people ever get of the Central Kalahari is the vast expanse of featureless, light brown plain you see out of the airplane window as you fly north to Maun and on to the Okavango Delta. If you pull out a map of Botswana (handily there’s one below this article), the Kalahari is […]
What: Lamb tagine with prunes Where: Ourika Valley, Morocco When I think of prunes, I don’t normally think of dinner. However, this gem of a dish brought me around to say the least. Juicy chunks of fresh lamb braised to perfection in a quintessential (and unbelievably delicious) Moroccan tagine. The prunes virtually melt from the slow cooking, […]
Over the last few years the general trend for a Botswana safari has been to offer more. More luxury, more comfort, more silver flatware and crystal stemware, more private plunge pools, more butlers (you can never have too many!), more…well, everything. Don’t get me wrong, this is not always a bad thing—let’s face it, everyone […]
If you find yourself lost in a city, seek higher ground to get a little perspective. And if there’s a pool atop that higher ground, you might as well relax in it for a little while. Where: Heure Bleue Palais Why: There’s no need to explain it; we all know why the rooftop pool is so cool. But […]
As I laid in the hammam at Riad Fes, my thoughts now turned to survival. Steam hissed angrily from the walls, the intense heat unbearable. Beads of sweat flowed into rivers, puddling up on the hot marble beneath me. My vision blurred, breathing became increasingly difficult in the heavy humid air. I wasn’t sure how much […]
Since we’re friends, I’m going to tell you a secret—but you have to promise you’re not going to tell anybody. Here goes and remember, you promised—Greystoke Mahale, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, might just be one of the greatest places I have ever been. Now, I know you want to hear about the chimps […]
Special offers—particularly where travel is concerned—are imperfect for the most part. They’re either too restrictive, not really what you want, or more of a compromise than you would like. But then there are the rare gems you need to take a closer look at. With the Six Countries Special, Wilderness Safaris has created a special offer that’s […]
Any region that includes the word Sahara instantly suggests a high degree of nothingness. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, Morocco has a totally unexpected slice of magic. Not only is it surprising to see what’s on your plate, it’s always a mystery where you’ll actually find it. Where: Dar Ahlam, Skoura, Morocco What: Rice balls […]
The beachside pool is the best of both worlds: nature’s spectacular view combined with man-made safety and climate control. Where: Baraza Resort & Spa, Bwejuu Beach, Zanzibar Why: Something you may not know is that while most of the beaches of Zanzibar are idyllic and perfect for sunbathing, the water itself is not. The tides on the […]
The bush pool: it’s not always a necessity, but when you’ve worked up a sweat trying to count all the wildebeest in the Serengeti, you’ll certainly be glad it’s there. Where: Nomad’s Lamai Serengeti, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania Why: After a morning spent watching literally thousands of wildebeest taking a cooling—yet terror filled—swim across the Mara River […]
While my lens is zoomed in on this amazing plate of fresh Mozambican crab, your imagination can zoom out and picture the rest of the scene. Cloudless skies, calm seas lapping the shore, ocean breezes ruffling my linen shirt and a toothy grin stretched wide across my face. Where: Londo Lodge, Quirimbas Archipelago, Mozambique What: […]
I don’t think I’ve ever seen my wife happier than she was at La Clé des Montagnes. It was the kind of happy that spills out in giggles and wows, the kind you try to bottle and carry with you as protection against harder times. La Clé des Montagnes is not open to the public […]
While the safari experience is what most travellers focus on, Africa has its share of great cities too. Cape Town is where our Africa planners threaten to move permanently every January. Here we break down two of our favourite places to stay on both ends of the spectrum. High: Ellerman House 1,180 USD and up […]
Where: Jack’s Camp, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park Why: Shaded under a campaign tent in the most handsome shade of pink, it’s the perfect salve after a morning spent walking with the bushmen under a blazing Kalahari sun, or a dusty sunrise quad-bike excursion into the open-air museum of the pans. Greg Sacks has constructed a little […]
Under the watchful eye and pursed lips of the head dada (traditional Moroccan female cook), I was sweating bullets and tripping over my own hands and feet, even when doing something as basic as peeling a carrot. Really. I thought the cooking class we had scheduled at Dar Les Cigognes was going to be a […]
Ever find yourself opening and closing the fridge door compulsively, hoping that somehow the next time you open it you will magically find more inspiration than last time? I mean, what’s a guy to do with a few random eggplants, an apple and a container of yogurt, right? Where: Babel, Western Cape, South Africa What: […]