Arusha – Tanzania’s coffee gateway to the wild
On your way to or from your dream safari in Tanzania why not linger a while longer in Arusha where a couple of lodges we’ve found, in the middle of coffee plantations, could really invigorate your trip? There’s a tendency when going on safari to head straight to the wildlife and miss out on some of the local life. Safari can also be exhausting and we think that a couple of nights either before or after your wildlife adventure can...
A slow train to ‘nowhere’
This sleepy ponderous train ride gives us a sense of overall fulfillment when visiting the old British Burma colonial hill-station of Kalaw. Boarding the train at Shwe Nyaung station, near Inle Lake, we’re struck immediately by the Spartan and somewhat grubby nature of the Upper Class carriages we’re to travel in. The curtains look as if they’ve doubled up as cleaning cloths and the seats as footrests, so we’re under no illusion that...
Making the most of the Mara – Part 2 – Where to stay?
In this, the second part of our Masai Mara review, we share with you some of the choices of accommodation that can make or mar(a) your stay in this fantastic Kenyan wildlife reserve. Unlike Tanzania (that has high government taxes, which virtually double the cost of accommodation) it’s possible to stay within the Mara at anything from outlandishly opulent to relatively budget conscious throughout the park. The options are too...
Costa Kaleidoscope
Costa Rica offers one of the most diverse, stable, peaceful and colourful destinations that you’ll find anywhere on the planet – thanks in part to having abolished its standing army many years ago. From occupation by the Spanish Conquistadors who named it the ‘Rich Coast’ to the bloodshed and turmoil of civil war throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, its little wonder that by 1947 this little...
Vines, Virgin and Views
Visit Mont Rochelle National Park in the winelands of South Africa and you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t stay in Sir Richard Branson’s estate of the same name. Unlike many boutique hotels with traditional architecture and aspirations, Mont Rochelle excels by achieving a showcase resort whilst retaining a magical ambiance that embraces the guest – almost enticing them to become part of the family. Sir Richard Branson...
