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...
Ferme Favourite
La Petite Ferme in South Africa’s Franschhoek winelands not only offers high quality homely accommodation but great cuisine and stunning views. ‘The Little Farm’ is named, not as an affectation but as a reference to the 17th & 18th Century Huguenot exiles from France, who escaped persecution by Louis XIV, bringing their vines, crafts and skills with them, at the invitation of Dutch Protestant settlers in the Cape. As the story...
Zanzibar – A local catch-up
If, like us, you quickly tire of simply lazing, roasting on a beach for the complete duration of your holiday, then fishing and familiarising yourself with the local people can provide a welcome distraction in Zanzibar. Once you’ve visited Stone Town (which we’ll cover in a later review) then Zanzibar is largely an exotic beach resort with miles of white sand coral shoreline for the majority of visitors. Not that there’s anything...
