India is the visual explosion of bright sarees, cows pretending to be natural roundabouts, marigolds and lots of sunshine. It is everything, and more, all at once. An orchestra thanks to beeping horns, high-speed Hindi and the cawing of thousands of crows.
Whilst everyone has probably heard of the island Zanzibar, not everyone has heard of Pemba, Mafia, Fanjove and Thanda Islands. These are the kinds of places you would beg to be marooned on!
Gibbons, lemurs, orangutans, chimpanzees, and gorillas all are endangered primate species, in fact almost all primates are now threatened and around 300 species face extinction in the next 30 years.
I love diminutive (by Latin America standards) Ecuador, in fact, at the risk of being accused of favouritism, I have rather a soft spot for it. Perhaps because it is often overlooked by visitors in favour of its larger neighbour Peru or even by its scene-st...
What do you get when you combine one of the pole positions for wildlife viewing in all of Africa, with the sentiment of a 1920s explorer style safari camp? A camp that is truly one of the most exciting to arrive, unpack and settle into, and equally one that...
Perfectly hidden away on the Musandam Peninsula in the far north of Oman, and just an easy two-hour drive from Dubai, is the exquisite Six Senses Zighy Bay.
I recently read a copy of the Conde Nast Traveler and was delighted to see that many of my very favourite properties in Africa were featured on the Readers’ Choice Awards 2016 for Africa.
On a recent exploration off-the-beaten-track in Rajasthan, I had the pleasure of staying for a few nights at Jawai Leopard camp. Recommended by Conde Nast's Gold List 2017, it is a luxury safari camp lying at the heart of an untrammelled wilderness, where l...
Babylonstoren has to be my favourite place in The Winelands, so I'm delighted that it has been chosen as one of the Best Hotels in the World by Conde Nast Traveller. It lies in the picturesque Drakenstein Valley between Franschhoek and Paarl and is surround...
I recently spent a month in Tanzania where I had the luxury and privilege of experiencing Malagarasi – Tanzania’s perfect Eden, where the owners have been conserving wildlife and working with locals using sustainable travel, in a labour of love.
Lake Malawi is so vast that spending time on its foreshore along the lake seems like a beach holiday. Likoma Island, where I stayed on my recent visit to Malawi, is without a doubt the most idyllic location on the lake.
In the Samthar Valley of West Bengal, sustainable travel is directly benefitting local communities through investments in infrastructure, environmental projects and educating local children at the inspired Awake and Shine School.
How can we ensure that wildlife and the people who live alongside it can become the primary beneficiaries of tourism and can wildlife tourism enhance the quality and quantity of the habitat available?
Peru has to be one of the most well-known hotspots for some of the most extraordinary and challenging hiking in the world. Think high mountain passes, verdant sub-tropical forests, ancient Royal Incan pathways and archaeological sites and of course, remote ...
The 'Ibera Wetlands' are located in the north-eastern region of Argentina, nestled up on the border with Brazil and Paraguay, immediately below the well-known Iguazu Falls. One Trust is working very hard to conserve the wetlands here and is using sustainabl...
Touching down on African soil again during a recent visit reminded me of how excited I was the very first time I travelled on safari in this most wonderful of continents. This visit, like every other, did not disappoint and all of those wonderful memories a...
With a high altitude desert dominated by rugged snowcapped mountains and deep turquoise lakes, Ladakh is one of the most picturesque places on earth. This is the home of the “Ghost of the Himalaya”, the enigmatic snow leopard, and renowned as the best place...
South Africa is a magnet for travellers seeking diversity in all if its glory, a simple two week journey can incorporate so many different experiences and contrasting landscapes. One of the added bonuses is that it offers the chance to observe magnificent w...
The current luxury tented camps across India offer so many experiences, whether you’re looking for a rugged, outdoorsy adventure or an indulgent, romantic vacation, there’s something for everyone!
With baking having become the new fashionable hobby spanning all generations we cannot ignore the trend! On family safaris (our favourite type of safari) baking is an essential ingredient to ensure younger children have fun!
As the rhino population unhappily declines, you really should move heaven and earth to see this remarkable creature in the wild before it's too late. Rest assured though, your safari can also help to save the Rhino too.
On any journey through India it soon becomes clear that there is no such thing as “typical” Indian food. The regional Malabar cuisine of Kerala is unlike anything else on the subcontinent and the best way to experience it is by a homestay and cookery classe...
The next time you find yourself in the city of Cape Town, make a turn past the vibrant Bo Kaap district to spend an afternoon on a savoury safari, creating a spread of spice-infused curries and snacks that are typical of Cape Malay cuisine.
One of the great pleasures of travelling is a chance to try local dishes that are completely different to those one would try at home and use unique local ingredients. Peru is definitely at the top of our list when it comes to fabulous gourmet experiences, ...
Mexico has to be one of my favourite destinations in Latin America. Not just for its coast, although of course it boasts some sublime scenery, but mostly for its passionate embrace of all things that offer enjoyment of life: art, music, celebrated culture, ...
At the turn of the 21st Century Nepal was considered a barren land in terms of cuisine. Bland curries were the staple of most hotels. But, sixteen years on, there has been an absolute sea change both in Kathmandu itself and further afield in villages such a...
From the Agile mangabey to the Zanzibar colobus, there are more than 116 primate species in Africa and that is not even considering the 70 plus lemur species in Madagascar. Our closest relatives are simply amazing and spending quality time observing them w...
Whenever a person plans a wildlife-oriented holiday, there may well be certain creatures that they are desperate to see. When it comes to Central and South America, the blue-footed booby might well be one of the “must-see” species.
Ethiopia, with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa, is a country of many contrasts. There are a wide range of altitudes and many distinct areas, from the highest point in the Simiens to the lowest in the Danakil Depression, lying below sea level.
When it comes to national parks, you're hard-pushed to find any that rival those of Sri Lanka in terms of awe-inspiring beauty and fascinating wildlife, particularly as Sri Lanka's relatively undeveloped state means their boundaries range far and wide acros...
