On the edge of the Makgadikgadi salt pans, Jack’s Camp is the right place to relive the heyday of exploration and the rugged glamour of golden-day safaris. There is something irresistible about taking a dip in a luxurious tented pool and enjoying the decadent comfort of the camp… in the middle of one of the harshest environments on Earth!
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is nestled in the impenetrable forest of Bwindi, Uganda. It is a remote enclave that mixes luxury and comfort with an experience of nature that is intimate and meaningful.
The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans are the stage of Africa’s second largest zebra migration. Everything happens on a large scale here. But it pays to notice the smaller denizens of the pans too. While staying at Jack’s Camp on the edge of the Makgadikgadi, a mob of habituated meerkats likes to get quite close to avid explorers. Perhaps not Botswana’s wildest encounter, but certainly the cutest.
Some places of pilgrimage have drawn the human spirit for centuries. The churches of Lalibela in northern Ethiopia are holy for Ethiopian Christians. These mysterious, rock-hewn churches are marvellous and intriguing. They speak of a world where the sacred is palpable, redemption, perhaps, at hand.
In the constant back and forth between Nubia and Ancient Egypt, the city-state of Napata was founded in the shadow of Jebel Barkal, the sacred mountain of the Nubians. The ruins of the city, including the Temple of Amun, are within walking distance of the Nubian Rest House, a true jewel of the desert.
Location, location, location. Meroe Camp takes that old adage to heart. At about 1 km from the Meroe pyramids and necropolis, the camp is within walking distance of an archaeological paradise.
In my recent trip to Sudan, I enjoyed ancient archaeological sites without having to wait in line… I was the only one there! I experienced warmth and hospitality in a safe country. Among the ruins of one of the great Nile civilisations, I discovered a travel destination that has been unjustly ignored by tourism, offering a unique opportunity for those seeking authenticity.
There was a time when the dark forests of Central Africa were remote, untouched, perilous… In them dwelled mysterious creatures that inspired fear and fascination. We now have a better understanding of Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzee. Travelling to their natural habitat is a clear possibility for those wishing to meet them.
Safaris are all about seeing. As my plane is landing in an airstrip in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans a limitless landscape unfolds before our eyes. In the following days, I would receive a master-class on seeing.
Planning a family vacation can be a daunting task. Everyone seems to have their own interests and at times these could not be more incompatible. Mom wants something sophisticated, while Son has recently developed a fascination with mountain biking. Dad is all about going out of his comfort zone… and how can we forget that time we all got stranded because of his taste for the exotic?
