Tag: romance

Beach & Bush: the Perfect Holiday Combo

Posted on by James

The East coast of Africa is one of the most amazing coastlines to visit in the world. And it is almost endless.

Starting from Cape Town right on the south-western tip of the continent, moving east past Cape Agulhus (which is technically the southernmost point of Africa) and up the coast towards Durban, one experiences an amazing change in climate; Mediterranean weather (hot dry summers and cool wet winters) gives way to a sub-tropical system (warm all year with rain over the summer months), and the incredible diversity of habitats along the beaches reflects this.

The coastline is so full of life that documentary makers come from all over the world to film the spectacular array of creatures and natural events taking place.
The Academy Award winning feature My Octopus Teacher was filmed in Cape Town, and the annual sardine run off the appropriately named Wild Coast north of East London is one of the greatest marine shows on earth with countless whales, dolphins and all sorts of other marine life flocking in to take advantage of this bounty.

And that’s just in the south.

Golden beaches with bath-warm water await you in Mozambique. The Kenyan coast and its coral fringes have some of the best big game fishing in the world. And offshore you have the jewels of the Seychelles, the Comores and Mauritius awaiting.

The point is you are absolutely spoilt for choice, and the accessibility of so many of these dream destinations is more often than not a short flight from Johannesburg, the flight hub of Southern Africa.

45 minutes in a light aircraft can get you from your safari destination to Johannesburg, and then a connection down to the coast will not be much more than that.

You can be on a game drive in the morning watching a leopard climb a tree and elephants drinking from the waterhole, and by sunset you can be sipping a pina colada under a palm tree, the Indian Ocean lapping the shoreline only a stone’s throw from your verandah whilst a fresh seafood buffet – caught that day – is being prepared for dinner.

And whilst safari can offer the ultimate opulence, with luxurious rooms and Michelin-quality food, amazing service and hospitality, after four or five days of extended game drives, getting up before sunrise for a 5:30 departure, one can feel the need to slow down and unwind a little bit. And that is where the beaches come in!

A few days reclining in a hammock, reading a book whilst reminiscing over your favourite safari sightings, or snorkelling on shallow reefs, marvelling at the myriad tropical species to swim in front of your goggles

Be you a honeymoon couple, a family with kids or a group of friends travelling together, there is something for everyone along Africa’s extensive coastline.

Get in touch at info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start planning your beach and bush combination holiday…

South Africa: The Ultimate Travel Destination

Posted on by James

South Africa literally has it all.

Well. Almost.

It can’t quite compete with the Alps or the Rocky Mountains as a skiing destination, but for the rest, you name it, it’s got it!
Beaches, mountains, forests, deserts, bustling cities, cultural heritage sites, fascinating history, amazing food and wine… the list is seemingly endless.
From the rugged yet stunning west coast through the dry interior to the high peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains, and down the other side to the turtle-strewn beaches of Kwazulu/Natal, if you can’t find something here that absolutely blows you away, you’re doing something wrong…

The sheer diversity of experiences on offer is simply staggering, and the fact that the country is linked together by incredibly efficient modern airports in the major city centres, smaller regional hubs, and a road network that runs through the major tourist areas, and you have the perfect recipe for travel.

You could spend a month in the Mother City (Cape Town) and not do it all, and once you get your safari fix for the first time, you’ll be spending the next year planning your return trip, so addictive does it become.
The eastern Lowveld towards Mozambique is the traditional area to safari, and the Garden Route along the south coast offers quaint and magical little escapes where one can luncheon on oysters and champagne then go mountain biking in the forest, but to be honest, there is no corner of South Africa that doesn’t contain its own special offering.

The main tourist areas are just that for a reason – they feature incredibly high densities of amazing things to do – but from the farthest flung desert to the chilliest mountain peak, the country is strewn with thousands off hamlets, homesteads and adventure activities that are just waiting to be discovered. And heading off the beaten track often ensures lower costs and fewer people…

South Africa is about SO much more than just safari. It truly is one of the low-hanging fruit of travel destinations in the world. You will love it. That much we guarantee,

Get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com if you want to experience some of what this remarkable country has to offer…

 

 

Iconic Africa’s Favourite Escapes #2

Posted on by James

As a continuation of the Bucket List series we began last month, Iconic Africa Sales Consultant Danni Mcfarlane gives us a list of some of her top destinations for a trip to Africa, as well as a few little extra gems that rank highly in her books…

La Petite Ferme

As someone who appreciates good wine and food, I can wholeheartedly say that La Petite Ferme holds a special place in my heart. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with warm, smiling faces. The food overall was stunning, the cake of the day was to die for, and the wine was superb.

The estate is set on a vineyard with stunning views, offering an authentic experience of Franschhoek. They also harvest a variety of grapes, which produce a great selection of wines.

This is the perfect place to unwind after a long flight to South Africa snd before commencing your safari, or to finish up your trip after the early morning game drive wake-ups have you requiring some proper down-time…

Cape Grace

I believe that Cape Grace has one of the best locations in the Waterfront. It also offers a range of accommodation options to accommodate most budgets, and all their rooms are luxurious. The hotel also has a boutique feel which I love.

I wanted to include a Cape Town experience in my itinerary, and the Cape Grace was my top choice for the area. It is right in the beating heart of South Africa’s Mother City, and is the perfect place from which to launch adventures of the greater area…

Saseka Tented Camp

This is a camp I have visited on numerous occasions, and a place I will visit at the drop of a hat again.

Not only have I experienced some of my best sightings at Saseka, but the rooms are unique and absolutely stunning, and the cuisine is out of this world.

Without questions, this is my best property in the Greater Kruger…

Azura Benguerra Island

Last but not lease, Azura.

I have so many beautiful memories of Mozambique from my childhood. We spent most of our Christmas holidays in Mozambique, soaking up the sun and eating some of the best seafood I have ever tasted.

A holiday to Southern Africa is not complete without a few days of relaxation on the beaches of Mozambique. Warm water, white sand and sea life everywhere… this is true tropical island paradise…

To add, the three additional properties that I would like to include are available below:

Lion Sands Tinga Lodge

I chose this lodge for one of the most epic sightings I have ever experienced in the Kruger. This is where I witnessed one massive crocodile take down a ‘dagga boy’ (an old buffalo bull). This memory will stay with me for a long time to come, and the deciding factor for adding this to my top three destinations…

Wilderness Jao

I have included Wilderness Jao as this camp is on my bucket list for Botswana! Stunning lodge design meets superb game viewing in the heart of the Okavango Delta…

Dulini Leadwood

I love the boutique feel of Dulini, especially Leadwood. I have chosen this camp for its beautiful and intimate setting, the design of the camp, and attention to detail in every aspect of what they do. Plus it sits in leopard heaven…!

South Africa: World’s Best Country to Visit

Posted on by James

It’s pretty difficult to choose one thing that stands out as brilliant about South Africa, simply because the list of things that make it exceptional is so long.

But now that the country has been crowned “Favourite Country in the World” by readers of The Telegraph we should really delve into a few things that make the Rainbow Nation a must-visit for foreigners…

Affordability

As far as value-for-money goes, South Africa is right up there. The local currency, the Rand, isn’t as strong as it was historically, so Pounds, Euros and the US Dollar go a long way here. Dinner and wine at one of the country’s top restaurants might only set you back $75, and the spectrum of accommodation options is as wide as the imagination. There’s literally something for everybody.

Wildlife

Obviously our favourite part of the equation.
South Africa is one of the world’s top game-viewing destinations, but it is by no means limited to just the Big 5. Its diversity of habitats mean a stunning array of wild creatures, so all you have to decide is what you want to see, and go there. The Kruger Park and surrounds tend to steal the show, but they are just the tip of the iceberg…

Beaches

Along its more than 2550 kilometres of coastline, South Africa has some truly stunning beaches, many, many miles of them remote and without a building in sight. From the harsh Atlantic coastline near the Namibian border round to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, there are wild experiences to be had, from watching turtles laying their eggs to surfing some of the best waves on the planet.

Scenic Splendour

South Africa really is many worlds in one. Expect stunning coastlines, dramatic mountainscapes, huge areas of untamed bushveld, starkly beautiful semi-deserts, lakes, waterfalls, spectacular canyons, forests and wide plains, plus Cape Town, undeniably one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Friendly People

The ‘Rainbow Nation’ has 11 official languages. People from all races make up a wonderful array of cultures, and visitors can expect a friendly welcome wherever they go. The hospitality of South Africans is unrivalled, whatever culture they are from.

Excellent Infrastructure

South Africa has excellent major transport networks, good tourist facilities, some of the cleanest drinking water in the world, a great banking system with numerous ATMs countrywide, good accommodation for all pockets, and mouth-watering eating options. Whether you’re a back-packer or coming in on your own private jet, there is something for you

Though South Africa sits at the far end of the continent, it is one of the most accessible of the other African countries featured in the top 20; you can fly to two South African cities (Johannesburg, Cape Town) directly from the UK and from the US, and those coming from Europe arrive free of jet-lag due to a near-identical time-zone.
Your reward for 12 hours in the air is a place of true beauty – Cape Town a supermodel at the foot of Table Mountain, the Garden Route a ribbon of road-trip nirvana, the wineries of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch crafting fine vintages, the landscape thrilling to the peaks and troughs of the Drakensberg range and Motlatse Canyon, Kruger National Park a roaring wildlife zone.

This coronation has been coming.  South Africa was third in this poll in 2017, second in 2018, and now it’s top of the pops.

With Namibia, Botswana and Kenya all featuring in the top 20 Favourite Countries in the World (16th, 10th and 7th respectively), it’s clear that the readers of The Telegraph love the rest of Africa too.

All those countries feature on bespoke itineraries we have created for our guests, so if African Travel is what you’re after get in touch with one of our sales representatives through info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start planning your trip of a lifetime…

 

 

Little Chem Chem: Quintessential Safari in East Africa

Posted on by James

On the shores of Tanzania’s Lake Burunge, set amongst the acacia and baobab trees with the lip of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment sitting as a backdrop, lies Little Chem Chem; a camp where understated luxury is woven into every experience.

Little Chem Chem is the “sunrise camp” of the three Chem Chem lodges – the other two are Chem Chem Lodge itself and Forst Chem Chem – being the furthest east, and as such being situated the closest to Tarangire National Park, with which the concession on which the lodges are found share a contiguous border. With no fences around the park allowing the free movement of wildlife, the entire area shows an abundance of game for the wildlife enthusiast. Lions and elephants are regular visitors and during the migration season the fringes of the great wildebeest herds pass through, providing a glut for the predators.

The bird life is sensational, and the combination of savanna and lake shore habitats will keep the avid bird watcher enthralled for hours with its myriad of species.

The lodge itself is elegance in the true classic safari style.

Six luxury safari tents (including one family tent), each boasting indoor and outdoor showers, overlook an open gladed area that attracts an abundance of wildlife. Stately giraffes stroll by as you sit outside in the shade of your canvas awning, and superb starlings hop about looking for morsels amongst the grasses. The main lodge is spacious and cool (WiFi is available in both the rooms and the main area) and allows for fantastic views into the surrounding bush and open spaces. Being small in size, it retains a completely intimate feel, and is also readily available for exclusive occupancy…

Martial eagles soar above, and the bush sings to you constantly with its soft chirp of cicadas in summer, von der Decken’s hornbills in winter, and at night time the ambient sound is provided by the roar of the lion and the guttural rasp of the leopard slinking in the shadows.

Little Chem Chem has paced itself to the natural rhythm of Africa herself, and you will too upon arrival.

Walk with wildlife, marvel at ancient baobabs, embrace serenity and wellness, sip sundowners overlooking the Rift Valley, and discover the ancient culture of the Maasai people. Chem Chem is where you go to feel something with this ancient continent; belonging.