Tag: warm

Sussurro: Indian Ocean Whispers

Posted on by James

Few places in the world can offer a true sense of peace.

Yet at Sussuro – Portugese for “whisper” – does just that, with the gentle lap of tiny lagoon ripples on its shoreline, birdsong in the trees around, and the soft creaking of ropes from the dhows moored just offshore all combining into a lovely susurration that fills one with a sense of calm.

The tropical breeze that ensures warm weather pretty much year round means this ocean paradise is a place of swimming costumes and bare feet, with the ever=present option of having a margharita in hand…

Sussurro’s private bungalows provide over a thousand square feet of personal space. Each suite includes indoor and outdoor bathing facilities and generous water front verandahs. Looking out over th lagoon sheltered by the Nhambue peninsula, it is not uncommon to see a school of dolphins moving by close inshore, and one feels completely immersed in nature.

Mozambican architecture weaves a natural canopy above billowing mosquito nets. Large apertures allow the colours of an ever changing landscape to permeate the space.

Rooms are dressed with furniture created and carved onsite and thoughtfully collected artisanal pieces from sub-saharan Africa.

As well as being a place of complete relaxation, where lounging sleepily with a book is the perfect way to pass the time before your next delicious seafood meal, Sussurro is also a place of activities.

Optional dhow trips into the bay or up the Govurha waterways can end in a snorkelling experience on a reef, or a cold Laurentina beer in an isolated cove.
A day trip to Santa Carolina Island in the Bazaruto Archipelago is also a wonderful cutural experience; as well as the thrill of the boat ride, and the natural beauty of the reef systems, one has the opportunity to wander into the Santa Carolina hotel ruin; a throwback to the days of the Portugese colonialists.

Beach picnics under a shaded tent, Stand-up paddleboards, simply lounging by the pool… Sussurro is a place where “urgency” is not part of the vernacular…

Whereas some resorts operate around set mealtimes, time tables and an idea of what they think should happen to make your stay that much better, Sussurro puts the decisions firmly in your hands.
They welcome you in, let you know what’s on offer, and leave it to you to how you want your tropical ocean resort experience play out…

Get hold of us if an idyllic warm-water ocean getaway is what you’re after (inder tip: it’s an amazing way to cap off an African safari…), then get hold of us on info@iconicafrica.com…

 

Safari in Summer: 5 Things to Know

Posted on by James

A major consideration about going on safari is what time of year to go. Is one season better than another? Is there a best time to visit?

The reality is that things simply change. There is no “best” time to visit the African Bush. It is simply a matter of what you want to see and the type of experience you want to have that should determine you visiting month.
Given that the Southern African summer is almost upon us, we thought we’d discuss five elements of the coming season that will help you prepare better, both in your mind from an expectation level, and in your packing so you don’t bring the wrong things.

Here then, are five key points to know:

It’s Probably Going to Be Warm

This may sound obvious, given that summer equals higher temperatures, but some parts of Africa can get very warm. This isn’t a problem when on safari; lodges shift their game drive and activity times to allow for the changing times of sunrise and rapidly climbing temperatures. The general approach is simply to do what the animals do; get active early while it’s still cool, rest up for the day in the shade (read: in the pool at the lodge with and ice cold G&T in hand) and then get active again in the late afternoon when things get comfortable once more.

Clothing-wise be sure to pack light clothes and most definitely a sun-hat. The sun is high by 8am and you’ll already be wanting to apply the suncream. And remember to drink lots of water.

It May Rain

Despite the heat (it’s not always hot, so don’t worry), summer is also the rainy season. For the most part rain in the Southern African bush falls as spectacular showers that build up in the afternoon, unleash briefly, ands then subside again into a spectacular sunset punctuated with a rainbow and everything looking washed clean and revitalised.
A rain jacket is most certainly a good idea when visiting the bush between October and March. Most lodges will provide ponchos for game drives but bring your own rainwear just in case. It’s usually warm rain at this time of year but you may get a day or two with some extended clouds and showers, so have a warm under-layer just in case.
And remember to take any rainstorm or adverse weather in your stride and treat it with a sense of humour; the bush can be at its most spectacular when the challenging conditions arrive.

It’ll be Green

Water is life, and the plants reflect this, flushing into the most beautiful verdant foliage over the summer. Photographs are vibrant and life seems to be everywhere. Many birds nest during this time of year, migrant species come south to take advantage of the plentiful food, and one can fill an entire game drive of four overs covering only four hundred metres of road, so much is there to see. Impala lambs and wildebeest calves are being born, as well as warthog piglets and monkey infants around the camps, and everywhere you look you feel the sense of reawakening that the rains bring.
The bush is a bit thicker during this time of year though so predators can be harder to spot, but the landscape is at its most beautiful.

Days are Significantly Longer

Bring a book. Or at least be prepared for some downtime. A mentioned in point 1 above, summer days mean an earlier return to camp in order to avoid the heat, as well as a later departure in the afternoon, so you will be able to spend some lovely relaxing time back in camp, swimming in the pool or lounging on your deck or catching up on some of the sleep you missed having woken at 05:00 to be on game drive. Summer in the bush is when you really feel like your on holiday, as that three hour nap which is so hard to come by is just begging you to take it between game drives.

The Bugs aren’t Bad

Many people fear the insect life in summer (a lot of the smaller things come out with the rain), but truth be told, there aren’t that many to worry about. Occasionally a combination of heat and rainfall brings about a termite emergence and there may be quite a few of them buzzing around, but in actual fact this is one of the bush’s most spectacular events. Everything benefits from the termites swarming; eagles, frogs, jackals, leopards… you name it. The feast of protein on offer doesn’t go to waste, and spending time at a colony pouring out its dispersers is a sight to behold.

For many die-hard safari-goers, summer is the time to visit the bush. It is less predictable than winter, but that is the appeal. The lucky dip of life and conditions gives this time of year its own unique X-factor, and we at Iconic can’t recommend a summer visit highly enough.

Get in touch to find out more…