FEATURE ROMANTIC AFRICA
sleeping under the stars in traditional canvas tents, complete with comfortable mattresses, crisp linen and hot 'bucket' showers. In Namibia, &Beyond’s Sossusvlei Desert Lodge reopens this month (May) after a complete renovation. Located deep in the heart of the NamibRand Nature Reserve the 10 guest suites have been designed to blend into the surrounding desert, with a skylight for late-night star gazing. Decadent dinners are served in a dozen different locations, from the open lodge veranda to the intimate wine cellar. Also in Kenya, Rhino River Camp
is a new exclusive eco-boutique safari lodge located in Meru National Park, where the legend of Elsa, the Born Free lioness began. Its five tented suites are built out of caramel canvas and raised on stilts. On the operator front, Hayes and
Jarvis has launched its first-ever dedicated weddings brochure, which features several Africa suggestions.
Tourism Talk DAWN PARR
Botswana Tourism, UK “Sitting in a mokoro (or dug-out canoe), being
poled across the waters of the Okavango Delta and seeing the abundant wildlife of this pristine landscape provides a romantic escape that is very hard to beat. “Or suggest the harsh wilderness
Africa Collection Long Haul Quarter page strip_Layout 1 18/04/2011 12:55 Page 1
of the Central Kalahari, sleeping in tents listening to the deafening roar of the lion and spending days watching the wildlife. "With luxurious accommodation and few tourists, Botswana offers the trip
“Safari and beach tend to be the most popular for a romantic break whether it is for a honeymoon or couples wanting to get away.
of a lifetime for couples looking for their own piece of paradise.”
FIONA MALAN marketing manager, UK & Ireland, Sun International “Watching the sun
set on the Zambezi River from the hotel’s sundeck is, in my opinion, the most romantic experience one can get. The Royal Livingstone is in such a stunning natural setting with zebras and giraffes grazing freely between the colonial style buildings – the hotel is simply a perfect location for an unforgettable escape."
From The Front Line BRIDGET COHEN
regional manager – Africa & Indian Ocean, Abercrombie & Kent
Rhino River Camp, a new 'secret' getaway in Kenya "Botswana offers pure romance with
small exclusive lodges and outstanding game viewing. Botswana combines perfectly with the likes of Mozambique or Mauritius to create a great romantic getaway. "
www.abercrombiekent.co.uk
CHRIS FORTESCUE Africa Collection
“There is nothing more romantic than
being in the wild surrounded by animals and nature, enjoying a bush breakfast as the African sun rises or a sundowner with a beautiful African sunset, or a hot air balloon ride over vast open savannahs. "Combine this with a beach stay
on KwaZulu-Natal’s north coast, the Mozambique coast or on one of the Indian Ocean Islands of Mauritius, Seychelles or Zanzibar and you have the perfect romantic combination.”
UP CLOSE & PERSONAL
BY STEVE HARTRIDGE "Desert doves took flight and juvenile ostriches darted along the road in front of us as we entered the Namib Rand Nature Reserve in southern Namibia. Hidden among the sands, close to the enormous dunes of Sossusvlei, Wolvedans Dunes Camp is perfect for couples looking for an ultra-private getaway, a base from which to explore the vast stretches of one of the largest nature conservation areas in Africa. In the milky evening light, lemon-
coloured ‘bushman’s grass’ was offset by the purple and grey hues of distant mountain ranges; on the horizon, the silhouettes of springbok and oryx appeared as if drawn with charcoal. Rustic but comfortable, Wolvedans is a
place for couples to lose themselves: it’s 80 miles from the nearest town and there’s no mobile phone reception. Large canvas ‘tents’ look out onto a landscape of untouched sand, the private decks ideal for dune- or star- gazing or just noting how the golden colours of the Namib dunes contrast starkly with the eternally blue skies."
Get closer
Personalised itineraries to Southern Africa, East Africa and the Indian Ocean … from the award winning specialist operator
Visit
www.africacollection.comor request our comprehensive brochure 01403 256 655
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