IMAGE: SECRET SAFARI
OFF-GRID ADVENTURE
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Sign up for a mystery safari in Africa’s Eden While the idea of an African safari might be familiar, there are alternative ways to explore pockets of the Mother
Continent that still remain relatively untouched. Mysterious and unexpected, Africa’s Eden, located around the Zambezi and Kavango River basins, channels the golden age of travel, when voyages were guided by blind curiosity, and is a holy grail for those prepared to take the ultimate leap of faith. The exact location of this adventure remains a closely guarded
secret, only unveiled as the journey unfolds. A common theme — water — threads its way through this diverse slice of the sub- Sahara. Activities that revolve around rivers, deltas and waterfalls prompt travellers to connect with this life-giving element like never before, and glean a new appreciation for the little things. Paddle across the world’s largest inland delta, the Okavango,
on a mokoro canoe in search of hippos, lechwe and black rhinoceros. Raft on the croc-infested Zambezi River, and explore lush rainforests nourished by the mist from Victoria Falls. Trek across the Makgadikgadi Pan, a lunar-like salt plain the size of Denmark governed by a mob of meerkats; and in Hwange National Park, observe Africa’s largest population of elephants. Each location is reached by bush plane, with a series of luxury game lodges, treehouses and camps en route. HOW TO DO IT: The Secret Safari by Hidden Africa takes place once a year, with the 10-night itinerary changing with each iteration. Prices start from £19,290 per person, and the size of the group is capped at 12 participants to ensure an intimate experience.
hiddenafrica.com
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NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/TRAVEL
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Meet the Kalash tribe in Pakistan’s mountains Pakistan sometimes makes the headlines for the wrong reasons, but venture here and intrepid travellers will be
rewarded with vast mountain ranges, sprawling deserts and isolated communities who rarely encounter foreigners. Off- radar, remote and incredibly beautiful, this is a place for true adventuring, tuning into nature while learning local tales of the sultans and djinns still said to live in the country’s wild interior. The Hindu Kush mountain range stretches for more than
2,000 miles and slices through eight countries, but some of its most spectacular scenery can be found in northern Pakistan. Left largely untouched by the ravages of Soviet occupation and Taliban conflicts, tribes like the 3,000 strong Kalash people inhabit landscapes of meandering mountain creeks and valleys ablaze with wildflowers, living a way of life largely unchanged for centuries. They believe everything on Earth possess a spirit, and travellers will be welcomed into their fold like family. Elsewhere — and off-limits to visitors until only a few years ago
— Pakistan’s Swat Valley has been likened to Switzerland, with its snow-capped peaks and rolling green pastures. Culturally, however, it’s world’s apart, with scatterings of Buddhist villages complete with ancient monasteries draped in prayer flags and surrounded by stupas. HOW TO DO IT: Wild Frontiers offers a 23-day Pakistan tour, taking in mountain communities and breathtaking scenery in the valleys of the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalayas. Prices start from £5,725 per person, including guides, accommodation and transport.
wildfrontierstravel.com
Above: Hidden Africa offers a range of luxury accommodation options, including romantic tented camps, stylish safari lodges and boutique hotels
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