Tandu Tula has many reasons to celebrate the coming of 2014, one of which is the recent opening of their brand new eco-friendly, exclusive-use explorer camp - Tanda Tula Field Camp.


Located on 16,000 acres of South Africa’s Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, the new addition was born out the growing demand from travelers for a completely exclusive and private African experience. Because the camp is run on an exclusive-use basis, the privacy among each group is only slighted by the 3-5 dedicated staff members that meet the guests' every whim.

In addition to providing intimacy among the guests, the camp’s emphasis on walking safaris promotes an unrivaled level of intimacy between the guests and the African bush. Entirely immersed in nature, the walking safaris are led by some of Southern Africa’s most experienced guides and trackers and focus on tracking lion, elephant, and rhino on foot.

Keeping in-line with savoring the traditions of the past, Field Camp is decorated in true East-African style. Its four custom-designed boudoir tents and its communal tent are furnished with exquisitely detailed campaign-style furniture, and Persian rugs and lanterns abound. 

One of the principle goals of Tandu Tula governing the design and build of this camp was to keep its environmental footprint as minimal as possible. In order to do this, the camp is non-permanent and there is no electricity - instead the camp features oil and solar lanterns. The use of open-air bathrooms with hot water bucket showers and eco-toilets also help shed the environmental impact.

Tanda Tula Field Camp is the newest gem in the treasure chest of Tanda Tula founders, Don & Nina Scott. They are permanent residents of the main lodge and are deeply involved with day-to-day operations. They are both ecstatic to be able to provide such a unique, hands-on experience to their guests. “This experience is all about you, your guide and tracker, and the incredible wilderness that we are so privileged to share,” says Nina.






Booking Details

· Maximum of 8 guests and a minimum of 2
· Minimum stay of 3 nights is required for all bookings
· Operates from the 1st of March to the 31st Of October annually
· Ideal for families and friends travelling together who prefer exclusivity
· Guests should be adventurous and enjoy walking and tracking big game on foot
· Guests must be walking fit and should be able to manage a 10-mile walk
· Children from the age 12 are welcome 

To plan your next African safari around a stay at Tanda Tula Field Camp, visit our website www.roarafrica.com to inquire.

ROAR AFRICA is dedicated to sharing the majesty of Africa - its lush terrain, diverse wildlife, and beautiful people - with the world. To do this, we work closely with many lodges and hotels, fostering trusted partnerships to ensure that our guests are in the very best hands.

One of our favorites, Singita, is a portfolio of remarkable lodges that do more than just deliver an incomparable consumer experience. In an age where the destruction of pristine wilderness is seemingly beyond repair, Singita is making a profound difference in many parts of our beloved continent. They are orchestrating an interdependent relationship between communities, wildlife and tourism that ensures true sustainability, and the ability to embrace and share it. Anyone familiar with tourism in Africa will tell that it is no secret: Singita is blazing a trail which is seldom achieved on this scale anywhere else on the continent. 

The Singita properties and the people that work there are shining examples of Africa as a place for innovation, adventure, growth, and hope. Recently posted on Singita's blog, the below video is of Joyful Nghala, a recent graduate of Singita School of Cooking - an 18-month program to encourage the development of culinary skills and employment opportunities among local youth, and one of the many ways Singita is positively impacting its community. Joyful is now employed at Singita Lebombo lodge in Kruger National Park, and continues to nurture her passion and broaden her future opportunities daily. 

Watch this heartwearming video to learn more about Joyful Nghala and the Singita School of Cooking...

We're proud to see 6 of the overall top 10 Travel+Leisure hotels in the world are in Africa! All 6 are safari lodges - some of our favorites. In fact 15 of the top 100 hotels are in our destination areas of southern and East Africa. They are all in South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania or Kenya.

Congratulations to:

1. Singita Grumeti (Sasakwa, Sabora and Faru Faru)

2. Singita Sabi Sands (Boulders, Ebony and Castleton)

3. Royal Malewane

4. Ol Donyo Lodge

9. Kirawira Luxury Tented Camp

10. Serengeti Migration Camp

12. Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club

18. Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

20. Mombo and Little Mombo Camps

33. Le Quatier Francais

39. Singita Kruger National Park (Sweni and Lebombo)

45. Londolozi Game Reserve

67. Fairmont Mara Safari Club

74. Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp

79. Cape Grace

And cheers to all our most excellent partners under the T+L media radar.

ROAR AFRICA

I wrote about my visit to Zimababwe's Singita Pamushana back in November, so it is with great pride that I am able to share the news that Singita Pamushana has been awarded "Global Winner" at the World Travel & Tourism Council's Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

One of Singita Game Reserve's nine low-impact/high-end game lodges in southern and East Africa, Singita Pamushana is often referred to as 'one of southern Africa's best kept secrets'. It was selected as winner in this prestigious global competition amongst two other outstanding finalists in the Conservation category: Frégate Island in the Seychelles; and The Jane Goodall Institute/Budongo Ecotourism Development Project in Uganda.

Singita Pamushana was established with the core purpose of making a meaningful contribution towards the cost of conserving the extraordinary 130,000 acres Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve in south-eastern Zimbabwe. This confident venture into a world-class tourism product for Zimbabwe impressed the panel of international judges as a model for private tourism practice that uniquely subsists solely to generate income via high value tourism. The goal is to make a major contribution to the national goal of rehabilitating the country's wildlife and tourism industries.

The natural habitat in the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve has now been rehabilitated to its original state, and today Singita Pamushana has the finest quality wildlife in Zimbabwe. These range from endangered Black Rhino to Roan Antelope and Lichtenstein's Hartebeest. Under Singita Pamushana's sensitive management, the wildlife populations have shown exhilarating growth after the carefully managed reintroduction.

Luke Bailes, CEO of Singita Game Reserves says:

"It is a great honor to be recognized by an organization such as the World Travel & Tourism Council for our approach to conservation, and for the conservation-related programs that are in place at Singita Pamushana. These create the context within which our guests can experience African wildlife at its very best. Singita Pamushana exemplifies our approach to sustainable tourism and is a paradigm of how we can contribute meaningfully to conserving vast ecological zones, in so doing preserving these areas and their wildlife for future generations."

Returning to my home country of Zimbabwe this November after 11 years out of the country was a sheer delight. A quick and easy flight on Federal Air from Johannesburg to the Malalingwe Reserve, makes getting to Pamushana almost as easy as flying to the Sabi Sands/Kruger area. I had forgotten just how wonderfully warm and welcoming the Zimbabweans are, how educated and articulately they speak, their humor and knowledge - a delightful combination.

Singita Pamushana is one of Africa's best kept secrets. The Lodge is found within the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve in south-eastern Zimbabwe. 65,000 hectares with only one lodge on it! Nestled beneath the trees, the lodge incorporates the natural environment and aspects of the famous Zimbabwe ruins. The forest-like architecture and lush gardens have spectacular views of the lake below. Pamushana Lodge comprises six luxury suites some of which are two, three and a 5 bedroom villas. Each offering incredible views of the Malilangwe dam and each with a private pool.

Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve is teaming with wildlife including rare and endangered species such as the Roan and Sable antelope, and the Black Rhino. Famous for its cathedral Mopane forests and majestic 'upside-down' Baobab trees, Malilangwe is an area where you will also find over 100 rock painting sites that date back thousands of years. I was staggered at how good the game viewing was and how the excellent guides managed to bring the bush life. We traversed across the 65,000 hectares with out another vehicle in sight. We followed a lion hunt at night, a herd of 1,000 buffalo, the rare, dangerous and skittish Black Rhino, and had the best Cheetah sighting of my life,- Five cheetahs grooming one another.

In addition to the intense wildlife experience, somehow the landscape of Zimbabwe has a serene and special magic to it. It oozes "real Africa". The sunset silhouetting against the acacia trees, the bright dusty red soils, the vociferous calls of the fish eagle, wide open spaces and big big skies brought it all home to me. I could only wish that everyone would be so lucky as to experience this very special place.

Note: By visiting Malilangwe you are helping the people and animals in this corner of Zimbabwe recover from their plight. Singita and Malilangwe now employ a considerable workforce and feed 30,000 children daily.

Karkloof Spa in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) boasts a luxury boutique lodge with 16 individually decorated villas, an expansive world-class Spa and 3500 hectares of bountiful terrain AND...........a four week old baby rhino!

Let's face it - this little guy tops the list of current attractions. You really can't get much cuter that a baby rhino. OK, baby hippos and elephants compete strongly, but this guy is very cute.

He's actually already 6 weeks old. He was four weeks old when I took this photo on a visit to Karkloof. Apologies- it's a cell phone picture. Note that his mother's horn has broken off while fending off the father of this little rhino. Apparently an unsuccessful defence against his advances.

Karkloof Spa remains one of our favourite properties. It's a real gem in a beautiful setting just outside Pietermaritzburg and it has a long list of accolades to prove it.

Visit their website here.

p.s. The food is absolutely exceptional!

Everyone in South Africa has caught World Cup fever. In the clip below you'll see some of the elephants (affectionately known as "Ellies") at Camp Jabulani getting their dribbling skills in order. One ellie uses it's trunk at one point. I wonder if that's disqualified as a "hand-ball" or if this is the goalie?

Elephants playing soccer/football
Footage Courtesy of Univision 34

Camp Jabulani, located in South Africa, are known for their luxury safaris on elephant back under the moonlight. The camp was named after an abandoned baby elephant, which was saved by Lente Roode. The camp's main purpose is to help feed and house these rescued elephants while providing guests a once in a lifetime safari experience. A majority of the income is spent on maintaining the elephants and to support the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center, which has became a leader in breeding and rescueing endangered animals.
Camp Jabulani features often on our blog. Click here for more.

I have just snapped this cute moment on my cellphone camera: two baby Warthogs relaxing with their mother as she takes a nap. That's a pretty relaxed Mum... but then so would you be here at the beautiful Karkloof Spa in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa - Tatler Magazine's "Most exciting discovery for 2009".

I wish I'd had high res camera to capture it. There are lots of Warthogs roaming the grounds of the Spa and not many predators for them to worry about.

Just two nights ago 9 lions attacked a large buffalo bull right at the lodge. This image was taken by Lee Dicks (lodge GM) from the lodge deck where I enjoyed a more peaceful cocktail just a week ago. The lions took on the largest male buffalo in the herd in an attempted kill. Their offensive lasted about an hour of wave after wave of attacks.

Battle from lodge deck, Lee Dicks, Tintswalo lodge

"Eventually the big boy managed to drag himself into the waterhole - the Lion’s obviously didn’t want an evening swim and accepted their defeat." Tintswalo

Here is a photograph of the more tranquil deck. It's a good reminder that you are not so much "on safari" as "in safari". Amazing wildlife experiences, both large and small, happen all around you.

The Tintswalo Deck looking tranquil

Tintswalo Safari Lodge is located within the Manyeleti Private Game reserve which borders Kruger National Park. With only two commercially operated lodges, a maximum of 8 safari vehicles traverse the reserve. Each vehicle therefore has the equivalent of 2937 hectares to itself. Tintswalo Safari suites and lodge are all situated along a beautiful seasonal river bed among an ancient sycamore tree grove.

In Travel + Leisure's 14th annual poll, they once again asked their readers to rate the best hotels, cruises, airlines, outfitters, cities, islands, and more.

Cape Town came in at number 2 in the Top 10 cities overall. We think there's a mistake but #2 in the world is still pretty good. Udaipur (India) was number one.

Some of Roar Africa's preferred accommodations featured very well in the Top 100 Hotels Overall. 11 of the top 100 in the world, including number 1, are in South Africa and 5 are in Botswana:

#1 Bushmans Kloof, South Africa
#3 Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve (Earth Lodge), South Africa
#6 Singita Lodge, Sabi Sand, South Africa
#10 Jack's Camp, Kalahari, Botswana
#13 Eagle Island Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana
#15 Twelve Apostles, Cape Town, South Africa
#24 Lion Sands Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sand, South Africa
#29 The Saxon, Johannesburg, South Africa
#29 Singita Reserve, Kruger Park, South Africa
#34 Londolozi Private reserve, Sabi Sand, South Africa
#44 Khwai River lodge, Okavango Delta, Botswana
#58 Cape Grace, Cape Town, South Africa
#60 Le Quartier Francais, Franschhoek Valley, South Africa
#69 Mombo and Little Mombo, Okavango Delta, Botswana
#75 Savuti Elephant Camp, Chobe National park, Botswana
#77 Mala Mala Game reserve, Sabi Sand, South Africa

For more on Travel + Leisure's website click here.

Bushman's Kloof, South Africa: #1

Jill Demling, Entertainment Editor at Vogue writes about her Yoga Safari to Londolozi Reserve in South Africa with Roar Africa.

Read it below or the find the original online here:
Style.com, Beauty, Health, and Fitness Monday June 29, 2009

from Vogue: Style.com

Travel Diary: Londolozi Yoga Safari in South Africa

In my wildest dreams (and despite a genuine yearning) I never thought I would get to see South Africa, and I never thought I would get to see South Africa for the following reasons:

1. I am pretty unpredictable on airplanes, and the thought of a sixteen-hour journey across the ocean didn’t exactly seem like the best way to bookend any fantastic getaway.

2. I work a full-time job, and escaping my office for a two-week vacation usually proves to be impossible. OK, not usually. Always.

3. I can be a finicky traveler. I like to lie by the pool with a good book and a cocktail as much as the next weary worker, but I also have an active streak and shudder at the thought of spending even one hour in a hotel gym.

4. I assumed it would be wildly (and prohibitively) expensive.

So, I thought, I may never make it to South Africa. That was fine. I was perfectly content lolling along the beach in Amagansett, visiting family up in Boston, and taking an annual jaunt to somewhere cool (and closer) like Europe or Costa Rica. I was fine with it. Really. That is, until a friend introduced me to Deb Calmeyer, and I started thinking that maybe it was finally time to make one of my big-time travel fantasies come true.

Deb and her father, Geoff, both natives of South Africa, launched their travel company, Roar Africa, in 2005 with a very simple mission: a perfectly personalized South African vacation. How personalized? If you love bird-watching, they will hire a guide to point out the indigenous species. Certified oenophile? A wine expert will take you to all the local wineries—even the ones way off the beaten path. Is a vacation not a vacation unless you end up lugging shopping bags through customs? The Calmeyer’s will pair you up with a personal shopper who will stroll Cape Town and haggle on your behalf. So it stood to reason they could figure out what to do with an exercise enthusiast who longed to see the African bush and was short on time and money—and they did: the Londolozi Yoga Safari.

After landing in Johannesburg after a remarkably pleasant flight (if you make this trip, I suggest South African Airlines), I was greeted by Geoff who was clearly the age of my grandfather, but had the spunk and swagger of a teenager. After a few cups of strong African coffee at the airport hotel, our group (there were four of us) hopped on a very small (repeat, very small) airplane for a one-hour flight that landed us in the middle of nowhere. After deplaning, I climbed wearily in the safari truck for a five-minute drive to my destination: Tree Camp at Londolozi. All weariness immediately deserted me.

Situated in the heart of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Londolozi is named for a Zulu word meaning “protector of all living things,” which is also the mantra of this family-owned and-operated business. Unloading my bags off the truck, I quickly found a protector of my own in our dashing game ranger, Boyd Varty, who was part Hugh Jackman, part Harrison Ford, and exactly what you not-so-secretly hope the man who will gallantly lead you through the wilderness will look like. The city started seeming very far away.

Our four-day stay at Londolozi would be tailored around a new program called, simply, Yoga Safari. Led by Sally Flanagan, who is recognized in South Africa as a pioneer of Bikram Yoga, each day would consist of two yoga sessions and two up-close-and-personal game drives. When we weren’t doing our sun salutations or marveling at spotting the big five (lions, tigers, zebras) roaming around the bush, we were relaxing in our rooms: luxurious suites built high in the branches and giving an entirely new meaning to the idea of a tree house. My own room had a private pool and a deck from which I stood and watched baboons swing from the trees and elephants and giraffes roam the ground below. It was completely surreal, and the only thing that brought me back to Earth (figuratively) was the security guard who would accompany us around the camp. Turns out those friendly baboons had mastered the art of unlocking doors, and to remedy the problem all the doors had more locks than Fort Knox.

The first morning, we woke up at five for a yoga class on a deck nestled high in the trees—a vantage point that allowed for a stunning view of the sun rising over the land. I practice a lot of yoga in the city, and I must say that meditation takes on a whole new meaning when you can’t hear car alarms and the raging wheels of trucks. After class, we would have breakfast and then head out for a game drive. The second yoga session of the day would also take place in the tree house, but it was slightly more daunting: It was on a deck over a crocodile-filled water hole—one false move and you were lunch. The second game drive was in the evening as the sun was setting and the predators were readying to find dinner. Along the way we’d stop for snacks consisting of dried game meat. I went to South Africa a vegetarian and came back with bags of dried impala in my suitcase. Who would’ve thought?

Our nights at the camp were spent around a campfire drinking wine from South African vineyards, eating dinner prepared by a local chef, and telling stories over dessert plates of delicious local cheeses. On our last night we were serenaded by the Londolozi choir, who sang traditional hymns to us—and as I leaned back to take it all in, I couldn’t believe it was almost time to go home.

Details:
For a trip organized around your interests and budget, visit www.roarafrica.com or e-mail Deb Calmeyer at deb@roarafrica.com

Photo gallery courtesy of Jill Demling. Click to enlarge:

Londolozi has just been featured in InStyle Magazine Weddings 2009 as an Eco-Friendly honeymoon destination.

Londolozi (Zulu: "to protect") is one of Roar Africa's favorite lodges with 83 years of history as a game reserve. The first camp was set up as a hunting escape on the Sand River (near Kruger National Park in South Africa) by the great-grandfathers of the current Varty and Taylor families. That camp had none of the luxuries of the five star (make that 6 star!) accommodations you'll find there today. It is also no longer a hunting reserve either. The Vartys changed that 35 years ago when they built a wildlife conservation reserve which today hosts some of the most fantastic wildlife in the area. There are no longer any fences between Londolozi and Kruger Park so animals can migrate over this vast area. Fortunately for Londolozi they seem to like it right there!

Granite Camp

What makes them Eco-Friendly?
For 35 years they have been committed to guarding the wildlife. Here's a quick look at some of the Londolozi eco-friendly initiatives:

Land Care:

• Micro catchment Management increases drought resistance
• Alien plant Control keeps invasive species at bay
• Bush clearing restores diverse habitats (There is debate about the pros and cons of bush clearing)

Zero Emissions Safari Vehicle:
Londolozi has the first zero-emissions safari vehicle: A battery powered 4x4!

Leopards of Londolozi:
It is well known that Londolozi is one of the best places in the world to see leopards. The partnership between man and these beautiful and usually shy cats has been developed over generations at Londolozi and visitors often have multiple leopard sightings.

Londolozi is known as one of Africa's finest safari reserves. There are four camps each with their own look and feel.

Now THAT'S a bath!

For more on Londolozi see two other posts:
Yoga in The Bush
And a the radio interview:
Safari's aren't just for game viewing anymore

Or: Londolozi

Do you like your life edgy? Do you long for the Trailer Park? Seriously! You can have both in luxury in the heart of Cape Town.

The Grand Daddy Hotel in Long Street

The Grand Daddy hotel in the heart of happening Long Street believes that "luxury shouldn’t exclude playfulness". We agree. The Grand Daddy is full of creative touches to ensure that guests are pleasantly surprised by the unexpected. The biggest and most talked about "surprise" is the Trailer park.

That's right! A fleet of 7 iconic two-sleeper vintage Airstream caravans sits on the roof with Table Mountain as a backdrop. They were each individually conceptualized and designed by local artists and make for possibly the most unusual and fun accomodation you can find anywhere.
It gets better. Your air-conditioned Airstream with hot and cold running water, flush toilet and shower, is enclosed by a tidy garden complete with US Postal Service mailboxes. Watch an outdoor movie on hot summer nights at The Pink Flamingo Cinema. If that's not enough there is the Daddy Cool bar and The Showroom Café restaurant before you even step out onto hip Long Street.

Interiors of two of the Airstreams by local artists.

Prices vary by season but the Airstreams are from about $120 per night. There are Hotel suites and the Sugar Daddy Suite but I think you should one-up your friends by telling them you're off to the Trailer Park in South Africa!

The Grand Daddy

We were fortunate enough to experience the sheer opulent luxury of this recently opened hotel earlier this month. The hotel is seven stories, has 91 rooms and 40 island suites making it the largest in Cape Town. The island suites which are available in one and two bed configurations are on the water edge around the pool and outdoor terrace.

The service from the valet parking to the porter and reception staff is efficient and welcoming.

The hotel does have an idyllic venue being situated in the V & A Waterfront – the tourist hub of Cape Town. This situation provided visitors with the buzz of the Waterfront and a number of renowned restaurants on their door step. The hotel itself offers two outstanding restaurants within its complex and you need to pre-book if you would like to experience outstanding food. They are Nobu for Japanese cuisine and Gordon Ramsay’s Maze which features South African seafood and game. The largest glass wine cellar I have ever seen boasts 6000 bottles of wine and forms the one wall of the Maze restaurant.

Views of Table Mountain from the hotel are captivating and on the other hand you can watch the sun rise over the harbour. There are two landscaped private islands which accommodate the island suites, swimming pool and the One & Only Spa. This area is secluded and provides an idea place to relax around the infinity-edge pool.

Furnishings of the lounge and bar area are cosmopolitan and very comfortable.

The rooms are contemporary, spacious and all boast glass door which open onto a private balcony. Furnishings are in the muted tones of Africa. The bathrooms have oversized baths, showers, a private toilet and dual basins.

For more on the One & Only with pictures see our previous post here.

Newsflash: One of our favorite lodges, The Manor at Mark and Sarah Tompkins's 28,000-hectare Samara Private Game Reserve, was just voted onto the Conde Naste Traveller UK's Hot Spots 2009 list. That's an addition to an already healthy list of accolades including: Top 101 Hotels in the World - Tatler (UK) December 2006, The Top 50 Romantic Destinations - Travel and Leisure USA February 2006, Harper’s Bazaar - The 15 greatest safari experiences in Africa, March 2008 (to name a few) .

The Manor at Samara is for the exclusive use of up to 8 guests in luxury, air- conditioned en suite rooms with views over an extraordinary Karoo mountain landscape.

Congratulations Samara!

Read about it at Conde Naste Traveller or the transcript below.

The Manor, South Africa

When you first drive onto Mark and Sarah Tompkins's 28,000-hectare Samara Private Game Reserve (once 11 farms) in the Great Karoo, your heart sinks a little. There's a lot of scrub, and seemingly little else. But once you enter this house, with four en-suite bedrooms, your spirits lift. Looking out from the cool verandahs of the former farmhouse, the mountains rise dramatically, the horizon stretches forever, the pool scattered with purple jacaranda blooms seems impossible to resist. By the end of day one you're smitten, thanks to the views from clifftops over the Camdeboo plains, the sunset skies washed with delicate oranges and streaked with violent reds, and the mountaintop grasslands dotted with Burchell's zebra. As well as the reserve's game - all sorts of antelope, giraffe, rhino and cheetah (which can be tracked using GPS and are habituated enough to walk right up to) - highlights include 500-year-old Shepherd trees, the landscape and the manor's restful, pale interiors, designed by local star John Zwiegelaar of John Jacob Interiors. Meals are prepared with obvious passion by self-taught Iris Adams (whose recipes are stored in her head), one of 70 reserve staff hired locally.

WHEN TO GO April-May; September-November.
ROOM TO BOOK One of the rooms with French doors opening onto the veranda.
The Manor: The Manor sleeps eight

I was fortunate enough to stay at The Constantia recently and it is a small hotel which I personally feel deserves all the credit it can get. The Constantia is located in Constantia suburb which is one of Cape Town’s oldest wine valleys and is situated a mere 20 minute drive from Cape Town city center.
The Constantia is located in well maintained tranquil gardens and boasts a relaxing, comfortable pool area where guests can relax. The lounge, bar and dinning room open directly on to the gardens and give guests an idea of always being outside and space.

It has eight magnificent suites which have contemporary furnishings. Nothing has been forgotten. The one we stayed in had a lounge area furnished with 2 cosy two seat couches and a large TV. The lounge opened onto a secluded patio where one could sit outside in private.

The bedroom boasted, as all do, a very large comfortable bed, adequate cupboard space, TV and all the necessary appliances. The bathroom was open plan to the rest of the suite and apart from the large bath had a large shower.


From the minute you arrive you are pampered by gracious willing staff. On arrival we were welcomed with drinks and while we relaxed in the lounge our luggage was taken to our room. Once our drinks were finished we ventured to our room where we were amazed to find that a bubble bath had been run for us and a bottle of wine was on ice next to the bath – what a way to start your visit to the Cape!

Once relaxed we went out for dinner and on our return we were welcomed once again with cocktails and an offer of coffee (even at 11:45 PM!) Our room had been turned down, rose petals spread and chocolates placed on the bed, bottles of water next to the bed – what a way to remove any stress!

Breakfast was served in the enclosed veranda area and they provided a full self service continental breakfast and the waitresses offered a cooked ‘English’ breakfast if you so wished.

An added bonus - as you leave in the morning to tour the Cape you are given bottles of water for the car.

The Constantia has thewonderful policy that drinks from the self service bar and anything taken from the room fridge are complimentary.

This is a hotel I can certainly recommend for those who would like to be able to relax in a tranquil environment, pampered by courteous staff and be out of the bustle of town – but yet again within easy access of all the tourist spots.


Written by Sue. Photos all from Last Word Hotels.

Destinations with Deborah Howell

Deborah Howell of NextTrip Radio interviews Deborah Calmeyer, Co-founder of Roar Africa. The two interview segments can be listened to by clicking on the mp3 players below.


First segment:
History of Roar Africa, Specialty trips, Yoga in the Bush, Londolozi safari, monkeys outside your shower, Behind the scenes Wine Tour with specialist guide and connoisseur, Stellenbosch, Cape Dutch architecture, Cape Winelands, Steenberg Winefarm, Hotel & Spa. Cape of Good Hope, Victoria Falls rafting, recession specials.

NextTrip radio Int...

Second segment:
Roar Africa's approach, exceptional Safaris, Lion Sands Safari lodges, Singita Safari lodges, Honeymoons in South Africa, Winelands, safety, malaria-free safaris and more...

NextTrip radio Int...

NextTrip Radio: Destinations with Deborah Howell

** Hot off the press **

The new issue of Business Traveler Magazine (April 2009) contains the following Great Escape article by Adam Rodriguez on his safari in South Africa. The safari was arranged by Roar Africa. Click the image on the right for the original or read the full text reproduced below.

Rain Dance

Adam Rodriguez enjoys the animal parade prompted by a good rainfall in South Africa.

In South Africa, there are few things as important as water. Valued by man and beast alike, a good rainstorm brings everyone together. While I had spent an afternoon chatting with the other guests on a rained-out safari a few months prior to this trip, I was fortunate enough to arrive at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge shortly after the soaking rain, and thus able to reap the benefits without losing a day in the park.

Of course, a good rainstorm doesn’t just bring people together in idle chatter. Like a favorite neighborhood bar for the locals, the swollen river behind my private villa at the exclusive, six-unit Ivory Lodge attracted all sorts of nearby wildlife, and I was even lucky enough to see plenty from the comfort of my own patio. One afternoon, as I took my daily dip in my private heated pool, I spied a mother hippo, with her baby in tow, waddling out of the river. Later on, a handful of elephants happened to amble toward the riverbank as a Lion Sands sommelier taught me about the wine he had just poured.

Adding to the daily parade of animals was the gracious hospitality of the entire staff. Friendly and easygoing, there was no request too big or too small. Not only did I get the rare bonus of an elephant spotting during my wine tasting, but the experience was extended to twice the scheduled time, at no additional cost. Even with a menu of four courses at every meal, each more tantalizing than the next, the kitchen accommodated my obscure appeal for ostrich steak and watermelon juice without a moment’s hesitation.

The villa itself was as modern and elegant as any urban retreat, with ebony and ivory motifs, a king-sized bed draped in mosquito netting, indoor/outdoor showers, and a full-sized refrigerator, stocked with standardsized bottles of liquor, juices and snacks. But I hardly had room for any of these snacks or drinks—tempting as they were—as our sunset drives included cocktails and appetizers, perhaps my favorite part of the day, especially with so many animals out enjoying the rehydrated, post-rainfall evening.

Of course, it’s worth mentioning that the rain isn’t always a blessing on this strip of land. Built along the Sabie River, which cuts its way through South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park in the northeast, excessive rains demolished the 70-year-old camp just over eight years ago. However, the fourthgeneration owners were quick to rebuild, Great Escape lion sands ivory lodge reinventing it as a top-end luxury retreat on nearly 10,000 acres.

A notable addition to Lion Sands’ River Lodge and Ivory Lodge properties is two tree houses, which offer all of the amenities of a luxury room, with nothing between you and the stars but a thin layer of mosquito netting covering the bed. Guests are escorted to the tree house at sunset for Champagne and an al fresco dinner, and then retire beneath the night sky, lulled to sleep by the nocturnal sounds of the surrounding bush.

I’ve been on numerous African safaris, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this lodge to any of my friends. I had a memorable time, thanks to the well thought-out and lavish facilities. While the rains may have once destroyed a cherished family camp, the same rains paved the way for its truly remarkable rebirth as Lion Sands—once again, bringing everyone together.

DETAILS

Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, Sabie Sands Game, Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa; tel.+27-11-484-9911; www.lionsands.com/lodges/ivory.php

For booking from the U.S., contact Deborah Calmeyer at Roar Africa, tel. 877-762-7237; e-mail deb@roarafrica.com.

We're excited to introduce the One&Only luxury hotel group's latest addition: One&Only Cape Town, Opening April 3rd, 2009.

‘An urban chic waterfront resort with captivating views of Table Mountain and private spa island'

Situated in the heart of Cape Town’s picturesque Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, this contemporary urban resort embodies a chic island design and African flair. The crescent-shaped architecture of the seven-storey Marina Rise allows for splendid views of Table Mountain and Signal Hill from 91 spacious rooms and suites. Two lushly landscaped islands at the centre of the waterfront feature 40 Island Suites and the tranquil One&Only Spa.

Clean lines, dark African woods and contemporary artwork by local artisans accentuate the stylish, spacious accommodation – the largest in all of Cape Town. Each of the 91 rooms and suites within Marina Rise features expansive glass doors that lead onto private balconies which capture the drama of the magnificent mountain views. Click the photographs below for a closer look (photographs used with One&Only permission):

All rooms and suites are indulged by the discreet yet attentive services of a dedicated butler, 24-hours a day. The Presidential Suite looks spectacular:

The 1,200-square-meter One&Only Spa houses 11 Treatment Rooms and Two Vitality Pools, Sauna, Steam, Relaxation Areas, Full-service Salon, and Bastian Gonzales Mani:Pedi:Cure Studio. It also houses The City’s Most Comprehensive Spa Fitness Centre with State-of-the-art Equipment from Technogym® and Kinesis® Training Room, Free-formInfinity Edge Pool and a KidsOnly Club.

Dining is headlined by two world-renowned chefs: Gordon Ramsay for Maze and legendary Nobuyuki Matsuhisa for Nobu. The spectacular tri-level Wine Loft houses more than 5,000 bottles including popular and undiscovered South African vintages – the most magnificent collection of wines in the country.

Grand Opening Special: Stay for a minimum of 3 nights and up to 2 children stay for free! Enjoy 2 complimentary spa treatments and a bottle of Cape Estate Wine.

I'm looking forward to visiting One&Only Cape Town myself as soon as possible. In fact Geoff Calmeyer from Roar Africa will be making the first visit in the first week of opening. We'll report back.

Two of our favorite lodges and South Africa's most sought after Relais & Châteaux properties are offering a wonderful special "The Sense of South Africa". From Cape charm to African safari excitement- The Sense of South Africa has it all!

Le Quartier Français, Franschhoek & Singita Game Reserves, in the Sabi Sand and Kruger National Park, have joined forces to bring you a sumptuous 6 night treat.

Book 3 nights at Le Quartier Français and 3 nights at any of Singita's South African Lodges (Singita Ebony or Boulders in the Sabi Sand or Singita Lebombo or Sweni in the Kruger National Park) and experience an intimate, never-to-be-forgotten, escape from everyday life.

The Sense of South Africa Experience Includes:

At Le Quartier Français

• 3 nights accommodation, including breakfast, in a Four Quarters Suite
• Fully stocked bar
• Sensual couples massage & romantic turndown
• 3 course bistro dinner in iCi & an 8 Course Tasting Menu (with wine) at the Tasting Room
• Wine & charcuterie tasting at Môreson Wine Farm & a half day personalized wine tour

At Singita

• 3 nights accommodation at one of Singita's South African lodges
• Breakfast, lunch & dinner daily, teas & coffees & all drinks**
• Bottle of South African Méthode Cap Classique on arrival
• 2 open Land Rover safaris a day
• Walking safaris with an experienced guide
• Relaxing Swedish massage spa treatment
• Private wine tasting & dinner

**Includes all premium wines, spirits and liqueurs and excludes champagne

Rate: R41,850.00 per person sharing-no single rates apply
Availability: 01 February-15 December 2009.
Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

ROAR Africa can include this as part of any other experience we create for you.

For more on Singita see our comprehensive previous post or Singita.
For more on Le Quartier Français.