Butterfield &amp; Robinson, the world’s premier active travel company, is expanding its portfolio in <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/places-to-go/africa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Africa</a> with three new Scheduled group trips in 2024: <a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/scheduled/rwanda-walking" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rwanda Walking</a>, <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/scheduled/zimbabwe-conservation-safari" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zimbabwe Conservation Safari</a> and <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/scheduled/south-africa-multi-active" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">South Africa Multi-Active</a>. Complimented by unparalleled partnerships and sustainable accommodations, the new trips offer an exclusive perspective into each country. Through a fusion of active travel and immersive luxury experiences, the trips are designed to reimagine travellers’ love of travel by deepening their connections to the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The launch of Butterfield &amp; Robinson’s new Scheduled group trips in Africa represents the next chapter of our 30-year history on the continent,” said Mike Scarola, CEO, Butterfield &amp; Robinson. “We’ve combined our expertise in luxury active travel with our vision of leaving a lasting impact in each country we visit. Our relationships with our partners on the ground are key to bringing this vision to life, while still creating extraordinary trips our travellers love.”&nbsp;Zimbabwe Conservation Safari&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In between game drives on the Zimbabwe Conservation Safari trip, travellers will connect with conservation organizations that are working to safeguard wilderness areas and inspire a new vision for Africa. Through a partnership with African Bush Camps, travellers will collaborate with the local community to build a boma, protecting their livestock and improving human-wildlife coexistence. For a fully immersive experience, travellers will stay at Somalisa Acacia, known for its private views of wildlife frequenting the camp.&nbsp;<ul><li>Accommodations: African Bush Camps Nyamatusi Camp, African Bush Camps Bumi Hills Safari Lodge, African Bush Camps Somalisa Acacia&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Activity level 1&nbsp;</li><li>10 days/9 nights, starting at $16,495 USD&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Guaranteed departure: October 12-October 21, 2024&nbsp;</li></ul>Rwanda Walking&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Rwanda Walking trip will bring travellers on a B&amp;R-exclusive collection of hikes and walks through Rwanda’s countryside. By fusing B&amp;R’s active travel style with wildlife and cultural experiences, travellers will explore Rwanda’s diverse landscapes while learning the story of the nation’s resiliency. Moving from Kigali to the Volcanoes National Park, travellers will venture off the beaten path, visiting coffee-washing stations, hiking the Twin Lakes and tracking families of Silverback gorillas.&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Accommodations: One &amp; Only Nyungwe House, Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel, Wilderness Sabyinyo&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Activity level 3&nbsp;</li><li>9 days/ 8 nights, starting at $18,495 USD&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Guaranteed departure: September 24-October 2, 2024&nbsp;</li></ul>South Africa Multi-Active&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Embracing slow travel by bike or foot in South Africa, the South Africa Multi-Active trip is a B&amp;R signature itinerary that blends active adventure with unparalleled accommodations, food and wine. After hiking Table Mountain, biking through the Western Cape winelands and gallery hopping in Franschhoek, travellers will end their stay at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve. Set among the forest, mountains and sea, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is an eco-reserve known for its pristine surroundings and conversation efforts.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Accommodations: Cape Grace, Leeu Estates, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Activity level 3&nbsp;</li><li>9 days/ 8 nights, starting at $11,495 USD&nbsp;</li><li>Guaranteed departure: October 17-October 25, 2024&nbsp;</li></ul>The three new Scheduled group trips are added to Butterfield &amp; Robinson’s existing portfolio of Bespoke possibilities in Africa.&nbsp;&nbsp;

RWANDA WALKING, ZIMBABWE CONSERVATION SAFARI AND SOUTH AFRICA MULTI-ACTIVE TRIPS AVAILABLE TO BOOK   

About Butterfield &amp; Robinson&nbsp;&nbsp;Butterfield &amp; Robinson—the world’s premier active travel company—designs incredible journeys to the world’s most amazing places. Crafted from the finest ingredients (exceptional lodgings, incomparable access, stellar wines and food, experienced guides and more than a few secrets), B&amp;R’s trips combine active adventure with unparalleled cultural immersion in the world’s greatest destinations. Ways to travel include Scheduled small group biking, walking or multi-active trips, or Bespoke itineraries planned by our expert Experience Designers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Butterfield & Robinson Launches Three New Scheduled Group Trips in Africa

“These countries have become only known for safari and their wildlife, but there's so much depth happening in these places. There’s so much to do besides just a game drive,” says <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/who-we-are/meet-the-designers/christine-tucker" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Christine Tucker</a>, one of Butterfield &amp; Robinson’s Experience Designers for Africa.&nbsp;With a diverse list of destinations covering an expansive amount of geography for Bespoke holidays, from <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/namibia-bespoke" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">sand-swept Namibia</a> to <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/kenya-bespoke" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">vibrant Kenya</a>, Christine delivers experiences that many travellers don’t expect – or even know are possible.&nbsp;“Every trip is so different,” she says. In <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/rwanda-bespoke" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Kigali, Rwanda</a>, there is a cutting-edge fashion scene, and she loves to introduce guests passionate about style to designers who share the craft behind their collections. Music lovers will revel in Nairobi’s thriving music scene. And in every country she plans for hikers can get their steps in on exciting trails that include wildlife sightings as well as the opportunity to meet with locals.&nbsp;

“I always like to send people to the Ngorongoro crater but not have them go down into it,” she says of the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera in <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/tanzania-bespoke" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">northern Tanzania</a>. “You will do a walk in the area so that you're running into Masai in the morning as they're bringing their cows to graze.” It’s these moments that make planning for experiences outside of a game drive so important. “You're having these serendipitous meetings by just getting out of the car,” she explains.&nbsp;What really sets experiences in African countries apart is that human connection. In Rwanda, for instance, Christine loves to design walking trips. It’s an unparalleled opportunity to experience the lush landscape of glistening green mountain ranges, stop for a tasting at coffee plantations and breathe in the serenity of cloud forests. Walking also presents an immediate link to the locals.

“The complete resilience of the population is so inspiring,” Christine says. “Learning about their history, it’s so humbling to see how they've rebuilt their country.”&nbsp;What she hears again and again, especially from first-time travellers, is how strongly they are impacted by the beauty of the landscapes and the kindness of the people. “It’s a huge eye-opener for people,” she explains.&nbsp;&nbsp;She offers this advice for those excited to plan a trip to any African country: “Go there with open hearts and open minds and let Africa in.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.butterfield.com/places-to-go/africa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Learn more about Butterfield &amp; Robinson experiences in Africa.</a>&nbsp;

Why you need to discover Africa beyond safari

Recognizing the impact the pandemic has had on conservation funding across Africa, which has historically relied heavily on tourism, B&amp;R has partnered with African Parks, pledging US$50,000 per year to specific parks across Africa for the following three years, commencing 2022.

<a href="https://www.africanparks.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(112, 178, 196);">African Parks</a>&nbsp;is a non-profit conservation organization that takes on direct responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities. African Parks was founded in 2000 in response to the crisis facing Africa's protected areas. Their vision is to effectively manage Africa's protected areas and national parks on behalf of governments to benefit wildlife and local communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Their business model created a new paradigm for conservation, playing a major role across the continent in helping African governments turn their failing parks into ecological, socio-political, and economic strongholds for their countries. It's a solution to one of Africa's most pressing challenges. In 20 years, they've built the largest and most ecologically diverse portfolio of parks of any one organization in Africa. With 19 parks in 11 countries spanning more than 36 million acres, their footprint is the equivalent of half of the land in the US National Parks system.&nbsp;&nbsp;Akagera National ParkOur nominated park for 2022 is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.africanparks.org/the-parks/akagera" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(112, 178, 196);">Akagera National Park</a>, Rwanda. Akagera is Central Africa's largest protected wetland and Rwanda's last remaining savannah ecosystem. It is, therefore, the only protected area in Rwanda suitable and prepared to sustain black rhino and lion populations. 20 years ago, it was on the verge of being lost forever. Following the 1994 genocide, Akagera was a depleted landscape overrun by more than 30,000 cattle. In 2010, African Parks assumed management of Akagera in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board, shifting the park's trajectory. In just five years, poaching was mostly eliminated, and over two decades experienced a dramatic transformation and remarkable revival. Wildlife populations have increased by 48% since 2010, among them 43 lions and 28 black rhinos.&nbsp;&nbsp;The park also offers a secure and healthy ecosystem that can one day be a stronghold for black rhinos and contribute to the conservation of the species on a regional level as a source of individuals and genetics for rewilding and reinforcing populations in other areas. Before the pandemic, when the park took a hard hit on its tourism revenues, Akagera was well on its way to becoming African Parks' first financially self-sustainable park. The park remains an inspiring conservation story that will enthral us for years to come with every re-introduction.&nbsp;&nbsp;Akagera National Park is often included as an extension when planning a&nbsp;<a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/rwanda-bespoke" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(112, 178, 196);">Rwanda Bespoke</a>&nbsp;trip. Sighting lion, rhino or any of the endangered species here is an emotional experience when one understands the remarkable journey of transformation the region has undergone in twenty years.&nbsp;

Photography credit: Akagera National Park, Rwanda © Scott Ramsay / Giraffe in Akagera National Park, Rwanda © Marcus Westberg

The Slow Fund: Conserving Africa's Iconic Species & Landscapes With African Parks

Safari guiding across Africa is predominantly a male-dominated space. In Botswana over 90% of safari guides are men. Women in the region do not have access to the same career paths that tourism offers to their male counterparts. To date, there has been little active or ongoing investment, training and skills development in female guides that would empower them to pursue their dreams, open new career choices and provide for their families. The notable exception is Chobe Game Lodge with an all-female guide team, the Chobe Angels.

In November 2021, the African Bush Camps Foundation launched a female safari guide project that is targeted at creating job opportunities for local women. The project aims to develop female safari guides through skills training, mentorship, job shadowing and rotations at African Bush Camps lodges. The response was overwhelming with 350 applicants but only 5 positions available for the first intake. The training is a two-year program that will provide theory, practical and on-the-job training at ABC camps as a safari guide.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This program will allow the new recruits to gain significant professional experience in travel and tourism, as well as hospitality. Once the training is complete the female guides will be experts in wildlife, conservation, safe practices, photography, natural history, tracking, communication, and patience! The female guides will join the renowned team of professional guides at African Bush Camps, who are an integral part of the safari experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Slow Fund is proud to invest in the female guide training program through a partnership with The African Bush Camps Foundation. B&amp;R has committed to sponsoring two female guides per year for three years, commencing with the 2nd cohort intake in mid-2022. Sponsorship costs are US$3,500 per guide.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can meet the trainee female guides during a stay at African Bush Camps Linyanti or Khwai properties, which we love to include when planning a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/botswana-bespoke" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(112, 178, 196);">Bespoke Botswana trip</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;About African Bush Camps Foundation<a href="https://www.africanbushcampsfoundation.org/focus-area/projects/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(112, 178, 196);">The African Bush Camps Foundation</a>&nbsp;is a registered non-profit organization that has been in operation since 2006. The Foundation’s mission is to partner with communities that are located near our camps to improve quality of life and achieve long-term conservation through programs focusing on Education, Community Empowerment, and Conversation.&nbsp;They have projects running in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana that focus on addressing challenges that include unemployment, food scarcity, poor education and health care infrastructure, low school attendance and dropouts due to financial constraints, wildlife poaching, and preserving natural resources.&nbsp;

The Slow FundWe established the Slow Fund to support innovative projects that are reflective of the regions that inspire them.Whether through educational, cultural, or conservation and preservation initiatives, the Fund helps protect various forms of heritage and promotes the health of vibrant living cultures and the ecosystems that support them. To learn more about the Slow Fund and the projects we support, <a href="https://butterfield.com/who-we-are/sustainability/the-slow-fund" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">click here</a>.

The Slow Fund: Supporting Gender Equality In The Safari Industry With African Bush Camps Foundation 

We will always be grateful to our travellers for their tremendous response to B&amp;R’s appeal for Morocco. Through the Butterfield &amp; Robinson <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/who-we-are/sustainability/the-slow-fund" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Slow Fund</a>, and the generosity of past travellers to the region, we have been working in partnership with Rachid, a longtime friend, host and mountain guide, in supporting him to rebuild some of his family’s’ homes in the village of Imlil. Many homes in his and neighbouring villages in the Atlas Mountains were severely damaged, along with the local school and clinic.Rachid has spent much of his time since the September 8, 2023 earthquake assisting rebuild operations and driving supplies to more remote villages in need of greater assistance.With an initial budget of US$50,000 (donations from B&amp;R travellers), Rachid set about navigating permits, materials, and a building crew in a race against the elements before the mountain winter set in.&nbsp;

Headline

As we write this update, mid-December, his latent project management skills continue driving building efforts as the first two homes near completion and work on a new third house commences. Rachid’s uncle Hamid and cousin, Said, both had their family homes condemned by government engineers. It is hoped that they will move into their new homes by the end of the December as the electrical wiring and plumbing works gets sign off. The third home currently under construction, will hopefully home Mustafa’s family by late January, 2024.&nbsp;Rachid hopes that he will be able to start work on his ancestral home in early spring. Their home is a heritage building, being the oldest house in Imlil and has seen several generations born here.&nbsp;Many other families who need to repair or rebuild, have moved down from the mountains for winter. They will return in spring, thus a long recovery ahead for many families still, but fortunately thanks to Rachid's timely efforts and the generosity of the B&amp;R community, many of his family have been able to stay in Imlil.

Our Regional Expert, Orsolya Kako, will be returning to Morocco in early 2024 and will connect with Rachid in Imlil to visit the new homes and discuss further needs. Following her assessment, the remainder of the relief budget will be allocated.Tourism remains a driver of the Moroccan economy. It’s essential that we continue to visit the region we love so much, supporting their economy in rebuilding all that has been lost

The Slow Fund: Morocco Earthquake Relief Update 

Discover the incredible power of music in the fight for human rights during apartheid in South Africa with WE ARE NOT AFRAID, a captivating documentary co-directed by Janie Cole and Shameela Seedat. This inspiring film, set for release in 2023, delves into the lives of former political prisoners and how they used music as a tool for resistance.

Set against the historical context of South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.musicbeyondborders.net/#page-section-72" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(112, 178, 196);">WE ARE NOT AFRAID</a>&nbsp;explores music’s critical role as a force for resistance and survival in the apartheid prisons, especially at the maximum-security prison on Robben Island, where activists including Nelson Mandela were imprisoned from the early 1960s onwards and at Number 4 women’s jail at the Old Fort in Johannesburg.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Blending archival footage of major historical struggles markers such as the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre and the 1976 Soweto Uprising, extensive new interviews with former political prisoners, shot many years later after their release, and musical performance and observation, the film casts light on both past and present.Through torture, harrowing prison conditions and abuse, black music performance provided resistance, critique, community, communication, therapy, memory and identity for political prisoners, uniting an oppressed people against a common enemy.Night and day, political prisoners sang whatever was in their defiant hearts through torture, despair and hope, and united as one they could not be defeated. Women’s narratives and songs expose the deadly gender-based violence that underlay structures of state violence and express their fight against both racial and gender oppression and dehumanizing prison experiences, which differed sharply to a male-centred struggle world.&nbsp;&nbsp;Through these remarkable resilient individuals, testimonies and music, the film touches on broader questions about cultural expression as advancing social change and the uses of music by individuals suffering and protesting the violation of human rights under oppressive patriarchal regimes at the intersections of music, resilience, power, violence, gender, race, trauma and human rights.&nbsp;Dr. Janie Cole collaborates with B&amp;R on Bespoke trips to South Africa and offers unique, private lecture experiences in her&nbsp;<a href="https://www.musicbeyondborders.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(112, 178, 196);">Music Beyond Borders</a>&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.musicbeyondborders.net/#page-section-150" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Travels in Sound</a>” series, including “Robben Island, Mandela and the Story of Music in the Apartheid Prisons” to travellers.The Slow Fund contributed US$10,000 to the development phase of the film project in 2019, enabling the completion of critical interviews with former political prisoners. The Slow Fund further supported the film's completion with a contribution of $15,000 towards the budget, and we're deeply honoured to be associated with this important work.

The Slow Fund: Exploring the Power of Music With Music Beyond Borders

Set against the historical context of South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, <a href="https://www.musicbeyondborders.net/#page-section-72" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">WE ARE NOT AFRAID</a> is a documentary film that explores the pivotal role of music as a tool for resistance and survival in apartheid prisons. Particularly, it sheds light on the maximum-security prison on Robben Island, where notable activists such as Nelson Mandela were incarcerated starting from the early 1960s.The film explores cultural expression as a tool for social change, delving into the experiences of individuals who use music to cope with and protest against human rights violations under oppressive patriarchal regimes. It examines the intersections of music, resilience, power, violence, gender, race, trauma and human rights.&nbsp;Dr. Janie Cole, the documentary's Co-Director, collaborates with B&amp;R on Bespoke trips to South Africa and offers unique, private lecture experiences in her&nbsp;<a href="https://www.musicbeyondborders.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(112, 178, 196);">Music Beyond Borders</a>&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.musicbeyondborders.net/#page-section-150" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(62, 115, 155);">Travels in Sound</a>” series, including “Robben Island, Mandela and the Story of Music in the Apartheid Prisons” to travellers.In the interview below, we dive into a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Janie Cole, as she shares insights into developing the documentary and her work in preserving South African heritage and culture.

I attended a lecture by a South African Shakespeare scholar <a href="https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C5CHFA_enZA935ZA937&amp;sxsrf=AJOqlzUY7ES_sMLyemYFY7pnCqqoH0OwLw:1675845237343&amp;q=David+Schalkwyk&amp;si=AEcPFx7HnMxbNS2egwqbd2fGseeWkZi3ZCVlQ3vY-NLoLE7SWbUQ82uezfdDZAMJu50ehtnBfgtGlCaaKjD7mHnxBybcD-642f77NaAIUI75KhxzDn03lxdUIVG6KvwrzUmQNCCQIpsmAek95plQQohWdPSsvNNYbgBjZxeDEG7-9L5fiKUnsQDvcQj7PhmBaxeG2_6I5rQ_-pinAZBGWrf8F6V4rHuzmA%3D%3D&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiB3seAwoX9AhXOT8AKHROyCxAQmxMoAHoECEMQAg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">David Schalkwyk</a> who spoke about the so-called “Robben Island Shakespeare”. A copy of the Complete Works was secretly circulated by Sonny Venkatrathnam among his fellow political prisoners on Robben Island in the 1970s, asking them to sign their names next to their favourite passages. Sonny covered it with images of Hindu figures to disguise it as a holy book.Nelson Mandela signed next to a passage from Julius Caesar, which begins, “Cowards die many times before their deaths”. While Schalkwyk examined the representation and experience of imprisonment in South African prison memoirs and the prison that is Denmark for Shakespeare’s Hamlet, I was profoundly moved by his reference to “a book that had passed through the hands of the people who had saved my country,” and the idea of the power of literature and words to provide resistance for political prisoners during apartheid.&nbsp;

Q&A WITH DR. JANIE COLE 

So, as a musicologist, I wondered where was the music in such a space of intense oppression, violence, sorrow, and resistance in a country where singing is the primary cultural expression?&nbsp;&nbsp;Thus began this cultural-heritage preservation project in the form of a film, book and <a href="https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2020-12-17-amplifying-the-voices-of-women-struggle-heroes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">archive</a>, which trace the role of music and resistance in apartheid prisons, with a special focus on Robben Island and the women’s jails, through first-hand struggle testimonies and music by surviving former political prisoners and guards.&nbsp;

I was inspired to found <a href="http://www.musicbeyondborders.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Music Beyond Borders</a>, which focuses on the role of music in social change, surviving trauma and supporting human rights, after my first interviews with former political prisoners of apartheid in 2011.&nbsp;After surviving 9/11, I was unable to listen to music for a long time thereafter, which as a musicologist I found incomprehensible on so many levels, so I got interested in how music and sound can link to trauma, memory, sensory association and overload, and healing.&nbsp;&nbsp;I was most impacted by the stories of abuse and conditions in the prisons and of apartheid. I had read Nelson Mandela’s now famous comment from his 1994 autobiography about the conditions in South Africa’s apartheid prisons which reflected the reality of thousands of political activists:&nbsp;&nbsp;“It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones – and South Africa treated its imprisoned African citizens like animals.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The accounts that I was hearing verified the worst of Mandela’s statements, especially those about women and gender-based violence. The women’s struggle stories are particularly overlooked historically and their treatment at the hands of the security police was different to men’s.&nbsp;

Our vision is that MBBs’ educational film WE ARE NOT AFRAID will preserve this rich South African cultural heritage, capture the memories of South Africa’s long struggle against apartheid, honour the legacy of struggle veterans, and raise consciousness, especially about gender-based violence past and present.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The focus on Robben Island is an obvious one as the most notorious apartheid prison which held Nelson Mandela and hundreds of other political prisoners. However, we have aimed to concentrate on the unknown ‘foot soldiers’ of the struggle, as opposed to the liberation leaders, whose stories have been told many times of course.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As Thoko Mpumlwana, a political prisoner held at the brutal Number 4 women’s jail at the Old Fort says:“Human beings must not repeat mistakes of the past and to communicate that through testimony and music would cut through much better than probably saying it or writing a thesis. Because if people understand what was going on, it will be a learning tool for future generations. To know what it means to dehumanize the other, and to also know that even in the midst of that dehumanization, the truth prevails, good will always prevail over evil.”&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.butterfield.com/who-we-are/sustainability/the-slow-fund" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Slow Fund</a> contributed US$10,000 to the development phase of the film project in 2019, enabling the completion of critical interviews with former political prisoners. The Slow Fund further supported the film's completion with a contribution of $15,000 towards the budget, and we're deeply honoured to be associated with this important work.

The Slow Fund: In Conversation With Dr. Janie Cole

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Notes From the Road

Provence

Walking

I’m no Wim Hoff, but I love a quick dip in and out of the icy stream on a warm day. It’s a vivid reminder that I am alive! Sometimes it’s good to check&#8230;
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-48680" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_2051-450x600.jpg" alt="" width="390" height="520" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_2051-450x600.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_2051-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_2051-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 390px) 100vw, 390px" />
The water is crystal clear and the trout can be spotted swimming upstream. The river’s source is only a few kilometres away at Fontaine de Vaucluse; a magical place with a mystical cave underneath a massive wall of rock from which this 12-degree water gushes with crystal clear vitality. I like to hike around the fountain. There’s a special kind of energy there.
Magnificent trees, ducks and the energy of the gushing water is quite a force to watch. And easy trigger to get back to the present moment. Today I’ve been super lucky with the treasures: I’ve spotted a very old piece of porcelain wedged in the wall of the riverbed. Magic! It’s definitely a good omen&#8230;
In the evening, Benedicte has invited me for dinner, along with my friend and neighbour, Anthony. Benedicte used to run the local vegan restaurant, Vert Bouteille (Bottle Green), so this is an invitation I don’t ever wish to turn down. She’s a magician when it comes to food.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-48681 size-large" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Provenceendofday-960x540.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Provenceendofday-960x540.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Provenceendofday-480x270.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Provenceendofday-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Provenceendofday.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
The swifts are swooping over the village as I walk home. They serve as gentle reminders that the summer is on its way. 
It’s been a beautiful day.
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To see more of Tatjana&#8217;s artwork inspired by life in France and her adventures around the globe, you can <a href="https://tatjanabuisson.tumblr.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">visit her website</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tatjanabuisson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">follow her on Instagram</a>.

We meander through the famous Sunday village market where people are just finishing setting up. Visitors and locals alike are surfacing with their empty bags and baskets. We find my car parked under the tree where I always find a parking spot, and off we go with coffee-flask in hand.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-48670 size-large" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Provencemarket-1-960x540.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Provencemarket-1-960x540.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Provencemarket-1-480x270.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Provencemarket-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Provencemarket-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
The first rule of the vide greniers is the early bird catches the worm. That’s what makes treasure-hunting so appealing: that edgy feeling that the very object you don’t yet know you need to have in your life might slip through your fingers.
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-48667" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/4F260062-7ABD-4762-996B-C261AD95883F-450x600.jpeg" alt="" width="390" height="520" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/4F260062-7ABD-4762-996B-C261AD95883F-450x600.jpeg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/4F260062-7ABD-4762-996B-C261AD95883F-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/4F260062-7ABD-4762-996B-C261AD95883F-768x1024.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 390px) 100vw, 390px" />
 So, we hop in the car. The crinkling of a brown paper packet in Fred’s hand indicates two possibilities: 1) Pain au Chocolat or 2) croissants. I&#8217;ll be happy with either!
One of my favourite things about living in this region is the recycle/re-use culture of these local village attics-sale markets. 
Locals sell anything from kitchen appliances to children’s clothing, furniture to artwork and knife collections. Some bring their current harvest of seasonal fruit or homemade jams from this week’s fruit. There are also people who sell their grandfathers’ lighter collection, collectible LPs or leather sofas.
I try (hard) to stick to a couple of self-imposed guidelines for the treasure-hunting: It must be something that I need or something I absolutely love, but nothing in-between. 
It’s easy to get caught up in the dance of bargaining which then has one arriving at home with a bunch of beautiful things for next to nothing, but the bookshelf is already full&#8230;
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-48666" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Videgrenier.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="720" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Videgrenier.jpg 1440w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Videgrenier-400x300.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Videgrenier-768x576.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Videgrenier-800x600.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

Once we’ve inspected all the old things and found (or not found) our treasures, we head home as I’ve made plans to meet with my friend Mika for a bike ride. 
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-48653" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_0064-1-450x600.jpg" alt="" width="390" height="520" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_0064-1-450x600.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_0064-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_0064-1-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 390px) 100vw, 390px" />
The gorges around here are magnificent and the Gorges de la Nesque is an ideal Sunday mission. The late mornings are still shady and the climb—although it’s consistent—is moderate.
We meet at the start of the ride, get our bikes out of the car and start pedalling. You can imagine my surprise as we stumble upon the not-so-wild-boar, that Mika says, he’s seen before on this route. 
We stop to soak up the epic view and make our way down to Sault, the village known for its lavender (the true lavender that only grows at elevation) in late July. For now, the lavender fields are a dusty grey colour as they work their way towards July with the help of our Provençale sunshine.
As much as I’d love to ride all day long, we decide to loop our way back to the car so that I can spend a little time with the canvas this afternoon. 
The springtime makes for some incredibly inspiring scenes, and they’re not going to manifest on paper or canvas unless I’m there to hold the brush. The bike ride was epic and always makes my heart explode with joy. The roads and scenes around the south of France never cease to inspire awe. I get home and before picking up a paintbrush, I head to a little secret spot upstream for a “swim&#8221; in the river. 
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-48658 size-large" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Provence5-960x540.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Provence5-960x540.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Provence5-480x270.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Provence5-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Provence5.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

Photo Diary: A Sunday in Provence with B&R Guide Tatjana Buisson

Condé Nast

Inside B&amp;R

Media Mentions

Around The World

Condé Nast Awards Four B&R Experience Designers on Their List of Top Travel Specialists 2021

<h2>Growing up during the Rwandan genocide</h2>
Gadi&#8217;s story traces back to the year 2000 when American photographer and producer, David Jiranek, started Through the Eyes of Children, a non-profit aimed at teaching photography to the children of the Imbabazi Orphanage in northwestern Rwanda. Gadi, one of the 19 children at the orphanage, learned about light, colour and composition under Jiranek&#8217;s tutelage. Then, with his disposable camera in hand, he ventured into his community to capture the aftermath of the genocide.
Jiranek passed away in 2003, but Gadi and two friends kept his ambition alive by starting the Camera Kids, a project to teach photography to vulnerable children as a means of expressing themselves and viewing their situation from a different perspective.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xBQf294QUrs" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe> 
Gadi&#8217;s story
Gadi shared with Christine his dream of opening a gallery and hosting an exhibition. Through his portrait photography, he hoped to reunite friends and family who were separated during the genocide. Maybe someone would recognize a face they once knew in a headshot, and it could help them reconnect.
<h2>A mutual ambition</h2>
As for Christine, she always recognized that something was missing in people&#8217;s visits to Musanze. Beyond gorilla trekking, she sought another experience to offer travellers—something with a human touch. The option of organized visits to local villages felt invasive and inauthentic, and the money spent on them rarely goes back to the people in the community. In fact, much of Rwanda&#8217;s tourism dollars go towards the gorillas, and very little is received by the locals.
Gadi and Christine kept in touch since their first meeting. So when COVID-19 hit and Christine found herself without trips to plan, she called up Gadi and said: &#8220;Let&#8217;s open your gallery.&#8221; Gadi and Christine took it even further and decided to create a social enterprise called <a href="https://www.twofirescreativegroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Two Fires</a>.

<h2>Building a partnership and business</h2>
They first looked into creating a non-profit but soon discovered that Rwanda was already oversaturated with them and opted to go the business route instead. There are three arms of the Two Fires initiative. The first is the creative group, a team of four local photographers available for hire. Kigali, the country&#8217;s capital, is a massive hub for NGOs and often, international photographers are being flown in for events. Two Fires can encourage conferences to commission local talent instead, as well as be a resource for travellers looking to have a photographer join them on their trip to Rwanda.
<figure id="attachment_48095" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-48095" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-48095" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Au-Quartier-808x600.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="557" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Au-Quartier-808x600.jpg 808w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Au-Quartier-404x300.jpg 404w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Au-Quartier-768x570.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Au-Quartier.jpg 960w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-48095" class="wp-caption-text">Au Quartier by Alice Kayibanda, a photographer with the Two Fires Creative Group</figcaption></figure>
Funds from the creative group will go towards the second facet of the business, which is community outreach. Two Fires will continue Gadi&#8217;s teaching legacy by hosting sponsored workshops for locals throughout the year in digital storytelling, photography and literacy.
They&#8217;ll also sell their services to international schools to further fund the sponsored workshops for local communities. Not only does this provide locals with the opportunity to build their skills and increase their prospects for future work, but could be used as a form of healing—a way to express themselves and share their stories with the world.
The final component is to get Gadi&#8217;s photography gallery off the ground. The gallery will be in Muszane and will feature exhibitions and digital storytelling by Rwandan creatives. The first exhibition will feature images from the four photographers of the Two Fires group on the effects of COVID-19 on their country. As a global event affecting us all, travellers who visit <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/rwanda-walking-private/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rwanda (which is currently open for travel)</a> can experience the Rwandan perspective. Gadi and Christine have secured space for the gallery, and are eager to get it off the ground in the coming weeks.
<figure id="attachment_48102" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-48102" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-48102" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mussa.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="500" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mussa.jpg 760w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mussa-450x300.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-48102" class="wp-caption-text">Scenes from a roadside hill by Mussa Uwitonze, captured by a photographer with the Two Fires Creative Group</figcaption></figure>
In addition to being a space for local artists, it will double as an experience for visitors to gain insights into the people in the community in a respectable way, as well as an uplifting one. While the gravity of the genocide can&#8217;t be undermined, guests will get to witness is a resilient population ready to heal and move forward.
<h2>The Slow Fund</h2>
Butterfield &amp; Robinson is proud to have made a financial contribution to help launch the Two Fires project as a part of our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/about/we-give-back/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Slow Fund</a>. Whether through educational, cultural or conservation and preservation initiatives, the Fund helps protect various forms of heritage and promotes the health of vibrant living cultures and the eco-systems that support them.
Be sure to <a href="https://instagram.com/butterfieldtravel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">check out our Instagram</a> to follow Christine&#8217;s upcoming trip to Rwanda to open the gallery with Gadi. And if you&#8217;re interested in visiting the Two Fires Gallery to witness the powerful stories conveyed by these talented photographers, <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/start-planning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">get in touch</a> with a member of our team.

Launching a Social Enterprise in Rwanda During a Global Pandemic: The Story of Two Fires

In Conversation with Beks Ndlovu, Founder of African Bush Camps

B&amp;R Fund

The Slow Fund: Supporting Research with Ujubee Project

Meet our Safari Experience Designers: Michele Harvey & Christine Tucker

Essentials &amp; Advice

Argentina

Cambodia

Chile

Exped

Japan

new zealand

Sri Lanka

Uruguay

Vietnam

Where to Travel this Fall and Winter to Escape the Cold

Because we are a travel company chasing a love of new things and knowledge we must ask: Where was the last place you visited that really tossed your hair back and reminded you of the power and importance of travel?
Luke: Seychelles has always intrigued me. Due to the importance of tourism on the economy, they’ve been careful to stick to the responsible tourism model, limiting tourist numbers. The ecology and environment take precedence. Their management of the outer islands is a great example of this.
And, finally, when can we get you and your family on a biking trip with Butterfield &amp; Robinson?
Luke: This is high on my list to do. Ever since I spoke to a past client of yours, who could not stop raving about it. I would love to do this in Italy/France/Scandinavia.

Under the direction of Cape-town based chef Liam Tomlin, and Executive Chef, Andrew Nicholson, Singita reconceptualized their approach to food—uniting all 15 properties thematically by kitchen. Part of the genesis of that decision was rooted in creating the Singita Community Culinary School– a mentorship and training program based at Singita Lebombo Lodge for members of the community with the long-term goal of ushering in a new generation of head chefs. Do you envision this project expanding into Rwanda?
Luke: We also have a community culinary school in Singita Grumeti. Another school in Rwanda is a possibility in the future, and we are already thinking about this.
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-45562" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Singita-School-of-Cooking_blogpost-470x300.jpg" alt="" width="470" height="300" />
The volcanic soil around Volcanoes National Park is exceptionally rich and fertile, so the quality of fruit and vegetables available has exceeded our expectations. There is a huge emphasis on food at Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House, as with other Singita lodges. The design of the kitchen overlooks the restaurant and guests can see in and interact with chefs and kitchen staff. Liam and our entire team have been excited to present Rwandan-inspired food to our guests in our farm-to-table approach.
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-45552" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Food-image_blogsized-1-470x300.jpg" alt="" width="470" height="300" />
Featuring largely vegetable-based dishes and local Rwandan favourites, the on-site herb and fruit garden supplies the lodge kitchens with an array of fresh ingredients. Other highlights of the food journey include tailor-made trekking lunchboxes, flexible mealtimes and a signature “bar-deli” which offers fresh fruit and small snacks, enabling guests to help themselves throughout the day.
Many large-scale conservation efforts can be at odds with local communities and ultimately lead to their displacement. How do you respond to that and/or try to mitigate it?
Luke: Conservation efforts are not at odds with communities.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-46085 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New-elephant-crossing_720x460.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="460" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New-elephant-crossing_720x460.jpg 720w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New-elephant-crossing_720x460-470x300.jpg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" />
At Singita, our 100-year purpose is to preserve and protect large areas of African wilderness for future generations. It follows that conserving the continent’s precious biodiversity is our primary reason for being and is an area in which we invest significant resources. However, we recognize that wilderness and wildlife will not exist for long unless the people living near them derive benefits from their existence. We therefore support the wellbeing of our neighbouring communities directly through local employment, and indirectly through our Community Partnerships Programme, where we invest enterprise development. At the same time, we use our tourism business to support our conservation mission, we strive to minimize negative impact on these landscapes, as well as the broader environment. Our conservation model therefore incorporates the three pillars of Biodiversity, Community and Sustainability.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-46087 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New_kids-reading_720x460.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="460" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New_kids-reading_720x460.jpg 720w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New_kids-reading_720x460-470x300.jpg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" />
Sustainability – operating in an environmentally conscious way at every level of the business – is a key component of Singita’s conservation success, alongside maintaining the integrity of its reserves and their ecosystems and working with local communities to ensure that they thrive because of the lodges.
The Singita model is based on an interrelated relationship between sustainability, conservation and community. We have identified three areas of focus in Rwanda
<ol>
<li>Early Childhood Development (ECD) where there is a great need</li>
<li>Small and medium enterprise development</li>
<li>Environmental Education / Reforestation of the park. We plan to expand our land to 230 acres and continue reforestation, which will ultimately lead to a larger habitat for the endangered mountain gorilla and other wildlife.</li>
</ol>
Are there any other sustainable, viable businesses – or grass-roots projects for that matter – that really interest you in Africa?
Luke: See above for our focus areas of grass-root projects.
Singita has been on a steep learning curve for the past 26 years and we’ve narrowed our focus on the above three areas for communities. This is mostly due to Africa’s rapidly growing population – from 1.3 billion to 4.4 billion by the end of the century – which puts untold pressure on pristine wild areas. This is of grave concern to me.
Also, I believe it is crucial for people to adopt more sustainable living practices. This is another principle that runs deep within the Singita brand, and all lodges and offices follow the One Planet Living sustainability framework (a set of 10 principles that guide our decision making).

Q&A with Luke Bailes, Founder & Executive Chairman, Singita

family

Tanzania

Different personalities thrive in such a setting: Grandma could be active or sedentary as she pleased; for her, the best part was watching her grand-kids interact with everything in their sight-line, people and lodge alike; after bonfires and sundowners with the whole family, her brother could stay up late with other guests at the lodge; parents could elect to jump on safari or not depending on energy levels, meanwhile the kids scrambled around the lodge-making friends with the kitchen staff and learning to stumble a bit. As a parent Christine felt she could be a little more hands-off in this environment allowing her daughters to feel more resilient as a result.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-45740 size-large" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/kids-w-community-900x600.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/kids-w-community.jpg 900w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/kids-w-community-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/kids-w-community-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
“Everyone gets something out of it without it being a huge orchestrated event.”
“The safari setting made everyone feel so comfortable and taken care of. It was thrilling to watch the kids be blown away by everything they love and for us, as parents, not to have to think about meals or where to eat.&#8221;
Despite usually despising car rides her children loved the freedom of the safari jeep and could spend large parcels of time out with the guides seeking out big animals, becoming versed in the craft culture of Tanzania, taking in the differently shaped trees.
The beauty of travel is that it jars us from the usual. It has the power to elevate quotidian events—so that a lingering meal becomes entirely memorable, enhanced in this case by a panorama of the Serengeti, as the sun tucks into the horizon.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-45751 size-large" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Fam-on-rock_banner-1-960x600.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Fam-on-rock_banner-1-960x600.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Fam-on-rock_banner-1-250x156.jpg 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Fam-on-rock_banner-1-480x300.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Fam-on-rock_banner-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Fam-on-rock_banner-1.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
You experience a culture by immersing yourself in the sensory milieu. Children do this intuitively. Sometimes we must remind ourselves to.
Part of the work of Trip Designers is the continued cultivation of their own awe; how that sense of earnestness and excitement toward the wonders of the world must be preserved and continually evaluated. Having kids along with you forces you to do a better job of that—in your day-to-day life and in your professional role as well.
Travelling with children, no matter the age, goes beyond showing them the world. It reminds you how to see the world too.

An American ex-pat living in Switzerland with her young family, Christine has nurtured an itinerant lifestyle most of her adult life. It seems more than likely that that will be passed onto her children; her kids have joined her on the road from a young age. At six months Remie was touring Andalucia, a moon-faced accomplice, as they vetted hotels and lunch spots.
The benefits of travelling with your children are great at any age, but as with anything child related, there must be balance.
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-45743" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/feet-and-elephants-450x300.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/feet-and-elephants-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/feet-and-elephants-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/feet-and-elephants.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" />
On a recent phone call with a traveller she was planning a trip for, Christine recalls trying to dissuade the traveller from changing safari lodges with her two young kids, every two nights. The traveller, understandably, was grappling with the desire to hit all the best spots in a certain amount of time. With kids on the journey as well, Christine knew that moving that frequently would likely tire them out; that the family would need to find their stride and that staying at a lodge a few more nights would help bring that out.
Why safari works so well for generational travel 
There’s the constant balance of knowing your kids (and their limits) and giving them enough room to relax around a place, taking time to flit about some morning without a hard-wired schedule. Trying to cram in too much can cause over-stimulation. In fact, Christine often advises just the opposite “don’t try to see everything, instead slow down to the rhythm of where you are.” Often just a change from your everyday life is enough to spark new associations in a child.
Keeping it simple in terms of ground covered is one of the reasons Christine loves to choose safari for family trips. It’s the format that best serves a large group of divergent ages, expectations and interests.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-45748 size-large" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pool-time-900x600.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pool-time.jpg 900w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pool-time-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pool-time-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
Last year, Christine arranged for her extended family to get together to take in the wonders of Northern Tanzania. Trying to gather and accommodate her partner (an individual with a strong desire not to be in a car for more than 5 hours at a time), her two young daughters (4 and 8), her almost eighty-year-old mother (agile, yet looking for less rigour than, say Christine) and her brother (who generally angles for trips that celebrate late nights), made it clear that the exercise was less about where to go but how to go.
Safari operates with the same underlying principle as a Butterfield &amp; Robinson trip: everything is taken care of so that you don’t have to worry about a thing. There’s a schedule, but you can scrap it or modify it as you please. There’s an emphasis on slowing down to move at a pace that allows discovery on your own time. You are there to soak it up—not cruise through.

Notes from the Road: A Generational Trip to Tanzania

Madagascar Travel Expert (and born-and-raised South African)

<h2>Continue your travels in Africa</h2>
A retreat at Miavana works well as an add-on to either an East Africa or Southern Africa safari experience. Take a look at <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/experts/michele-harvey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my trip portfolio</a> for inspiration: I&#8217;d be delighted to speak with you about any of these destinations, too!<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-44974 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/poolside-miavana.jpg" alt="Madagascar Miavana Luxury Resort" width="380" height="253" />
Miavana also works wonderfully as a stand-alone destination lodge. My suggestion is a 5 to a 7-night stay.
With its ample activities and serene setting, you can create your own adventure here that&#8217;s at once exhilarating and effortless.

<h2>Madagascar&#8217;s Unparalleled Biodiversity</h2>
From the world’s tiniest chameleon to the Crowned Lemur conservation efforts and the many turtles in between, Miavana’s raison d’etre is clear, making this more than your average beach destination. During my visit, I gained a real appreciation of how special the environment and wildlife here is. 
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-44978 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/madagascar-lemur.jpg" alt="" width="380" height="253" />
Of course, Madagascar&#8217;s unofficial mascot, the lemur, is a crucial part of any visit. Nosy Ankao is known for the endangered Crowned Lemur, which you can spot on a stroll through the island&#8217;s forests. For more lemur adventure, they offer treks on the mainland via a helicopter excursion.
I also had a brief swim with dolphins. They were hunting, but we got to be with them for a short while before they charged off. During whale season, whales can be seen breaching in front of the lodge, and you can catch whale sharks at various times throughout the year, too.
<h2>The Activities at Miavana</h2>
Kite-surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, snorkelling and scuba – the well-rounded activities at Miavana cover water, underwater, land and air.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-44983 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/snorkelling-miavana.jpg" alt="Madagascar Miavana Luxury Resort" width="380" height="253" />You can set sail on fabulous boat excursions to other islands in the archipelago and snorkel at different sites, and anglers can cast their reels for some ocean fishing.
No matter what you choose, the lodge&#8217;s guides are passionate and engaging. The calibre of the staff here is truly beyond compare: they would probably go to the ends of the archipelago to please every guest. Plus, the naturalist guides are like walking encyclopedias!

<h2>The Accommodations</h2>
Villas with one, two or three bedrooms come with a lounge area, butler service, a stocked kitchenette and a private, sea-side pool. These guest sanctuaries are spacious, with the smallest coming in at a generous 450 square metres (4,843 square feet).<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-44989 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Room-miavana.jpg" alt="" width="380" height="242" />
The decor is reflective of the beachy vibes that permeate the throughout the island: bright and fresh, with crisp whites, pops of blue and ocean views at nearly every turn.
For families and large groups, each villa has an additional bathroom along with a study which can be flipped into a kids room. Guests can navigate the resort and explore the island using the property&#8217;s complimentary bicycles or electric buggies.
<h2>Getting to Madagascar&#8217;s Miavana Luxury Resort</h2>
There are two &#8216;launching&#8217; points from the mainland to Nosy Ankao. I flew from Johannesburg to Nosy Be, but the other option is to head to Diego Suarez from Antananarivo, Madagascar&#8217;s capital.
From Diego Suarez or Nosy Be, the Miavana&#8217;s helicopters whisk you away. The helicopter ride was an unexpected highlight for me; I saw more of Madagascar’s diversity during the 1-hour flight from Nosy Be to Nosy Ankao than I did during my entire 15-day research trip last year!<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-44987 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/helicopter-miavana-1.jpg" alt="" width="380" height="253" />
The pilots give brilliant commentary as you swoop past points of interest. You gain a tremendous understanding of the country&#8217;s biodiversity as you fly over so many different landscapes – from sea to tsingy (karst mountain formations) to agriculture to seaweed farms, forest and mangroves.
The helicopter flights give you great insight to the northern region and the complexities of the island’s biodiversity, history and social-economic challenges.

Miavana: Madagascar's Luxury Island Escape

Experts + Insiders

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Travel Diary

Latin America

Peru

<h2>DAY 4 </h2>
<h4>INCAN TRAILS &amp; TOMBS</h4>
Since Craig and Josh were avid mountain bikers, I knew they could step things up on Day 4 with an amazing ride through the Lares Mountain Pass to the village of Calca. High altitude pedalling is no joke, but both father and son were up for the challenge, settling into a steady rhythm high above the Sacred Valley.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-44415 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_005_900x675.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="675" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_005_900x675.jpg 900w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_005_900x675-400x300.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_005_900x675-768x576.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_005_900x675-800x600.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
The climb paid off with one of the best descents in all of Peru – a mix of dirt roads and ancient trails that wind through small farming communities and across original Incan steps, ending at the tombs built into the cliff face of the Totora Canyon.
All in all, the gents completed a mighty 1,400-metre descent, earning a very well deserved rest at the evening’s hotel, the luxurious Tambo del Inka, a spectacular respite in the middle of an enchanted region.
<hr />
<h2>DAY 5 </h2>
<h4>THE LOST CITY OF MACHU PICCHU</h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-38380" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Books-About-Peru-Banner.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1271" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Books-About-Peru-Banner.jpg 1920w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Books-About-Peru-Banner-453x300.jpg 453w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Books-About-Peru-Banner-768x508.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Books-About-Peru-Banner-906x600.jpg 906w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
When a traveller makes a request on a Bespoke trip, it’s my job to make it happen, but in true B&amp;R style I didn’t just want Craig and Josh to visit Machu Picchu, I wanted them to experience the Lost City in all its glory.
The morning began with a train ride along the Urubamba River through the Canyon of Vilcanota to the Lost City of the Incas.
At KM 104, they met up with Carlos, a local Machu Picchu expert, who led the guys along the final passage of the Inca Trail through impressive archaeological sites as he explained the history of Incan engineering and architecture.
They arrived at Inti Punku, Machu Picchu’s impressive gate, after lunch, and, as most people were leaving the site, they were able to sit in silence and watch the sun set on the citadel, marveling at one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.
<hr />
<h2>DAY 6 </h2>
<h4>SCALING NEW HEIGHTS</h4>
Before saying goodbye to Machu Picchu, Craig and Josh took one last opportunity to take in the majestic 360-degree views from Machu Picchu Mountain, the site&#8217;s highest peak.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-44441" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Bespoke-Stories-Peru-mid-banner4.jpg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Bespoke-Stories-Peru-mid-banner4.jpg 1600w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Bespoke-Stories-Peru-mid-banner4-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Bespoke-Stories-Peru-mid-banner4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Bespoke-Stories-Peru-mid-banner4-900x600.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" />
Skyscraping Andean peaks tower in the distance while the Urubamba River wraps itself around the mountain site.
Inca priests once performed rituals on this site, and when you stand there now, you can almost feel their power electrifying the air.
<hr />
<h2>DAY 7 to 9 </h2>
<h4>A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT</h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-44418 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_014_378x283.jpg" alt="" width="378" height="283" />Aside from being fit, fierce, mountain biking fiends, Craig also revealed during one of our discussions that he and Josh are avid white water rafters.
They couldn’t have picked a better spot than Peru and, as the cherry on top of an already exhilarating trip, I planned a three-day rafting adventure that would send them off on a high.
They set out from the Huallpachaca bridge, spending three days, paddling and exploring the Apurimac River through intermediate- and advance-level rapids. They drifted past granite cliffs and portaged across rocky trails.
They ran infamous rapids including – “The Purgatory”, “Space Odyssey”, “Tooth Ache”, and “Babalua” –traversed canyons and ate like kings before ending each day on a sandy campsite.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-44417 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_011_900x675.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="675" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_011_900x675.jpg 900w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_011_900x675-400x300.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_011_900x675-768x576.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_011_900x675-800x600.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
Up for anything, father and son “roughed” it, B&amp;R style, because while five-star hotels may not always be necessary on a B&amp;R trip, unique, breathtaking, immersive experiences certainly are.
<hr />
<h2>DAY 10 </h2>
<h4>ADIOS PERU</h4>
Having travelled back to Cusco the night before, Craig and Josh were ready to start their trip home, sad to say adios to Peru, but excited to share stories with their family and friends about their adventures in this magical Incan land.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-44421 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_009_900x675.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="675" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_009_900x675.jpg 900w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_009_900x675-400x300.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_009_900x675-768x576.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_009_900x675-800x600.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
And I was thrilled that, with this one-of-a-kind Bespoke father-son adventure, we had once again made dreams come true.
<hr />
<h2>Start Planning Your Dream Trip</h2>
<h5>(Or better yet—let us!)</h5>
Ready to go on your own unforgettable adventure? Have the perfect trip in mind? Whether it&#8217;s somewhere you&#8217;ve always dreamed of going or something you&#8217;ve always dreamed of doing, our expert Experience Designers specialize in turning fantasies into reality. Contact us to <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/start-planning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">start planning</a>.

<h2>DAY 3 </h2>
<h4>50 SHADES OF COLOUR</h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-10974" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Peru_inset.jpg" alt="Peruvian quilt" width="385" height="581" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Peru_inset.jpg 424w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Peru_inset-212x320.jpg 212w" sizes="(max-width: 385px) 100vw, 385px" />With its traditional vibrant fabrics and fantastical rainbow mountains, Peru is known as one of the most colourful countries in the world, and today’s activities lived up to the claim.
Craig and Josh’s ride began in the fields of the Chinchero plateau where potato, bean, corn, kiwicha, and quinoa crops create a patchwork of colours across the land.
With the snow-capped Urubamba mountain range in the background, it was a ride to remember, full of fast descents and glimpses of local culture in the Sacred Valley.
Outside the town of Moray, they hopped off the bikes to explore the Incan terraces, a luscious green paradise of concentric circles that took their breath away.

While no one knows the exact purpose of the terraces, they’re thought to be an early feat of scientific engineering by the Incans, an in-situ laboratory where they could study crops and experiment with different microclimates to see what conditions were best suited to what species.
They also managed to modify, adapt, and hybridize some crops, just one of the reasons that today, Peru is home to 2,000 different varieties of potatoes.
Thankfully, while potatoes did make an appearance on trip (you can’t visit Peru without feasting on a rainbow of organic chips served as an appetizer at virtually every restaurant), there were myriad other delicious dishes for Craig and Josh to try during lunch at the home of Tat, a local friend of B&amp;R and a pretty fantastic cook.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-44410 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_004_900x675.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="675" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_004_900x675.jpg 900w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_004_900x675-400x300.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_004_900x675-768x576.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PERM_920180809_TCA_004_900x675-800x600.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
After lunch the boys headed to the Maras salt pans where they discovered just how many shades of pink there can be. For hundreds of years, local Peruvians have been harvesting pink salt from the geometric pools that cascade down the valley like a series of uneven steps.
I scheduled some time for Craig and Josh to walk among them, observing their methods and marveling at the ancient tradition, even getting to sample some of the goods!

Bespoke Stories: An "Off-the-Grid" Adventure for a Father & Son in Peru

<h3 style="text-align: left;">The Experience</h3>
The multitude of natural habitats within Kruger National Park’s 19,485 square kilometres (7,523 square miles) give way to the various wildlife who call the land home: elephants, white and black rhinos, cheetahs and herds of buffalo, to name a few. 
The star performer, however, is none other than the king of the jungle: lions reign supreme in this corner of South Africa, and spotting one of the ‘Mountain Prides’ tops the list of heart-racing moments at the Lebombo Lodge.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43159 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/High-Res-bush-stop_800x532.jpg" alt="Singita Lebombo Lodge" width="800" height="532" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/High-Res-bush-stop_800x532.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/High-Res-bush-stop_800x532-451x300.jpg 451w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/High-Res-bush-stop_800x532-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
Twice daily game drives in open Land Rovers are included in your stay. To keep the experiences intimate and safe, a maximum of six guests are allowed per vehicle. Thrill-seekers may choose to embark on a walking safari, and traverse the pan by foot for a closer look at the plant life and to track down smaller game. 
You’ll want to catch these incredible moments on film, but if your heavy-duty camera didn’t make it into your suitcase, the lodge carries specialized kits catered to wildlife photography that are available for rent. 
If you’re visiting with your young ones in tow, the Mini Rangers’ Course is a kids’ club where they can learn the ins and outs of tracking, bush survival techniques and bird-watching, and earn a certificate at the end of their ‘studies.’ Note that child participation on the game drives will be at your guide’s discretion.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43162 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Lebombo-2-1800x1200_800x533.jpg" alt="Singita Lebombo Lodge" width="800" height="533" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Lebombo-2-1800x1200_800x533.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Lebombo-2-1800x1200_800x533-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Lebombo-2-1800x1200_800x533-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
Like the rest of the Singita collection, conservation and community efforts are vital here. One of these endeavours comes in the form of a culinary school, offered by the Lebombo Lodge to students from the local communities. 
Guests can learn alongside these budding chefs by participating in a hands-on cooking lesson, where you’ll whip up some of the lodge’s specialty dishes.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43160 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Singita-School-of-Cooking-40_800x533.jpg" alt="Singita Lebombo Lodge" width="800" height="533" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Singita-School-of-Cooking-40_800x533.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Singita-School-of-Cooking-40_800x533-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Singita-School-of-Cooking-40_800x533-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
And as for the cuisine, it too is just as innovative as the property. Headed under chef Liam Tomlin, who also runs a popular Cape Town eatery called Chefs Warehouse, flavourful meals are prepared using fresh ingredients and local produce. 
Cooking techniques like sous-vide and smoking reflect the lodge’s contemporary edge, while meats cooked on a spit and over an open fire assert its African heritage. 
Items like homemade muesli and Norwegian salmon grace the table at breakfast, lunch sees artfully plated tapas and tasting dishes, and dinner is a three-course affair paired with delightful South African wines. 
<h3 style="text-align: left;">The Rooms</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-43157 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Lebombo-4_378x252.jpg" alt="Singita Lebombo Lodge" width="378" height="252" />Light spills into each of the glass-walled suites, decked out in safari-chic decor: think muted tones, netted beds, unstained wood and sisal carpets. 
A sliding door opens to a private game-viewing deck, seemingly suspended over the river, complete with a daybed and bistro set. 
Other in-room perks include Wi-Fi, a Nespresso machine, air conditioning, fireplaces and solar-powered plugs. 
The suite’s luxurious en-suite bathrooms feature deep, window-side bathtubs and separate indoor/outdoor showers.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43158 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Singita-Lebombo-Lodge-Suite-1800x1200_800x533.jpg" alt="Singita Lebombo Lodge" width="800" height="533" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Singita-Lebombo-Lodge-Suite-1800x1200_800x533.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Singita-Lebombo-Lodge-Suite-1800x1200_800x533-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Singita-Lebombo-Lodge-Suite-1800x1200_800x533-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
If your group outnumbers what one unit can offer, there are two suites found lower on the hill that connect to become a villa, married by a private pool. 
The villa comes with a full staff, a kitchen and it’s own boma area for dining al fresco. 
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Before and After Your Visit</h3>
If you’re looking to check off more bucket list items on your visit to Africa, wedge the Lebombo Lodge between two other spectacular stays. You can begin your trip with a visit to the <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/stays/singita-ebony-lodge/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Singita Ebony Lodge</a>, the brand’s flagship property in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. 
With its old-world vibe and distinct game watching, it offers a different experience where you can catch sight of the elusive leopard and dine among monkeys.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43166 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Sundowner-Singita-Kruger-National-Park-1200px-at-72dpi-6_800x533.jpg" alt="Singita Lebombo Lodge" width="800" height="533" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Sundowner-Singita-Kruger-National-Park-1200px-at-72dpi-6_800x533.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Sundowner-Singita-Kruger-National-Park-1200px-at-72dpi-6_800x533-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Sundowner-Singita-Kruger-National-Park-1200px-at-72dpi-6_800x533-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
Another Singita option in the Sabi Sand is their Boulders Lodge. Here, nature is infused into every element—from the stone walls to the tree trunk support beams to the encompassing sprawl of tangled trees and free-flowing rivers. 
After a few nights at the Lebombo Lodge, catch a flight to the Livingstone International Airport for a sojourn at the Royal Chundu to revel in the rush of Victoria Falls. 
This vibrant camp on the banks of the Zambezi River in Zambia is just 30 km (18 mi.) upstream from the mighty cascades. It offers riverside suites with private balconies and activities include helicopter tours, canoeing, fishing and nature walks.

Spectacular Stays: Singita Lebombo Lodge

<h3 style="text-align: left;">The Experience</h3>
Hwange National Park offers one of the highest concentrations of animals in Southern Africa; it’s home to no less than 107 mammal species and 450 bird species. 
With such a diverse habitat, the variety of wildlife within your range of vision is immense, and the Somalisa Camp places you in the heart of the action.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-42980 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/somalisa3_800x531.jpg" alt="Somalisa Camp" width="800" height="531" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/somalisa3_800x531.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/somalisa3_800x531-452x300.jpg 452w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/somalisa3_800x531-768x510.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
Rise and shine early for breakfast on the desk, watching the sun rise while the morning mist lifts from the plain. After fuelling up on slow-cooked oatmeal, fresh fruit and made-to-order eggs, it’s time to set out on the first game drive of the day.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-42979 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/somalisa_460small_800x532.jpg" alt="Somalisa Camp" width="800" height="532" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/somalisa_460small_800x532.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/somalisa_460small_800x532-451x300.jpg 451w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/somalisa_460small_800x532-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
Game drives are aboard open 4x4s with the camp’s expert guides and trackers. Elephant, sable antelope, zebra, giraffe, lion, leopard, hyena, wildebeest and the rare and endangered roan antelope are but a few of the creatures you’re likely to encounter.
You could choose to shake up your routine with the Somalisa’s other offerings, such as bird watching (Hwange boasts some of the best birding in these parts of Africa, with opportunities to catch rare creatures like the magnificent Martial eagle) or cultural visits to gain further insight into the local communities.  
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-42982 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/sbm_5616_800x534.jpg" alt="Somalisa Camp" width="800" height="534" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/sbm_5616_800x534.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/sbm_5616_800x534-449x300.jpg 449w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/sbm_5616_800x534-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
After your morning exploration, retire to the camp for brunch—a heartier meal consisting of warming dishes in the cooler months and light, fresh fare in the summer. 
Afterwards, you can either venture on another afternoon game drive or balance out the adventure with some pool time and an afternoon nap before sundowners on the deck. 
As for dinner, a three-course meal consisting of African and international cuisine and paired with South African wine is served outdoors, allowing the game-watching action to continue while you dine. 
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">The Rooms</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-42976 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Somalisa-2-1800x1200_378x252.jpg" alt="Somalisa Camp" width="378" height="252" />Seven wood-framed, stretch sail canvas tents are scattered throughout a grove Acacia trees, loosely forming a horseshoe around the communal lodge. 
Each suite is finished with hardwood floors and brimming with old-world charms like antique furnishings, Colonial-era artifacts and locally made handicrafts.
Vintage-style bathrooms bask in natural light and feature deep copper tubs, a separate shower area and flushable toilets. 
A glass-wood fireplace and the option to roll down the canvas sides keeps the tent cozy and warm during Hwange’s chilly nights.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-42974 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Somalisa-1800x1200_800x440.jpg" alt="Somalisa Camp" width="800" height="533" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Somalisa-1800x1200_800x440.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Somalisa-1800x1200_800x440-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Somalisa-1800x1200_800x440-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
Wood-framed beds draped in plush bedding neighbour a seating area with a sofa and chairs that are dressed in vibrant Kudhinda textiles. 
Large glass walls showcase the cluster of trees and bush outdoors, and slide open to a private deck with an outdoor shower, a hammock and a seating area.
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Before and After Your Visit</h3>
Before settling in at the Somalisa Camp, why not spend a few nights at the Camp Amalinda, Located in the mysterious Matapo Hills—approximately 400 km ( 250 mi.) southeast of Somalisa—this area is best known for its granite wilderness and native black and white rhinos. 
Stay in one of nine hillside retreats carved out of natural stone with thatched roofs and panoramic views.  
With the Victoria Falls nearby, it seems only logical to follow up your visit to the Somalisa Camp with a stay at the Victoria Falls River Lodge. Seated along the edge of the Zambezi river, this tented luxury lodge is so close to the grand cascade that it even catches a view its spray off in the distance. 
Kick back on your private deck with views over the river, while hippos wallowing in the water keep you entertained.

Spectacular Stays: Somalisa Camp

<h3 style="text-align: left;">The Experience</h3>
Skilled trackers and drivers from the local Shangaan community lead you on game drives to scope out the area’s residents: a list that includes elephants, buffalo, rhinoceros and lions. Leopards are especially known to strut around unperturbed in these corners, and you may even spot one catnapping on the lodge’s deck.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43133 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/dulini_bush_dinner_02_VL_800x533.jpg" alt="dulini lodge" width="800" height="533" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/dulini_bush_dinner_02_VL_800x533.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/dulini_bush_dinner_02_VL_800x533-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/dulini_bush_dinner_02_VL_800x533-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
The Dulini’s open-roof Land Rovers—equipped with binoculars and fleece-lined ponchos—can carry a maximum of six guests at a time and offer the perfect vehicle to navigate the terrain and get up-close to the animals. 
Game drives happen twice daily: once in the early morning and the second later in the afternoon. These later ones stretch into the evening after the sun has set for a look at the nocturnal creatures, like the white-tailed mongoose and spotted hyena.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43128 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/dulini_vehicle_800x529.jpg" alt="Dulini Lodge" width="800" height="529" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/dulini_vehicle_800x529.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/dulini_vehicle_800x529-454x300.jpg 454w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/dulini_vehicle_800x529-768x508.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
An absence of fences between this corner of the Sabi Sand and the Kruger National Park means the wildlife are free to roam at their will. The nearby Sand River is a favourite haunt for hippos and crocodiles that come to bask in its water, while the dense reed beds host multiple bird species (over 300, to be precise). 
Lovers of birding should take advantage of the Dulini’s interpretive safari walks that venture into the bush by foot.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43146 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_boma_800x533.jpg" alt="Dulini Lodge" width="800" height="533" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_boma_800x533.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_boma_800x533-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_boma_800x533-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
Mealtime comes in many guises, from candlelit dinners to outdoor festivities. A leafy Jackalberry tree canopies the outdoor eating area, where guests dine on Pan-African creations by Dulini’s talented chefs. 
If you’re looking for some alone time with your loved one, you can inquire about booking a private dinner in the wine cellar—well-stocked with the finest South African wines.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43130 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_dining_deck_800x533.jpg" alt="Dulini Lodge" width="800" height="533" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_dining_deck_800x533.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_dining_deck_800x533-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_dining_deck_800x533-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
Torches and lanterns, a fire pit and linen-draped tables come together beneath a circle of trees to make a boma. Every few nights, guests gather here with members of the community to sing, dance and celebrate during a traditional African cookout beneath the night sky.
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">The Rooms</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-43136 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dulini-Suite-1800x1200_378x252.jpg" alt="dulini lodge" width="378" height="252" />All of the spacious suites (though, given their size, are more comparable to cottages) are located just a stone’s throw from the river’s edge. 
Hardwood flooring, a four-post netted bed and Colonial-era furnishings come together beneath an exposed thatched roof, giving way to an effortless blend of rustic and romantic. 
Keep warm on chilly nights with the fireplace, while air-conditioning offers relief during the height of summer.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43137 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_suite_21_800x533.jpg" alt="dulini lodge" width="800" height="533" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_suite_21_800x533.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_suite_21_800x533-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_suite_21_800x533-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
Large windows fill the rooms in natural light and keep you in constant connection with the surrounding environment. Admire the views from the four-clawed bathtub of your ensuite bathroom, or while soaking in the heated plunge pool of your private deck. 
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43138 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_suite_sundowners1_800x533.jpg" alt="Dulini Lodge" width="800" height="533" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_suite_sundowners1_800x533.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_suite_sundowners1_800x533-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/river_lodge_suite_sundowners1_800x533-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
Add to this the option to have a masseuse pay you a visit and in-room dining, and you could find yourself luxuriating in your suite all day long.
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Before and After Your Visit</h3>
Get the most out of your journey to South Africa and round-out your travels with other must-see places. Your point of arrival into the country will likely be Cape Town, a stunning city that merges sea to sky landscapes and a buzzing metropolis. 
Hunker down here for a few nights and rest up at More Quarters, a boutique property comprised of apartments and located within walking distance of shops, restaurants and bars. 
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-43148 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dulini-Lodge-9-1800x1200_800x533-1.jpg" alt="Dulini Lodge" width="800" height="533" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dulini-Lodge-9-1800x1200_800x533-1.jpg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dulini-Lodge-9-1800x1200_800x533-1-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dulini-Lodge-9-1800x1200_800x533-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
En route to the Dulini Lodge, you can make a stop in South Africa’s wine country and stay at Le Quartier Français, a five-star property found in the heart of Franschhoek.
If the wild continues to call following your visit to Dulini, you can carry on to the Thorntree River Lodge in Zambia, an eco-conscious retreat in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, seated just up the river from the remarkable Victoria Falls.

Spectacular Stays: Dulini Lodge

Marrakech

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Marrakech&#8217;s Best Concept Shops</h2>
<h3><a href="http://www.jardinmajorelle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boutique Majorelle </a></h3>
So stunning it could serve as the main attraction, the boutique inside the Majorelle Gardens—a dreamy botanical garden and one of the most visited sites in Morocco—is immaculately curated by creative director Stephen DiRenza. 
From an in-house workshop, they create their own clothing, drawing inspiration from designs by Yves Saint Laurent (who purchased the gardens in the 1980s). 
Hand-hammered silver jewelry, chic throw pillows and clutches embroidederd with 16C Islamic art prints round-out this truly unique collection. 
<h3><a href="https://maxandjan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Max &amp; Jan</a></h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-42669 size-large" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Maxjan_002-400x600.jpg" alt="max and jan, best shops in Marrakech" width="400" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Maxjan_002-400x600.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Maxjan_002-200x300.jpg 200w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Maxjan_002.jpg 681w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" />The self-made description of ‘glam in the Medina’ is quickly understood as you enter the eclectic and colourful store of Max &amp; Jan. 
Go either all out with an attention-grabbing print tunic or stick to something more subdued by opting for an equally beautiful colour-block dress. 
<h3><a href="https://www.33ruemajorelle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">33 Rue Majorelle</a></h3>
Take a breather from the busy souks at this airy lifestyle boutique with a Moroccan twist. 
Showcasing nearly 100 independent of the country’s designers and artisans, you’ll find an array of items for your wardrobe (think: vibrant scarves, brass jewelry and jacquard babouches) and for the home like glasses for mint tea, patterned potteries, crocheted Hamimi lanterns… and really, anything else you can think of! 
The collection changes frequently, so stop in to see what’s new.
<h3><a href="http://www.hanoutboutique.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hanout</a></h3>
Owner Meriem Rawlings mastered her talents at Saint Martin’s School of Art in London, where she lived with her British husband for several years. 
It was there she designed her first collection of kaftans which earned their way to the shelves of Selfridges. Upon returning to her native Marrakech, Hanout Boutique was born. 
This delightfully-curated shop sits beneath one of our favourite lunch spots (<a href="https://terrassedesepices.com/en/">Terrasses des Epices</a>) and is filled with contemporary pieces fused with Moroccan-inspired flavour like silk tunics, leather handbags and kilim boots. 
<h3><a href="https://el-fenn.com/boutique/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">El Fenn</a></h3>
Housed in a restaurant and bar, here you’ll find a selection of items that highlight the designers and artisans of Marrakech. 
Owned by Vanessa Branson, El Fenn is ripe with vintage clothes and bags, locally-crafted housewares, dazzling jewelry, coffee table books and more. 
Expertly edited in a stunning location, pop in if you want the vibe of the Souk without the haggling. 
<h3><a href="http://michele-baconnier.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michèle Baconnier</a></h3>
With flower-toed ballerina flats, babouches speckled with hardware, beaded necklaces and gold rings anchored by gemstones, you can immediately sense the quirk and playfulness at the core of French expat Michèle Baconnier’s shop found on a small street down in the Gueliz neighbourhood. 
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-42673 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/michellebaconner_001.jpg" alt="michele baconner, best shops in Marrakech" width="720" height="460" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/michellebaconner_001.jpg 720w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/michellebaconner_001-470x300.jpg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" />
Often, Baconnier will be present to assist with sizing (she also sells dresses, tunics and more) and to share the stories behind her hand-made pieces of jewelry.  
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Marrakech&#8217;s Jewelry Shop</h2>
<h3>El Abidi Nasser Eddine</h3>
A few steps away from Au Fil d’Or, this shop is brimming with one-of-a-kind items, from antique finds to semi-precious stones amidst silverware and gold. 
Their eye-catching jewelry are the ultimate statement pieces like gold bangles, colourful stringings of Moroccan coral and their collection of Berber-inspired necklaces anchored by a Hamsa, the ancient Middle Eastern talisman that protects against the evil eye. 
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Shops for Home/Decor in Marrakech</h2>
<h3><a href="https://www.chabi-chic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chabi Chic </a></h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-42676 size-medium" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/chabichic_002-300x300.jpg" alt="chabi chic, best shops in Marrakech" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/chabichic_002-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/chabichic_002-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/chabichic_002.jpg 376w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Pick up a special piece for your home at this trendy boutique adorned with Moroccan housewares with an updated appeal. 
A variety of hand-painted ceramics lend a Bohemian look to a cup of Moroccan mint tea; perfect to sip while perched on one of their throw pillows, each of which is uniquely hand embroidered with Berber motifs. Or pick up a handcrafted terracotta tajine to concoct Moroccan feasts back home. 
Along with your new house-enriching pieces, you can peruse their brand of Moroccan skincare essentials like argan dry oils and milk-based soaps. 
<h3><a href="https://www.instagram.com/mustaphablaoui/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mustapha Blaoui</a></h3>
We’re convinced the unmarked door of Mustapha Blaoui’s shop is secretly a portal to another world; an enchanting one packed with whimsical carpets, antiques hailing from different countries, tables and chests that surely come with a story, carved wooden doors, lanterns worthy of being hung in Moroccan places, art, pottery, cabinets and more. 
A real emporium of wonder, it’s worth visiting for the atmosphere alone. 
<h3><a href="http://www.almatjarmarrakech.com/en/bazar.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Al Matjar</a></h3>
A specialist in carpets, Chabi Mohamed himself is the son of a shopkeeper (Au Fil d’Or). Among his collection, you’ll find anything from antiques to Berber rugs (which can be shipped internationally). 
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-42680 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/almatjar-marrakech_001.jpg" alt="al matjar, best shops in Marrakech" width="720" height="460" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/almatjar-marrakech_001.jpg 720w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/almatjar-marrakech_001-470x300.jpg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" />
Here’s a good opportunity to play the bargaining game and land on fair prices without sacrificing quality.
<h3>L’Art du Bain</h3>
If you plan to indulge in a spa treatment in Morocco, chances are you’ll cross paths with savon noir: a thick, dark-coloured soap that is used in the hammams. 
Also known as beldi, this ‘black soap’ is rich in vitamin E and made entirely of natural and organic product. 
You can stock up on jars of it in this tiny store along with other handmade, pure plant-oil soaps with scents like rose and orange blossom. 
<h3><a href="https://valeriebarkowski.com/vb-store/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">V Barkowski</a></h3>
Hailing from Belgium, Valérie Barkowski came to Marrakech some 20 years ago to open <a href="http://www.darkawa.net/">Dar Kawa</a>, a minimalist, white-washed riad (a traditional Moroccan guest house) in the heart of the Medina. 
A woman of numerous talents, her eye for design includes creating luxury home linens like hand-embroidered pillowcases and bedsheets and tasselled hand towels which you’ll find in her showroom just a few minutes away from the riad. Be sure to call ahead to make an appointment.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-42682 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/vb_001_720x460.jpg" alt="best shops in Marrakech" width="720" height="460" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/vb_001_720x460.jpg 720w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/vb_001_720x460-470x300.jpg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" />
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Footwear Shop in Marrakech</h2>
<h3>Atika</h3>
Visit Atika for a rainbow of designer-looking loafers at a fraction of the price. 
Whether you like to stand out in a crowd or simply keep your feet looking classy, chose from a spectrum of shades that range from earth tones to neon. 
Atika doesn’t have a website, but you can visit their store in the Nouvelle Ville to scope out their selection. If you want something custom, give them a call ahead of time to put in your request.

The 18 Best Shops in Marrakech

<h2>The Food</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-41400 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/food-450-small-plate.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="338" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/food-450-small-plate.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/food-450-small-plate-399x300.jpg 399w" sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" />The morning and afternoon meals are reminiscent of home-cooked fare; unfussy, yet delicious and satisfying. Each day begins with à la carte breakfast options such as granola and fresh fruit and eggs benedict, along with a selection of smoothies and fresh-pressed juices. 
While there is an indoor dining room for iffy weather, meals are best enjoyed on the large outdoor deck that faces the river. (Though keep an eye out for cheeky monkeys that want to steal your bagel—I speak from experience!) You could also order room service and enjoy your meal seated at the marble and iron table of your private deck. 
Lunch and dinner are dishes typical of the area: lamb is the meat of choice, and you’ll likely find in the form of a flavourful curry—a nod to South Africa’s Indian population. Plating is contemporary and elegant. Meals are paired with a selection of vintage wines, which are included in your stay. The dining staff shared with me that serving farm-to-table fare is paramount for them, and specified that they use only local farmers to supply their meats and produce, translating to you always getting a meal that is fresh and in season.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-41401 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/table-732.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="489" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/table-732.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/table-732-449x300.jpg 449w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
About every third night, the lodge hosts a traditional boma dinner. During this camp-style cookout, guests and staff gather around a fire pit beneath the night sky and feast on a spread of barbecued meats and veggies, while members of the Shangaan community serenade with song and dance. 
<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-41402" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Boma-table-night-960.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="641" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Boma-table-night-960.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Boma-table-night-960-449x300.jpg 449w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Boma-table-night-960-768x513.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Boma-table-night-960-899x600.jpg 899w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h2>The Rooms</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-41408 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Singita-small-room-450.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="300" />There are a total of twelve (totally dreamy) stand-alone suites built in a safari-tent style, elevated with modern flourishes like glass walls and an ensuite bathroom with a four-claw bathtub and separate shower area. A large four-post bed anchors the room, while a spattering of vintage lacquered furnishings from the family&#8217;s private collection, glamorous animal prints, artwork from the local tribes and sepia-toned photographs fill the surrounding space. 
My favourite part of my suite was the private game-viewing deck that watched over the river, complete with a heated plunge pool. From here I’d look on in wonder as—each day at the same time—a giant herd of elephants would cruise past, pausing along their route for the babies to frolic in the water or to snack on some trees. 
Individual suites are best-suited for couples and solo travellers. There are two family suites, which offer an en-suite master bedroom and en-suite twin bedroom, plus a dining area, a lounge area, and a private deck with a plunge pool. Larger groups can opt for the villa, which is comprised of two family suites in addition to a lounge, a swimming pool, a personal guide and vehicle, a chef, wait staff and a private entrance. For families with teenage children, your best option is to book the Lewis suites, which are located next to each other and close to the main lodge.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-41409 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Singitaroom-960.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Singitaroom-960.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Singitaroom-960-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Singitaroom-960-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Singitaroom-960-900x600.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h2>How to Get Here</h2>
A multi-season destination, you can come home to the Singita Ebony Lodge year-round. There are daily direct flights to and from the Singita Private Game Reserve from Johannesburg, South Africa, and scheduled commercial flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) in Nelspruit, which is about an hour from the lodge. There’s also a private airstrip on the lodge grounds so that private planes can be flown in.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-41411 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/singita-sunset-960.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/singita-sunset-960.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/singita-sunset-960-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/singita-sunset-960-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/singita-sunset-960-900x600.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

A South African Original: Singita Ebony Lodge

Italy

Sardinia

<h2>Time Moves Differently Here</h2>
I met a woman recently while buying a gift for my sister; her (Canadian) daughter married a Sardinian and now lives on the island. And here’s one thing she remarked to me about the island: “I like how people take their time.” It’s really an understatement, as when you get here, you’ll feel as if there’s all the time in the world. The priority for us Sardinians is quality of life, and our philosophy is simple: enjoy life and take your time to savour the everyday moments, no matter how small. You, too, will see just how time weaves its magical spell as you slow down to the rhythm of the island.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40458 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Sardinia-Swimmers-960px.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="638" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Sardinia-Swimmers-960px.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Sardinia-Swimmers-960px-451x300.jpg 451w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Sardinia-Swimmers-960px-768x510.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Sardinia-Swimmers-960px-903x600.jpg 903w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h2>Rural Life</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-40464 size-thumbnail alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/rural-sheep-732-250x156.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="156" />While the outer coastal cities are more urbanized, there is something to be said about the Sardinian rural way of life—it’s wonderful. I had an elemental childhood, running wild on the beach, on my grandparents’ farm, and generally playing outside amongst nature. Most of us have family land in the countryside to roam in, where we work the land as our ancestors have through the generations. Here is where we Sardinians put aside our phones to enjoy the simple things: sunshine, the earth and the things that grow from it—fruits and vegetables, tending to animals and plants. My niece and nephew go to the countryside daily after school with their parents to pick fruit or just play outdoors. As you travel the island, you’ll see this everywhere you go (and maybe get to participate in it, too).
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40473 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/rural-sardinia-732px.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="482" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/rural-sardinia-732px.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/rural-sardinia-732px-456x300.jpg 456w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h2>The Sea and the Coast</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40474 alignleft" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/archway-sardinia-beach-350px-1.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="233" />One of the things I miss from back home is one of the simplest: it’s the smell of the sea, and the distinctive smell of Sardinia with its trees, plants, herbs and shrubs on the wind. The second I get off the plane, it just hits me and I know that I’ve arrived. I also feel joyful and nostalgic when I return to the beloved beaches, coves, and smaller islands that I know so well. Much has been written about Sardinian beaches, as they’re secluded, dramatically beautiful, clean and safe—truly without compare. 
Some of my favourites are hard to get to, and some of the more popular ones are just so pretty that their appeal is hard to hide from the masses! Stintino is one of the big ones, with its white sand and blue water. I also love Argentiera, next to an old argento (silver) mine, the Spanish towers overlooking Porticciolo and Porto Ferro, and Cala Goloritze on the east coast, with its white limestone and endless shades of blue—accessible only after a hike through an ancient cork forest.  
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40445 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/stintino-960-1.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/stintino-960-1.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/stintino-960-1-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/stintino-960-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/stintino-960-1-900x600.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

Paradise: The Sardinian Way Of Life

<h2>Soaring Mountains</h2>
Morocco&#8217;s diverse landscapes showcase the beauty of the High Atlas Mountains. Here, you’ll find remote Berber villages, exceptional walks and hiking without the press of the crowd (imagine the throng of people at the central markets!) Stretching 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi.) across Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, the Atlas Mountain range serves as a natural barrier between the coast and the Sahara Desert. Morocco has the tallest two peaks in North Africa, Mount Toubkal, at 4,167 metres (13,671 ft.), and Ighil m’Goun, at 4,071 metres (13,356 ft.).
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40329 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Atlas-Mtns-960px.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="675" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Atlas-Mtns-960px.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Atlas-Mtns-960px-427x300.jpg 427w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Atlas-Mtns-960px-768x540.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Atlas-Mtns-960px-853x600.jpg 853w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h2>Shopping &amp; Crafts</h2>
From traditional crafts like silverwork, leatherwork, ceramics, weaving (of almost anything: textiles or baskets and leather), many of Morocco’s talented artisans are making both classic/traditional and contemporary-styled items. From soaps to homewares, jewelry or antiques of all sorts, Morocco is a true boon for fashionistas and talented decorators with a flair for the truly unique.
<h2>Desert Days &amp; Nights</h2>
The spectacular stillness, silence, and isolation of the desert is something that everyone should experience, especially when dusk shifts to the pitch black of night. Time seems to stretch on forever, and it’s something you may wish for, especially when your ‘hotel’ for the night is a luxury desert camp. From a canopy of twinkling stars on a cloud-free night to the moon shining over an endless sea of rippling sand dunes, the desert is full of mystery and wonder. During the day, there’s much to experience: joining a camel caravan, sand-surfing, dune-buggying or exploring the green miracle of an oasis.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40330 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/camels-960px.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/camels-960px.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/camels-960px-480x270.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/camels-960px-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
&nbsp;

5 Reasons Why Morocco Will Captivate You

<h2>The Southern Circuit of Tanzania</h2>
Often overlooked by visitors, these lesser-known spots in the southern part of the country are filled with animals and very few people—you’ll likely have it all to yourself.
<h4>Selous Game Reserve</h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-39842 size-full alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/crocodile-350px.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="210" />About the size of Switzerland and even bigger than Serengeti National Park at 54,600 square kilometres (21,100 square miles), Selous was established as a game reserve in 1922. You can experience the bush on a walking safari, or take to the waterways and hop in a boat along the Rufiji River to see aquatic animals like crocodiles and hippos up close. Named after Sir Frederick Selous, an English game hunter turned early conservationist, this reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its wildlife diversity and pristine nature (although there are some private concessions where hunting still takes place). Many animals, including the African bush elephant, black rhino, Cape buffalo, hippos, Masai giraffes, and East African wild dogs are the most abundant in any other African park or game reserve.
<h4><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-39841 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/chimp-350px.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="263" />Mahale Mountains National Park</h4>
A totally different Tanzania experience, this national park is one of the only two protected areas for chimpanzees in Tanzania, accessible only by boat. Along the shores of Lake Tangyanika, characterized by the mountains which rise to 2,462 metres (8,077 feet) at Mount Nkungwe, you’ll also find densely forested areas, ideal to support the abundant chimp population. You can track the chimpanzees by foot, plus hike, fish and boat within the park.
<h4>Ruaha National Park</h4>
The largest national park in the country at 20,226 square kilometres (7,809 square miles), its name comes from the Ruaha River, which is where most of the game viewing is. From baobab trees to East Africa’s highest concentration of elephants, 571 species of birds (including the hornbill) and 10 percent of the world’s entire lion population, this game-rich park allows you to roam by 4&#215;4 as well as on foot. You’ll hardly see another soul if you visit—another reason to head to this pristine park.
<h2>Mountains and Volcanoes</h2>
<h3>Mount Kilimanjaro</h3>
Rising high at an altitude of 5,895 metres (19,341 feet), the tallest mountain in Africa is composed of three volcanic cones—Kibo at the highest, then Mawenzi 5,149 metres (16,893 feet) and Shira, the shortest peak at 4,005 metres (13,140 feet). Uhuru Peak is the tallest summit along the rim of Kibo, at 5,895 metres (19,341 feet). If you so choose, a jaunt up to Uhuru Peak could be the trek of a lifetime. Summiting ‘Kili’, as it’s affectionately called, is similar to travelling from the equator to Antarctica in just a few days, as your route will cross through a number of different ecozones, from rainforest to the Arctic. As far as mountaineering goes, Kilimanjaro is relatively doable for the average person, with the real challenge being the rate of ascent and the acclimatization of one’s body to the altitude—about 25,000 to 30,000 people climb it each year.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-39818 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/mt-kili-732px.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="490" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/mt-kili-732px.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/mt-kili-732px-448x300.jpg 448w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h3>Ol Doinyo Lengai</h3>
Another known as ‘Mountain of God’ in the Maasai language, Ol Doinyo Lengai is an active volcano located within the Eastern African Rift, rising 2,962 metres (9,711 feet). Unique in the world, this mountain erupts rare carbonatite lava. Instead of glowing red, the lava appears black, brownish, or even silvery-gray in the sunlight, and flows at a lower temperature than typical volcanoes—at 500-600 degrees Celsius or 932-1112 degrees Fahrenheit. The viscosity of the lava is also more fluid and faster-moving than that of ‘regular’ lava, but less viscous than water, making for a mesmerizing view if you happen to see a flow. And, when it dries, the lava appears white within a few hours, making for a truly unique landscape you’ll see nowhere else. The ash makes for enriched pastures, and so it sets the stage for the annual wildebeest migration, where it is the nursery for thousands of calves, year after year.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-39817 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Ol-Doinyo-Lengai-960px.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Ol-Doinyo-Lengai-960px.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Ol-Doinyo-Lengai-960px-480x270.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Ol-Doinyo-Lengai-960px-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h2>The Alkaline Lakes of Tanzania</h2>
<h3>Lake Manyara</h3>
Said to be the ‘loveliest lake in Africa’ by none other than Ernest Hemingway, whose hunting trip in The Green Hills of Africa was informed by his travels through the country, this alkaline lake is known for its baboons, along with hippos, elephants, warthogs, buffalo, and impala&#8230;along with over 300 types of migratory birds, including flamingoes who flock in the thousands in the wet season (November through May). The lake covers up to 200 square kilometres (77 square miles) of land during the wet season, but is nearly dried up when the rains stop. It is part of the surrounding Lake Manyara National Park (330 square kilometres of 130 square miles), and the UNESCO-sanctioned Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve, along with 35,000 acres of the Manyara Ranch Conservancy.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-39828 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/flamingoes-732px.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="238" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/flamingoes-732px.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/flamingoes-732px-480x156.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h3>Lake Natron</h3>
Named after the chemical content of the lake, Lake Natron is the flamingo hotspot of the planet. This alkaline lake supports about 3.2 million of the lesser flamingo population nesting here at Lake Natron during breeding season—75 percent of the world’s population—along with greater flamingoes who breed on adjacent mudflats. This salt-and-soda lake features hot water at temperatures up to 60°C (140°F), and flamingoes can drink this near-boiling water without ill effects. These birds of a feather flock together to protect themselves from predation and create ideal nesting environments for raising their young. With less than three dozen sites around the world that are suitable nesting grounds for flamingoes, it’s important to know that while there is safety in numbers, there are very few places with all the conditions available to support the flamingo population. There is a proposal to mine soda ash here, which could endanger the population and upset the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-39820 size-large" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/natron-flamingoes-1600x1000-960x600.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/natron-flamingoes-1600x1000-960x600.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/natron-flamingoes-1600x1000-250x156.jpg 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/natron-flamingoes-1600x1000-480x300.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/natron-flamingoes-1600x1000-768x480.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/natron-flamingoes-1600x1000.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

9 Natural Wonders of Tanzania

Portfolio

Wine

<a href="http://www.kenforresterwines.com/Wine.aspx?WINEID=41794&amp;CLIENTID=3155" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eben Sadie Columella 2014</a>
Since releasing his first wine in 2000, <a href="http://www.kenforresterwines.com/Wine.aspx?WINEID=41794&amp;CLIENTID=3155" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eben Sadie</a> has built a reputation as an innovative and inspired winemaker, at once modern and traditional. His signature wine is this Columella, a multi-grape blend led by Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-39640 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/babylonstoren-white-table-food-350px.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="259" /><a href="http://www.kleinconstantia.com/our-wines/estate/methode-cap-classique-brut/2014" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Klein Constantia MCC Brut 2014</a>
Famed for its sweet dessert wine, Vin de Constance, of which Napoleon was an avid fan, much of the vineyards fell into neglect but have since been replanted. This sparkling wine is made in the traditional Champagne method from 100% Chardonnay.
<a href="http://www.kleinconstantia.com/our-wines/estate/methode-cap-classique-brut/2014">Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block 2015</a>
From the Franschhoek Valley, <a href="http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo/product/the-chocolate-block-2015/129353#.WwxVUlMvwfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boekenhoutskloof’s “classic” blend</a> is made of Syrah (71%) and small amounts of Grenache Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Viognier. Winemaker Mark Kent also makes highly regarded white wine from Sémillon, as well as a range of entry-level wines under the names Porcupine Ridge and The Wolftrap.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-39641 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/panorama-wine-732px.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="549" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/panorama-wine-732px.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/panorama-wine-732px-400x300.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />

7 Best Wines from South Africa

<h3>Mana Pools National Park</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-39303 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/leopard-singita-350px.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="376" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/leopard-singita-350px.jpg 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/leopard-singita-350px-199x300.jpg 199w" sizes="(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px" />A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mana Pools spans 219,600 hectares of land along the lower Zambezi River, a land of transition from floodplain into rainy-season lakes. As the cycle of summer returns, these lakes gradually dry up once more, as the ebb and flow of nature continues its eternal cycle. During the rainy season, the park attracts a wide range of animals who congregate where the waters gather, and is one of the continent’s richest game-viewing hotspots. The largest concentration of hippos and crocodiles in the country is found here; in the dry season, you can expect to find massive herds of zebra, elephant and Cape buffalo. Other species to be found here include the lion, cheetah, Cape wild dog, brown hyena and leopard.
There are four large permanent pools formed by the middle Zambezi River, spanning 2,500 square kilometres (965 square miles) filled with islands, riverbanks, pools and sandbanks. The vegetation is rich in wild figs, mahogany, ebony trees and baobab trees.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-39334 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/johns-camp-mana-pools.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="487" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/johns-camp-mana-pools.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/johns-camp-mana-pools-451x300.jpg 451w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h3>Matusadona National Park</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-39319 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/kudu-kariba-350px.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="227" />This national park sits on the southern shore of Lake Kariba (the world’s largest man-made reservoir), in the north end of the country. The national park’s name has been taken from the nearby Matuzviadonha Hills. First proclaimed a non-hunting area in 1958, a game reserve in 1963, then a national park in 1975, it is comprised of 1,400 square kilometres (540 square miles) of plains and mountains.
Since 2019, Matusadona has been under the management of <a href="https://www.africanparks.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">African Parks</a> who&#8217;s goal is to revitalize and reestablish the park as stronghold for black rhino and elephant. With increased programs to monitor and mitigate human-wildlife conflict, reintroduction of key species and a long term vision for the region, this park is undergoing an exciting transformation and set to become one of the country&#8217;s prime wildlife havens once again.
From grasslands to woodlands as well as rugged escarpment, this remote park is one where few tourists visit. It is best accessed by boat or small aircraft, but it is worth the visit!
The park is also notable for a fascinating wildlife rescue operation that has largely gone forgotten. When the Kariba Dam was constructed in the late 1950s, flooding the Zambezi Valley, a wildlife rescue operation took place to relocate more than 6,000 animals to new homes over five years, from elephants, antelopes to the smallest animals like birds and snakes. Without the technology they had today, conservationists and volunteers were literally catching animals, transporting them on rowboats(!) and taking them to higher, drier land, now the national park.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-39321 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ellie-behind-960px.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="639" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ellie-behind-960px.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ellie-behind-960px-451x300.jpg 451w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ellie-behind-960px-768x511.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ellie-behind-960px-901x600.jpg 901w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h3>Where to Stay in Zimbabwe</h3>
<a href="https://africanbushcamps.com/camps/bumi-hills-safari-lodge/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bumi Hills Safari Lodge</a>
Blended among the stunning Zambezi escarpment and resting on a hillside overlooking Lake Kariba, this African Bush Camps property boasts one of the continent&#8217;s finest wilderness locations. The lodge’s proximity to Matusadona allows animals to roam freely between the national park and Bumi Hills’ private concession, creating endless game-viewing opportunities.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-51525 size-large" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bumi-Hills-Safari-Lodge_Lake-Kariba_Zimbabwe_Luxury-Safari-Lodge_-Infinity-Pool-Area_-Sunset_-African-Bush-Camps-21-1200x750-1-960x600.jpeg" alt="Bumi Hills Safari Lodge Zimbabwe" width="960" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bumi-Hills-Safari-Lodge_Lake-Kariba_Zimbabwe_Luxury-Safari-Lodge_-Infinity-Pool-Area_-Sunset_-African-Bush-Camps-21-1200x750-1-960x600.jpeg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bumi-Hills-Safari-Lodge_Lake-Kariba_Zimbabwe_Luxury-Safari-Lodge_-Infinity-Pool-Area_-Sunset_-African-Bush-Camps-21-1200x750-1-480x300.jpeg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bumi-Hills-Safari-Lodge_Lake-Kariba_Zimbabwe_Luxury-Safari-Lodge_-Infinity-Pool-Area_-Sunset_-African-Bush-Camps-21-1200x750-1-250x156.jpeg 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bumi-Hills-Safari-Lodge_Lake-Kariba_Zimbabwe_Luxury-Safari-Lodge_-Infinity-Pool-Area_-Sunset_-African-Bush-Camps-21-1200x750-1-768x480.jpeg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bumi-Hills-Safari-Lodge_Lake-Kariba_Zimbabwe_Luxury-Safari-Lodge_-Infinity-Pool-Area_-Sunset_-African-Bush-Camps-21-1200x750-1.jpeg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<a href="https://www.butterfield.com/stays/somalisa-camp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Somalisa Camp</a>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-39309 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/somalisa-elephant-350px.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="233" />Pitched along the edge of an ancient seasonal floodplain, Somalisa Camp, in the heart of Hwange National Park, bears witness to one of few remaining great elephant sanctuaries in Africa. Lucky for you, in this authentic bush camp elephants brazenly sidle up to the “Elephant Hole” at the edge of the camp’s wooden deck and take their fill. A natural watering hole just a few metres beyond allows for larger crowds to congregate (again, of the elephant variety). Don’t worry, plunge pool, open-deck homestyle dining and tented residences that are infused with old-world charm all mean that those of the human variety also get to have some fun.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-39308 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/somalisa-deck-960px.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="641" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/somalisa-deck-960px.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/somalisa-deck-960px-449x300.jpg 449w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/somalisa-deck-960px-768x513.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/somalisa-deck-960px-899x600.jpg 899w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

Our Favourite Safari Spot Right Now: Zimbabwe

<h3>Desert Dreaming in the Kalahari</h3>
More and more people are being drawn to the deeply spiritual feeling that deserts often invoke. It seems to have something to do with a sense of space and self. It has to do with vast horizons, the huge inverted bowl of the sky, the uninterrupted sweep of the simple landscape beneath it—as featureless as a saucer, with you at its centre. Somehow, it is both humbling and centring. You realize how puny you are, and at the same time, that you are all there is. As American poet E.E. Cummings put it, &#8220;when skies are hanged and oceans drowned, the single secret will still be [humanity]&#8221;.
Humans have been present around these pans from time immemorial. Indications of a bushman village date the earliest occupation back to 500 BCE. There are bushman hunting shelters probably built and used in the 20th century, made of calcrete boulders that contain fossilized antelope bones and embedded Stone Age tools. The shorelines of Makgadikgadi, for it was more than once a vast inland sea, are littered with the archaeological relics of continuous but scattered human presence. Even when the waters finally receded two million years ago and left these shallow depressions of saline clay and silt to catch the sparse summer rain, the rich herds of wildlife—zebra, wildebeest, eland, gemsbok, springbok, hartebeest—would wander across the plains in ceaseless pursuit of water and grazing. Their presence inevitably drew their following of carnivores—lion, cheetah, leopard, wild dog, and hyena—which of course attracted their own following—the early hunters.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-39167 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/23Hyena-Pan-Starlings-350px.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="233" />During the dry season, today&#8217;s diminished herds of game tend to concentrate in the west, in the vicinity of the Boteti River. With the onset of the rains, they usually disperse to the east and the north, to Nxai Pan and beyond. It is not uncommon to see game far out on the pans eating the mineral-rich silt, as if up to their knees in water as the heat shimmers a mirage across the surface of the pans.
The birdlife is a specialist&#8217;s dream: white-backed and lappet-faced vultures, bateleur, ostrich, kori bustard, black korhaan and bronze-winged courser, four species of sandgrouse and a startling variety of larks. In the wet season flamingos, pelicans, avocet and a huge range of ducks move into the area. Sowa Pan, near the town of Nata, is a birdwatcher&#8217;s paradise when in water.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-39166 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/sunset-desert-960px.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/sunset-desert-960px.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/sunset-desert-960px-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/sunset-desert-960px-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/sunset-desert-960px-900x600.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

In Botswana, the Ultimate Safari Awaits

Eat &amp; Drink

30 Best Hotel Bars Around the World

<h3>Insect repellents</h3>
Try to source some <a href="https://amzn.to/2Hl4agA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘natural’ products</a> that are effective. As a rule of thumb, I try to steer away from things with ingredients that I can’t spell. I’ve experimented with various local products, including a basil and lemongrass lotion that did wonders for mosquitoes but attracted a fair number of curious bees. Otherwise, products with DEET are recommended for malarial areas; use what you are accustomed to or prefer.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-38879 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Drinks-on-the-boat-960px.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="488" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Drinks-on-the-boat-960px.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Drinks-on-the-boat-960px-450x300.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h3>Vaccinations</h3>
Be sure to contact your physician or a travel clinic well in advance of your travel dates to obtain professional medical advice and discuss up-to-date vaccination requirements for the areas you are visiting.
<h3>Cash</h3>
Have sufficient USD currency on you to tip lodge guides, trackers and staff. Some lodges allow you to settle tips by credit card, but just verify that this is possible. There may also be curios or handicrafts in the area, assume that credit cards aren’t accepted and settle in cash. Across Africa, USD currency notes need to be 2009 series and later. Banknotes dated earlier than 2009 or torn and tattered currency will be rejected.
<h3>Other odds &amp; ends</h3>
Be mindful to carry a full supply of any medication you’re on (including malarial prophylactics); sufficient toiletries whilst remembering that most lodges provide the essential soaps and shampoos; sunscreen (non-scented); an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses if you can’t see without them; extra memory sticks, camera batteries, chargers and all things camera and phone-related.
Be sure to remove any wrapping (such as plastics) when packing new purchases. Keep in mind that whatever you are taking in your bag, should return with you, including used batteries, empty toothpaste tubes, etc. Waste disposal in remote safari destinations is often done through burning. Don’t leave your plastics or anything that can’t be burnt. What is generally appreciated, though is to leave your used reading material and magazines for local lodge or camp staff. So you can leave a little more than just your footprints…
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-38874 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Singita-game-drive-fam-960px.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="641" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Singita-game-drive-fam-960px.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Singita-game-drive-fam-960px-449x300.jpg 449w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Singita-game-drive-fam-960px-768x513.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Singita-game-drive-fam-960px-899x600.jpg 899w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

What To Pack For Your B&R Safari

<h4><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37786 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Game-Drive-Sun-350px-compressed.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="262" />The Experience </h4>
A typical morning at Jamala Madikwe usually begins at the crack of dawn, but you may hear the animals long before then. Rodney mentions that just the other night, guests heard the roar of lions at 3 a.m. This being the middle of a game reserve, you may encounter the myriad calls of zebras, monkeys, or birds, depending on the day and the time of year. With no other sounds of motors or ‘city sounds’ around you, urban folk may find it serene and quiet, although, you will soon find your ear attuned to the sounds of nature.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37805 alignleft" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/wild-dogs-350.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="233" />Hop into a 4&#215;4 for a sunrise game drive with the lodge’s exceptional rangers and guides. There’s nothing quite like the heightened excitement and anticipation as you head out into the bush: activating all your senses, the smells, sounds, and sights are like no other.
What will you see? It really depends on the day. It’s a bit of a reverse hunt, as rangers review reports from the previous day’s sightings and will use their knowledge of the bush, tracking prints and going on the prowl, as it were: but even if the animals elude you, you will still have a fantastic time being out, roaming the reserve and taking in the landscape and terrain. And, as I like to say, you are not in a zoo; this is untamed nature, and these are wild animals, so absolutely anything can happen. From the largest animals to even the small and ‘insignificant’ (let’s say, a dung beetle sighting, or tracking glow-in-the-dark scorpions at night), everything will inspire a sense of awe in you, especially if you are travelling with kids or teenagers.
Even when you return to the lodge, you never lose that connection to the land and to the animals, since the property is situated right in front of a major waterhole. “The animals will come up right to the edge of the lodge. There are no barriers. It’s an amazing feeling to see our guests’ reactions, especially when they realize how close they get to the animals and the range of emotions they go through. It’s such a rush [for them] when an animal approaches.”
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37793 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Jamala-Madikwe-Wide-Angle-Pool-w-Elephants-960px-compressed.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="665" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Jamala-Madikwe-Wide-Angle-Pool-w-Elephants-960px-compressed.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Jamala-Madikwe-Wide-Angle-Pool-w-Elephants-960px-compressed-433x300.jpg 433w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Jamala-Madikwe-Wide-Angle-Pool-w-Elephants-960px-compressed-768x532.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Jamala-Madikwe-Wide-Angle-Pool-w-Elephants-960px-compressed-866x600.jpg 866w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
And so, at any given moment, whether you’re taking in a leisurely ‘sofa safari’ at the deck, drink in hand; reading a book in the lounge, working out at the gym, or enjoying a ‘pool safari’ while doing laps in the new pool, keep your eyes peeled: anything can happen as you look out at the nature and wildlife that surrounds (and approaches!) you. Don’t miss sundowners on the deck (or perhaps a private wine tasting at sunset in the middle of the bush?) with an opportunity to soak in the vivid colours of the sunset, as a cloak of brilliant stars appear once nighttime approaches.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37798 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Sofa-Elephant-Safari-732px-cmopressed.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="450" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Sofa-Elephant-Safari-732px-cmopressed.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Sofa-Elephant-Safari-732px-cmopressed-480x295.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37783 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/yellow-weaver-bird-stock-350px-cmpressed.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="263" />As we speak on the phone, I hear a brilliant profusion of birdsong burst through the line, and Rodney casually mentions that about forty or fifty weaver birds—three species in all—are beginning to build their nests right alongside the deck. And that’s precisely the charm of Jamala Madikwe: you’re truly in the middle of it all. (That could mean seeing sixteen giraffes and a herd of sixty playful elephants, as I saw on a recent visit).
<h4>After Your Visit</h4>
Your visit to Jamala Madikwe is easily combinable with other spots on the continent for the ultimate Africa trip. With its proximity to the closest airport in Johannesburg, travellers will be able to make flight connections to continue their journey home or further afield, such as to nearby Botswana and the Okavango Delta, or even Sabi Sands.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37812 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Jamala-Madikwe-Lodge-Aerial-w-Elephants-960px-compressed.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="539" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Jamala-Madikwe-Lodge-Aerial-w-Elephants-960px-compressed.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Jamala-Madikwe-Lodge-Aerial-w-Elephants-960px-compressed-480x270.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Jamala-Madikwe-Lodge-Aerial-w-Elephants-960px-compressed-768x431.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
&nbsp;

The Epitome of South African Luxury: Jamala Madikwe

Asoka: Festive and Local 
Light up the night amidst the golden glow of Asoka, located on lively Kloof Street. An extensive signature (and classic) cocktail list will delight, as does the courtyard atmosphere with a 150-year-old olive tree adorned with a string of twinkling lights. Live jazz and DJ nights complement the settings, along with shared plates for all.
Harrington’s Cocktail Lounge: Posh and Opulent
In Cape Town&#8217;s East City, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/harringtonsct/">Harrington&#8217;s Cocktail Lounge</a> piles on the drama and the glamour, with velvet curtains and booths that invite you to sink right in. Stylish, opulent, and inviting, a mixture of live jazz, disco, hip-hop and house form the sonic backdrop for your evening. Where will your night take you?
The Stack: Members-Only, But You Can Sit With Us
Located in an 1850s Victorian home, Leinster Hall,  is where you&#8217;ll find the elegant townhouse vibe of <a href="http://thestack.co.za/">The Stack</a>. Also part of a private member&#8217;s club, feel like you&#8217;re in the know as you sample brasserie food, light bites, or spend your time on the lovely veranda, along with the city&#8217;s creative class who congregate here.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37193 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/The-Stack-Lounge.png" alt="" width="732" height="447" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/The-Stack-Lounge.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/The-Stack-Lounge-480x293.png 480w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
Seta at Villa 47: Italian-Fusion Aperitivi 
An intriguing find, <a href="http://www.villa47.co.za/about/seta/">Seta</a> is housed in historic Villa 47, a complex housing three Italian-inspired restaurants and bars. Here, expect creative cocktails, aperitivos, and shared plates, all infused with touches that call to mind Italy&#8230;and Asia.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37192 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Seta-at-Villa-47.png" alt="" width="732" height="486" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Seta-at-Villa-47.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Seta-at-Villa-47-452x300.png 452w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />

Cape Town's Coolest Bars

Zambia

<h4>Tongabezi—eclectic and fun</h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36798 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Tongabezi-SunlightCanopy-350px-compressed.png" alt="" width="350" height="231" />This quirky and fun property is also set right on the river, with a selection of houses and cottages for accommodation. Sleep riverside, or choose a lofty lodging in a treehouse suite amongst the branches of an ebony tree. With a netted canopy bed and claw-footed tub, you’ll stay in your ‘room’ yet be able to experience the outdoors from your private perch. Another series of suites we love, perfect for families, is elevated, where separate ‘rooms’ are connected via walkway.
During high water season, the Zambezi flows underneath! If you’re brave, one of the excursions includes a visit to Livingstone Island, from where the missionary (and where Queen Victoria herself) first glimpsed the falls; as well as swimming in Devil’s Pool, right on the very edge of the Falls itself!
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36780 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/TONGABEZI-RiverCottages45-082_2-Zambia-1600x1000-1.png" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/TONGABEZI-RiverCottages45-082_2-Zambia-1600x1000-1.png 1600w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/TONGABEZI-RiverCottages45-082_2-Zambia-1600x1000-1-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/TONGABEZI-RiverCottages45-082_2-Zambia-1600x1000-1-480x300.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/TONGABEZI-RiverCottages45-082_2-Zambia-1600x1000-1-768x480.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/TONGABEZI-RiverCottages45-082_2-Zambia-1600x1000-1-960x600.png 960w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" />
<h4>Royal Chundu—secluded and exclusive</h4>
The five-star Royal Chundu is Zambia’s only Relais &amp; Chateaux property in a wonderfully secluded area (yet just 30 km or 18 miles from Victoria Falls). In my opinion, the best way to arrive is directly from the airport—by private helicopter. This way, you will get a proper bird’s-eye view of the Falls on your way in, and be awed from the get-go.
Once you’ve landed in this remote region, simply focus on enjoying the varied lodge activities for the rest of your stay, such as fishing, a birding safari, visiting a local community, or partaking in a sunset cruise watching crocodiles and hippos in the water, cocktail in hand. There are two types of lodges: one on an island, and another secluded series of private lodges along the riverbanks.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36781 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/RoyalChundu-Canopy-960px-compressed-1.png" alt="" width="960" height="573" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/RoyalChundu-Canopy-960px-compressed-1.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/RoyalChundu-Canopy-960px-compressed-1-480x287.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/RoyalChundu-Canopy-960px-compressed-1-768x458.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

Best Luxury Hotels in Livingstone, Zambia

Europe

Portugal

<h2>Reason #5: A World of Wine</h2>
From the Douro Valley to Porto and beyond, we naturally raise a toast to Portugal’s fertile valleys and incredible producers. Red wine, white wine, fortified wine or sparkling, there’s something for everyone. Check out our <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2016/08/21/vines-101-introduction-portuguese-wine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduction to Portuguese wine.</a>
<h2>Reason #6: The Art of Fado</h2>
One of the truly unique cultural exports of Portugal (sorry, Cristiano Ronaldo), this working-class maritime tradition of song is a hauntingly beautiful art. Tunes explore the feelings of longing, loss, and fate. Don’t miss a chance to experience it live.
<h2>Reason #7: Culinary discoveries</h2>
A cornerstone of Portuguese cuisine, the ubiquitous bacalhau (cod), a holdover from the days of sailors and explorers, is served every which way, from traditional to modern twists. Feast upon the freshest seafood at some of our favourite restaurants (check out our <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2017/04/26/insiders-guide-eat-drink-lisbon/">guide to eating in Lisbon</a>). 
<h2>Reason #8: Pasteis de Nata</h2>
A uniquely Portuguese must-try, this custardy pastry is to die for. Soft, eggy and sweet, yet with a crunchy pastry bottom—is best eaten warm from the bakery. The best place to grab them, beloved by locals and tourists alike, is <a href="http://pasteisdebelem.pt/en/">Pasteis de Belem</a>, whose secret recipe has been guarded since 1837.
<h2>Reason #9: Mind-Blowing Beaches</h2>
With over 150 beaches along the southern edge of Portugal, the Algarve coast has a beach for nearly everything you’re into. From secluded hideaways, rocky cliffs rising out of the sea, to family-friendly beaches or activity zones with water sports, it’s all here.
<h2>Reason #10: The People</h2>
We can’t say more about the spirit of welcome, not only from our longstanding local friends, but from anyone that you may cross paths with. Whether you’re wandering the old-town area of the Alfama in Lisbon, sipping a vintner’s latest creation, or connecting with locals across a communal table, it’s the people of Portugal that keep me coming back, year after year.

10 Reasons To Go to Portugal Now

<h3>Dinner</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36420 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/beauconstantia-732px-compressed.png" alt="" width="732" height="490" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/beauconstantia-732px-compressed.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/beauconstantia-732px-compressed-448x300.png 448w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<a href="http://www.beauconstantia.com/eat/">Chef’s Warehouse at Beau Constantia</a> 
Behold the most spectacular view of Cape Town’s Constantia Valley sprawled beneath you, while you share ‘tapas for two’ over a three-course meal. The owner-chef Liam Tomlin also has another location, but I prefer this one, for the view and for the fact that you can book reservations here. (The Bree Street location doesn’t accept bookings).
<a href="https://www.ashrestaurant.co.za/">ASH</a>  
A young chef to watch is Ash Heeger, who, at the tender age of 27, teamed up with ethical butcher <a href="http://www.ffmm.co.za/">Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants</a>  and <a href="https://publik.co.za/publik-wine-bar/">Publik Wine Bar</a> to open her own restaurant. Chef Ash focuses on charcoal cooking and taps into nose-to-tail eating with a South African flair.
<a href="http://theshortmarketclub.co.za">Shortmarket Club</a> 
Always popular and a local institution, Luke Dale-Roberts proposes his unique take on upscale South African cuisine, with exotic barbequed meats (we call BBQ &#8216;braai&#8217; here), and uniquely South African flavour combos. Good luck getting in!
<h3>Shopping</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36421 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chandlerhouse-732px-compres.png" alt="" width="732" height="613" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chandlerhouse-732px-compres.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chandlerhouse-732px-compres-358x300.png 358w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chandlerhouse-732px-compres-716x600.png 716w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<a href="http://www.chandlerhouse.co.za/">Chandler House</a> is a small shop and gallery situated in an 18th century Cape Georgian house. Their shelves are stocked with beautiful antiques, locally-made homeware, exotic textiles and unusual finds. Chandler House is also home to The Voorkamer Gallery, which has regular exhibitions of high-quality artwork by respected South African artists.
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MissibabaSA/">Missibaba</a> is a luxury accessory label established by leather devotee Chloe Townsend in 2005. Passionate about South Africa and supporting local industry, a team of eight dynamic women are the leather workers pouring their love and energy into each and every handbag and leather accessory.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36412 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Capetown-free-stock-960px-compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Capetown-free-stock-960px-compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Capetown-free-stock-960px-compressed-450x300.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Capetown-free-stock-960px-compressed-768x512.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Capetown-free-stock-960px-compressed-900x600.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Up-and-Coming Neighbourhood to Watch 
The hip East City Precinct in Cape Town is quickly finding its own, unique voice, rivalling always-trendy mainstay, Bree Street, with hipster hangouts and cool spots and restaurants sprouting up.

<h3>Sunrise (and Sundowners) on the Serengeti</h3>
Worth the early-morning wakeup, the vivid colours of the sun flooding the flat-topped silhouettes of the trees, as life on the Serengeti stirs all around you&#8230;it’s a postcard come to life and a must-see. Sunsets are equally noteworthy, complete with &#8216;sundowners&#8217; (cocktails) for the adults, and juice for the kids!
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36085 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/sunrise-serengeti-flickr-960px-compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="533" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/sunrise-serengeti-flickr-960px-compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/sunrise-serengeti-flickr-960px-compressed-480x267.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/sunrise-serengeti-flickr-960px-compressed-768x426.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h3>Make New Friends</h3>
Hands down, your kids are guaranteed to make new friends at a local school visit&#8230;or perhaps just walking around town. Chances are, a spontaneous soccer match will arise and your kids will be invited to play!
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36082 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/tanzania-freestock-village-960px-compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/tanzania-freestock-village-960px-compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/tanzania-freestock-village-960px-compressed-450x300.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/tanzania-freestock-village-960px-compressed-768x512.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/tanzania-freestock-village-960px-compressed-900x600.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

<h3>Nature’s Landscapers</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35427 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/hippo-stock-350c.png" alt="" width="250" height="305" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/hippo-stock-350c.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/hippo-stock-350c-246x300.png 246w" sizes="(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px" />Big animals such as elephant, rhino, and buffalo consume so much food that they dramatically modify the landscape. Elephants thin out densely wooded areas by pushing down trees and digging for water, making habitats more suitable for animals such as wildebeest and zebra. White rhino create their own “grazing lawns,” which suit animals like the impala. A large herd of buffalo can trample down tall grassland so that the visibility improves. The grassland then becomes suitable for zebra, wildebeest, and impala. Hippos change the river habitat by eating the surrounding grasses. They also transfer nutrients from adjacent land back into the river, which feeds fish and invertebrates.
<h3><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35431 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/elephantbaby-brad-732c.png" alt="" width="732" height="488" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/elephantbaby-brad-732c.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/elephantbaby-brad-732c-450x300.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" /></h3>
<h3>Carnivores—The Weeders</h3>
These large hunters have always fascinated humans because in many cases, we used to be their prey! Carnivores are at the top of the food chain. They are well-adapted for hunting, with excellent vision and hearing, sharp teeth, and bodies designed for speed and/or power. Scavengers, such as the hyena, have an acute sense of smell to help them locate dead carcasses. Many carnivores and scavengers also have powerful teeth and jaws for tearing flesh and grinding bones.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35430 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cheetah-freestock-960c.png" alt="" width="960" height="543" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cheetah-freestock-960c.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cheetah-freestock-960c-480x272.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cheetah-freestock-960c-768x434.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
All predators are opportunistic and will not turn down a chance to catch prey. Even if a lion’s belly is full, they will take down another animal if they are able to. The predator’s role in the food chain is to weed out the old, sick and weak animals, and in doing so ensure that the strongest survive. Thus they contribute to strong, healthy herbivore populations.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35426 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/brad-lion-960c.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/brad-lion-960c.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/brad-lion-960c-450x300.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/brad-lion-960c-768x512.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/brad-lion-960c-900x600.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h3>Herbivore Grazers – The Lawnmowers</h3>
Animals that prefer open grassy areas are usually grazers and they tend to hang out in large groups. For them, visibility is their best defence—the farther away they can spot predators (e.g., lions and cheetahs), the more likely they are to escape. The other incredible thing about grazing animals is that they are able to share the land with one another because different species are specialized to eat different grasses or parts of the plants. This means that there is more food to go around and less competition. Some herbivore species even enjoy symbiotic relationships with one another. For example, zebra and wildebeest graze together, thus giving them more eyes and ears to detect stalking predators.
<h3><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35415 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/impala-freestock-960c.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/impala-freestock-960c.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/impala-freestock-960c-450x300.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/impala-freestock-960c-768x512.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/impala-freestock-960c-900x600.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /> 
Herbivore Browsers – The Hedge-Trimmers</h3>
Trees provide shelter and food for many species—especially the browsers (leaf-eaters). They have narrow muzzles, used to pick the fine, nutritious leaves off otherwise thorny acacia trees. Like grazers, browsers eat different parts of the vegetation, making more food available to a variety of animals. Giraffe feed in the upper parts of the canopy, kudu in the middle, and smaller antelopes—steenbok and duiker—on small bushes. Elephants eat at every level, and often consume bark, pods and fruit.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35434 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/kudu-732-bradc.png" alt="" width="732" height="453" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/kudu-732-bradc.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/kudu-732-bradc-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/kudu-732-bradc-480x297.png 480w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h3>Omnivores—Everything Goes</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35425 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/baboon-350c.png" alt="" width="350" height="230" />Omnivores eat both plants and animals. Besides human beings, examples of other omnivores include the baboon, the vervet monkey, and many species of mongoose. These animals often live in cooperation with other species, including herbivores. The chacma baboon and the impala are often found in the same areas, with the impalas keeping a keen eye and ear at ground level for predators, while baboons always have a sentinel keeping watch from a tree. Both species warn the other when danger approaches.
<h3></h3>

Namibia

<h2>Windhoek: Namibia’s Capital</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35244 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/windhoek-732c.png" alt="" width="732" height="411" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/windhoek-732c.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/windhoek-732c-480x270.png 480w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35243 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/windhoek-250c.png" alt="" width="250" height="379" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/windhoek-250c.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/windhoek-250c-198x300.png 198w" sizes="(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px" />In precolonial times, this area was known to the Khoisan people for its hot springs, which are still a feature of the town. Jonker Afrikaaner established the first settlement in the Klein Windhoek valley in 1840. Two missionaries were invited to the flourishing settlement in 1842, and reported back that a church big enough to seat 500 people had been built here, as well as established gardens and irrigated fields. For the next 20 years, the community prospered as the centre of commerce between the Herero and the Oorlam/Nama. After Jonker Afrikaner’s death, his followers dispersed and the settlement was abandoned.
In 1890, the Germans were being given the runaround by another powerful Nama leader, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hendrik_Witbooi_(Namaqua_chief)">Hendrik Witbooi</a>, whose face adorns the country’s banknotes. The Germans serendipitously retreated to Windhoek, an area that was under no particular rule at the time due to the death of the ruling Herero leader. By the time the next Herero chief had been anointed and the clan returned to the region, the Germans had already half-completed a fort. The settlement went from strength to strength and, with the completion of the railway line from Swakopmund to Windhoek in 1902, things were figuratively and literally “full steam ahead” for the Germans to expand and make Windhoek the commercial and cultural centre of the colony.
In the 1960s, the capital was further developed to pursue the apartheid policies of South Africa, who saw Namibia as their fifth province. Forced removals were instigated and the Katatura (“the place we do not like to live”) and Khomasdal townships were created with black and coloured townships respectively. Today, these divisions are still largely in place, albeit solely along economic lines.
<h2>Things to Do in Windhoek</h2>
<h3><a href="http://namibiacraftcentre.com/"> 
The Namibia Craft Centre</a></h3>
<h3><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35240 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/san-art-350c.png" alt="" width="350" height="233" /></h3>
You can literally spend half a day here! The quality of the craftsmanship is outstanding and one will definitely do some shopping as they have some beautiful and unusual things. From handmade Himba perfumes to prints that replicate <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_rock_art">San rock art</a>, to contemporary artwork, baskets, weaving and textiles, beading—you name it, and you are likely to find whatever craft at one of the stalls! If you have only one day in Windhoek, this is where you should go.
<h3><a href="http://www.museums.com.na/museums/windhoek/earth-sciences">National Earth Sciences Museum</a></h3>
This museum will be of interest to anyone remotely fascinated in geology &amp; palaeontology, featuring rocks, fossils, minerals and even meteorites. Even better, admission is free!
<h3><a href="http://www.museums.com.na/museums/windhoek/independence-museum">Independence Memorial Museum</a></h3>
Worth visiting to get a handle on the more recent history of the country—from the anti-colonial struggle to its independence.
<h2>Where to eat in Windhoek</h2>
<h3><a href="http://www.theolive-namibia.com/"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35238 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/olivehotel-250c.png" alt="" width="242" height="277" />Olive Exclusive</a></h3>
Our favourite place to stay in Windhoek, this hotel features a great in-house restaurant featuring seasonal ingredients in a well-appointed, yet informal setting.
<a href="http://www.nice.com.na/">NICE</a>  
Also home to the Namibian Institute of Culinary Education (NICE), you will  find a great restaurant and bar here, a popular choice in town.
<a href="http://www.thestellenboschwinebar.com/">The Stellenbosch Wine Bar &amp; Bistro</a>
With lovely piazza-style setting, complete with a central courtyard fountain. With excellent food and a tremendous diversity of wines (mostly South African). This is another popular local spot to frequent!
<h2></h2>

In Deep: Namibia & Windhoek

<h2>By sea: Explore the Cape coastline</h2>
Wedged between two seas at the southwesterly tip of the African continent, Cape Town is an ideal spot for aquatic adventures. You might master stand-up paddleboarding in a sheltered tidal sea-pool before striking out into the ocean, beachcomb for shells on the Atlantic coast or snorkel the coves of False Bay.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-33855 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/beach_caves_960_compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="436" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/beach_caves_960_compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/beach_caves_960_compressed-480x218.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/beach_caves_960_compressed-768x349.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h2><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-33848 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/capecanopytour_c.png" alt="" width="350" height="260" />By air: Go ziplining!</h2>
Just an hour or so out of Cape Town in the fertile Elgin Valley, kit up in harnesses and helmets for an aerial discovery of dramatic gorges, canyons and the Cape countryside.
This jagged landscape is an area of outstanding natural beauty, and it’s no wonder that it has attained World Heritage status. The thrill of ziplining, suspended over the fynbos-rich Riviersonderend Gorge, allows you to glide like an eagle above this spectacular, once-inaccessible, landscape hundreds of meters at a time.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-33852 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/westerncape_fynbos_sara_joachim_752_c.png" alt="" width="752" height="459" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/westerncape_fynbos_sara_joachim_752_c.png 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/westerncape_fynbos_sara_joachim_752_c-480x293.png 480w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />
<h2>By day: Go on safari in search of big game</h2>
There’s nothing more awe-inspiring than heading out in search of the ‘Big Five’ (lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and the Cape buffalo) and a whole animal menagerie on safari. Train with your field guide on a game drive, covering a range of nature-focused topics from animal behaviour, tracking, and identifying creepy-crawlies like spiders and scorpions.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-33845 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/giraffesSA_richardevea_960_c.png" alt="" width="960" height="541" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/giraffesSA_richardevea_960_c.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/giraffesSA_richardevea_960_c-480x271.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/giraffesSA_richardevea_960_c-768x433.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h2>By night: A turtle conservation adventure</h2>
Learn about these threatened gentle giants of the ocean on a night walk along the Elephant Coast of South Africa. Between November and February every year, the leatherback and loggerhead turtles come ashore to nest and lay their eggs on the pristine beaches of Kwazulu-Natal. Follow the flipper tracks of the world’s second-largest reptile after the crocodile, the giant leatherback turtle.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-33842 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/leatherback_looye_752_c.png" alt="" width="752" height="389" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/leatherback_looye_752_c.png 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/leatherback_looye_752_c-480x248.png 480w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />

Top 5 Family Adventures in South Africa

<h3><a href="http://www.grootbos.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Grootbos Garden Lodge</a></h3>
<h5>Grootbos Nature Reserve</h5>
Situated on the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in the Gansbaai area, this award-winning reserve is home to the largest Milkwood Forests in the world. The lodge is set within the fynbos and forest-clad hills which overlook the whale-watching haven of Walker Bay. A perfect place for a family safari, where you can take in the ocean&#8217;s Big 5.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-31327 size-large" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Grootbos-900x600.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Grootbos-900x600.jpg 900w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Grootbos-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Grootbos-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Grootbos.jpg 950w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
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<h3><a href="http://www.kwandwe.com/ecca-lodge/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kwandwe Ecca Lodge</a></h3>
<h5>Kwandwe Private Game Reserve</h5>
The Lodge is set into the gently sloping aloe-studded hillside banks of the Great Fish River and is an unusual construction of stone-and-mesh gabion walls, sliding glass doors and corrugated iron roofing. Fresh farm cuisine is prepared in the interactive, open-plan kitchen, while the spacious lounge, dining and bar areas are airy and open, with almost invisible separations between indoors and the intriguing African bushveld.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-31329 size-large" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Kwandwe-900x600.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Kwandwe-900x600.jpg 900w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Kwandwe-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Kwandwe-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Kwandwe.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
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<h3><a href="http://www.dulini.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dulini Lodge</a></h3>
<h5>Sabi Sand Reserve</h5>
An intimate luxury safari lodge, Dulini is located in the western sector of the Sabi Sand Reserve, which borders the Kruger National Park. A quiet retreat, Dulini rests under a leafy canopy of ebony trees on the banks of the dry Mabrak River and boasts views across the riverbed and bushveld.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-31331 size-large" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Dulini-900x600.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Dulini-900x600.jpg 900w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Dulini-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Dulini-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Dulini.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
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<h3><a href="http://jamalamadikwe.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jamala Madikwe Royal Safari Lodge </a></h3>
<h5>Madikwe Game Reserve</h5>
Set amidst 75,000 hectares of the pristine Madikwe Game Reserve, Jamala Madikwe provides a quintessential safari experience. The lodge successfully brings opposites together, complementing its colonial style with African eccentricity. At Jamal they&#8217;ve perfected the &#8220;sofa safari,&#8221; with an amazing waterhole right in front of the lodge so you can watch all the animals come to drink while Rodney serves you gin and tonics.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-31333 size-large" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Jamala-900x600.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Jamala-900x600.jpg 900w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Jamala-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Jamala-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Jamala.jpg 1125w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
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<h3><a href="http://www.marataba.co.za/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marataba Mountain Lodge</a></h3>
<h5>Marataba Private Reserve</h5>
This 23,000-hectare private concession within the Marakele National Park (Limpopo, South Africa) offers a sanctuary where people can connect with South Africa&#8217;s stunning natural habitat. It offers breathtaking views of the dramatic Waterberg mountains, vast plains, rich animal diversity and winding rivers that cut through the landscape. It&#8217;s also one of the few lodges that truly allows you to get out and be active.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-31362 size-large" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Marataba2-899x600.jpg" alt="Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Marataba2" width="899" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Marataba2-899x600.jpg 899w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Marataba2-449x300.jpg 449w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Marataba2-768x513.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-Marataba2.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 899px) 100vw, 899px" />

The 7 Best Luxury Safari Lodges in South Africa

In Deep

Spain

Catalonia

Its charmingly narrow streets are oddly straight (perhaps another remnant of its Roman heritage), and the late-Gothic Santa Maria church is worth a visit.
Home to the Costa Brava’s largest fishing fleet, Palamòs is famous for its pink shrimp beach, among the coast’s most undeveloped and loveliest.
<h4>Pals</h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-31286 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/In-Deep-Costa-Brava-Pals-300x300.jpg" alt="In-Deep-Costa-Brava-Pals" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/In-Deep-Costa-Brava-Pals-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/In-Deep-Costa-Brava-Pals-600x600.jpg 600w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/In-Deep-Costa-Brava-Pals-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/In-Deep-Costa-Brava-Pals.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />The name of “Pals” comes from the Latin word “Palus,” which means marshland. The historic centre is on a small hill that used to be surrounded by ponds and marshlands that were subsequently dried out for rice cultivation.
The medieval town is unique for its great beauty and excellent preservation; the walled precinct remains, and the steep streets and old houses give the village a real medieval look.
<h4>Begur</h4>
Situated in the heart of the Costa Brava, in the centre of the coastal fringe of the Baix Empordà, this town stands 200 metres (656 feet) above sea level, with views of the bays of the Mediterranean coast. It offers easy access to the beaches and coves of crystal-clear water surrounded by luxurious pine woods.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-31288 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/In-Deep-Costa-Brava-Begur.jpg" alt="In-Deep-Costa-Brava-Begur" width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/In-Deep-Costa-Brava-Begur.jpg 1200w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/In-Deep-Costa-Brava-Begur-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/In-Deep-Costa-Brava-Begur-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/In-Deep-Costa-Brava-Begur-900x600.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />
Begur is very proud of its history, which dates back as far as the prehistoric era. However, the medieval era is much more generous in terms of material evidence. The 13thC Church of Sant Esteve d’Esclanyà and the castle of Esclanyà are the most emblematic symbols of the medieval era, and make Begur different from any other resort town.
One can taste the Mediterranean cuisine in any of the town’s traditional restaurants, after which an exploration of the surrounding beaches is a must.

In Deep: An Introduction to the Costa Brava

<h3>Beyond Buenos Aires</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-30591" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/history-of-tango-vintage-452x600.jpg" alt="history of tango - vintage" width="300" height="398" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/history-of-tango-vintage.jpg 452w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/history-of-tango-vintage-226x300.jpg 226w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />It wasn’t long before the craze spread beyond the borders of Buenos Aires; tango dancers first made their way to Europe early in the 20th century. You might think that tango&#8217;s entry to the continent was Spain,  but in fact it was Paris that first found itself enamoured by tango, followed swiftly thereafter by London and Berlin.
In 1913 tango made its way stateside, finding its first American fans in New York. However the phrase “tango” had been used in the U.S. as early as 1911. While Americans initially sped up the dance and went at a much faster tempo, it was soon slowed back down and came more in line with the Argentinian style.
<h3>An Economic Misstep</h3>
<figure id="attachment_30585" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30585" style="width: 232px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-30585 size-medium" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Juan_Domingo_Perón-232x300.jpg" alt="history of tango - Juan Perón" width="232" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Juan_Domingo_Perón-232x300.jpg 232w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Juan_Domingo_Perón.jpg 410w" sizes="(max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-30585" class="wp-caption-text">President Juan Perón revived tango, although only briefly</figcaption></figure>
When the Great Depression began in the 1930s, tango was not immune. The Depression coincided with the overthrow of the Argentinian government at that time, meaning that the focus of the Argentinian people was elsewhere (and few were in the mood for dancing).
Tango&#8217;s fortunes took a turn for the better when the newly minted government of Juan Perón took power. Perón viewed tango as a matter of national pride, reviving its fortunes and helping the dance to become more widespread throughout the country. Unfortunately, its new found favour wouldn&#8217;t last long.
Tango was dealt another blow when the Argentinian military dictatorship of the 1950s banned public gatherings. Male dancers would traditionally train for up to three years by attending milongas, or public dances where tango music was played. But with public gatherings forbidden, would-be milongueros found themselves with no where to go – and no way to practice. Tango once again fell into decline.
<h3>Revived and Resolute</h3>
<figure id="attachment_30589" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30589" style="width: 220px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-30589" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/poster-forever-tango-8a.jpg" alt="history of tango forever tango" width="220" height="310" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/poster-forever-tango-8a.jpg 220w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/poster-forever-tango-8a-213x300.jpg 213w" sizes="(max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-30589" class="wp-caption-text">Shows like Forever Tango helped return the dance to international acclaim</figcaption></figure>
Fortunately, tango could not be kept down. It continued to live on in smaller venues across Argentina for decades until once again finding a foothold in Paris in the 1980s with the opening of the show Tango Argentino. The Broadway musical <a href="http://forevertango.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Forever Tango</a> and Europe’s Tango Pasion followed shortly thereafter, returning tango to international acclaim.
The dance once again became a cultural staple at home in Argentina, where it has remained ever since. In 2009, UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization named tango to its Intangible Cultural Heritage List, ensuring it a lasting place in both the culture of Argentina, and the history books.

<figure id="attachment_29026" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29026" style="width: 451px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-29026 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/africa-21787_640-451x300.jpg" alt="There may only be as few as 20,000 free-roaming, wild lions left on the continent today." width="451" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/africa-21787_640-451x300.jpg 451w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/africa-21787_640.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-29026" class="wp-caption-text">There may only be as few as 20,000 free-roaming, wild lions left on the continent today</figcaption></figure>
Finding the right balance between helping human beings solve their very serious problems and helping the environment (and the non-human creatures within it) flourish continues to be an ongoing struggle.
As an African, the reality that the free-roaming rhino, the great elephants and lions (to name just three species) may be wiped off the continent in my lifetime is a future I’m not prepared to accept, which is why I&#8217;m so passionate about the work I do as a B&amp;R Trip Designer.
I’ve experienced firsthand how the survival of wilderness can be positively impacted through tourism—our safari choices truly do make a difference in sustaining wilderness areas and supporting local communities.
<h3>Success and Sustainability</h3>
<figure id="attachment_29027" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29027" style="width: 400px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-29027 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/gorilla-718275_640-1-400x300.jpg" alt="mountain gorilla hiding in bushes" width="400" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/gorilla-718275_640-1-400x300.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/gorilla-718275_640-1.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-29027" class="wp-caption-text">Mountain gorilla population is increasing.</figcaption></figure>
Take, for example, the success Rwanda has had with the mountain gorilla.
In one of Africa’s most densely populated countries, with 2.6% population growth, Rwanda has dedicated 10% of its land to conservation and follows a low impact, high revenue ecotourism model in the protection of its remaining fragile ecosystems.
Mountain gorilla population is increasing and the daily revenue generated by the gorilla population ranks them as some of Africa’s highest wage earners! Permits that allow tourists to see the gorillas earn a revenue of $60,000 per day during the peak season.
The community serves as a partner in this, poaching levels have dropped considerably, and Rwandans are proud of their commitment and contribution to preserving this iconic species.
<h3>Dependent on Species Diversity</h3>
<figure id="attachment_29030" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29030" style="width: 480px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-29030 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tourism-480x300.jpg" alt="The tourism industry in Africa depends on these iconic species." width="480" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tourism-480x300.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tourism-250x156.jpg 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tourism.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-29030" class="wp-caption-text">The tourism industry in Africa depends on these iconic species</figcaption></figure>
In the long run, it may be the responsible tourism partnerships between communities, operators and government that will make all the difference to the survival of the world’s greatest wildlife heritage.
Ultimately the tourism industry in Africa depends on these iconic species and the cultural experiences the continent offers, and I&#8217;m awed that some of our partners have committed to conserving key areas that are vital to the conservation of entire ecosystems.
Other partners work to link conservation islands and migration corridors in order to expand migration routes, while others recognize the need for a buffer zone around a national park to counter poaching. In South Africa, industry partners have joined forces to relocate 100 rhinos in an effort to secure genetic diversity and a future for the species in the face of the poaching crisis. That is a phenomenal commitment! Tourism revenue contributes directly to these efforts, and further contributes indirectly by creating awareness for visitors to the continent.
<h3>Steep Challenges, Rewarding Work</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-29034 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sustainable-Partners-inset-151x300.jpg" alt="" width="151" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sustainable-Partners-inset-151x300.jpg 151w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sustainable-Partners-inset-301x600.jpg 301w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sustainable-Partners-inset.jpg 314w" sizes="(max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px" />This is where our work in trip planning becomes so rewarding—when we have the opportunity to partner with true eco-warriors.
B&amp;R prides itself on forming deep, lasting relationships with local friends. Our partners in Africa are a great example, where an ethos of conservation and giving back is what unites our partnerships.
We look for sustainable operators and lodges who are most often in partnership with local communities and governments. This is where the exciting stories of contemporary Africa emerge, <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2016/05/03/conservation-community-effort-tanzania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">of people and organizations effecting positive change across the continent</a>, supported by the tourism industry.
As a Trip Designer, I’m personally vested in selecting the right partners who are ethical in their operations, are as green as possible, work at improving the lives of communities and, in a nutshell, whose safari activities exist to protect wilderness areas and benefit the communities around them.
It’s simply an ethical choice that informs our trip planning here in Africa, and I believe these choices secure a better future for all of us—human and non-human alike.

Dependent on Diversity: How Tourism Helps Secure Africa's Future

Oman

<h3>&#8220;The Atlantis of the Sands&#8221;</h3>
The physical beauty of Oman extends beyond the coast and into an interior that typifies the very notion of Arabia; deserts whose dunes are visible from space, a significant portion of the “Empty Quarter” made famous by Sir Wilfred Thesiger, and mountain ranges that would occupy keen photographers and geologists for months. I have always associated this part of the world, the Arabian Peninsula, with the fantastic and dramatic; tales of Sinbad, frankincense and the lost city of Ubar, “the Atlantis of the Sands” (rediscovered with the aid of NASA satellites).
<h3><img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-28658" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Oman-smiles-450x300.jpg" alt="Oman-smiles" width="450" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Oman-smiles-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Oman-smiles.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" />Smiles Abound</h3>
But on my first journey here, it was the people of Oman who struck me most.
Modern-day Oman is a progressive and forward-thinking Middle Eastern country that has been led from relative obscurity by Sultan Qaboos. Revered by his people, the sultan has taken a tribal country and united it whilst preserving its very best traits.
Added into the equation has been the often unsteady influence of oil, yet despite all of this, Oman is a country where crime is unheard of and smiles and gestures of friendship are the order of the day. The people’s true sense of their own history and pride in their destiny, and, of course, an outdoor playground, are among the reasons that I&#8217;ll continue to return here as often as possible.

In Oman, A Secret Worth Keeping

Experts + Insiders: Dane Tredway

Profiles

Experts + Insiders: Veronika Macas

<h4><a href="http://www.butterfield.com/trip/namibia-family-private/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">3. Namibia</a></h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-27947" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Namibia-Family-Trip-900x600.png" alt="Namibia-Family-Trip" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Namibia-Family-Trip-900x600.png 900w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Namibia-Family-Trip-450x300.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Namibia-Family-Trip.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /> Wedged between the Kalahari and the South Atlantic, Namibia&#8217;s potential is as vast as its varied landscapes: wild seascapes, rugged mountains, lonely deserts, stunning wildlife, colonial cities and nearly unlimited elbow room.
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<h4><a href="http://www.butterfield.com/trip/morocco-family-private/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">4. Morocco</a></h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-27951" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Morocco-Family-Trip-900x600.png" alt="Morocco-Family-Trip" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Morocco-Family-Trip-900x600.png 900w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Morocco-Family-Trip-450x300.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Morocco-Family-Trip.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /> We&#8217;ve waxed poetic about <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2013/10/22/morocco-family/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Morocco&#8217;s family vacation potential </a>before, and with good reason. The delights of magical Marrakech, Berber villages, <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2015/11/04/in-the-markets-of-marrakech-a-master-class-in-moroccan-cuisine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">incredible culinary culture</a> and stunning oases will please mom and dad, while camel and donkey rides, kid-friendly kite surfing, and a ropes course will keep the kids smiling all the way to the souk.
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<h4><a href="http://www.butterfield.com/trip/tanzania-family-private/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">5. Tanzania</a></h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-27949" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Tanzania-Family-Trip-900x600.png" alt="Tanzania-Family-Trip" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Tanzania-Family-Trip-900x600.png 900w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Tanzania-Family-Trip-450x300.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Tanzania-Family-Trip.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /> Home to some of the world&#8217;s <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2015/09/29/6-of-tanzanias-coolest-if-lesser-known-exotic-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">coolest exotic animals</a>, (not to mention this little thing called the Serengeti), Tanzania is perfect for families with an adventurous spirit and desire to engage in their environment. The natural diversity here presents a truly breathtaking spectacle, from rolling hills, open plains and ground water forest, to massive volcanoes, and the Serengeti Migration.

<figure id="attachment_27830" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27830" style="width: 450px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-27830" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/The-smoke-of-the-market-450x300.jpg" alt="The sizzle, smell and smoke of the market all come alive at night. " width="450" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/The-smoke-of-the-market-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/The-smoke-of-the-market.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-27830" class="wp-caption-text">The sizzle, smell and smoke of the market all come alive at night.</figcaption></figure>
Delving deep into the souks is like a master class in Moroccan cuisine. In the shops of the spice market you can learn all about the key ingredients that form the backbone of Moroccan cooking, while sampling from the carts packed with fresh fruit and spiced olives reveals the country’s bounty. Learn about the furnatchi, the communal oven and bakery that also is used to heat the community hammam, then indulge in the warmth of its fresh fare.
Evenings in Marrakech bring a special treat, as the famous Jma El Fnaa square comes alive at dusk, an overwhelming place to feel the energy and essence of Morocco. The sights and sounds, the sizzle and smells of the food stalls, the smoke, the snake-charmers (yes, real snake charmers): it’s enough to make you feel like you’ve arrived into the most mystical place in the world.
And you just might have.

In the Markets of Marrakech, a Master Class in Moroccan Cuisine

<h2>Reconciliation and Reconstruction</h2>
Since that dark year, the reconciliation and reconstruction in Rwanda have been nothing short of remarkable. In the capital, broad, newly paved roads are lined with flowerbeds. The streets are spotlessly clean. There is not a speck of litter to be seen. Yet Kigali remains a quintessentially African city, with its colourful costumes, music, vibrant markets and busy storefronts everywhere.
Rwanda’s remarkable turnaround is also evident elsewhere in the country. Villages are similarly immaculate, and lush fields abound. Verdant tea plantations drape over the hilly countryside. Everything is green and growing. Spurred by intelligent conservation planning, eco-tourism is on the rise. And in the industrial and technological domain, Rwanda is asserting itself as a major information hub. State-of-the-art fibre-optic cable is being laid everywhere, part of the country’s master plan to become the service centre for central and east Africa.
Nonetheless, evidence of Rwanda’s turbulent past remains, such as the gacacas, village-level trials for crimes from the genocides. The events of 1994 are not to be forgotten. Still, Rwanda has proven itself a nation with its eyes firmly fixed on the future. As one of the few countries in Africa not crippled by corruption, Rwanda’s economic growth has been impressive.
It is indeed a place poised for great things.
Read more Rwanda facts <a href="https://butterfield.com/get-inspired/facts-about-rwanda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

In Deep: A Brief Introduction to Rwanda

B&R Teams with MSF 

<h2>Lesser Kudus</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-27240" src="http://stag.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Lesser_Kudu-1.jpg" alt="Lesser_Kudu (1)" width="752" height="500" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Lesser_Kudu-1.jpg 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Lesser_Kudu-1-451x300.jpg 451w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />
To glance a lesser kudu is to immediately understand how inappropriately they were named—there&#8217;s nothing lesser about these majestic, chestnut-coloured antelopes with 11 to 14 white stripes on their back. These athletic beasts can hurdle distances of more than 9 m (30 ft) long and jump more than 2.5 m (8.2 ft) high. Oh, and they can also reach speeds of around 100 km (62 mi) per hour. We&#8217;re not sure how fast a &#8220;regular kudu&#8221; can run, but we doubt it&#8217;s as fast as a car.
<h2>Blue Wildebeest</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-27241" src="http://stag.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Blue-Wildebeest.jpg" alt="Blue-Wildebeest" width="752" height="500" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Blue-Wildebeest.jpg 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Blue-Wildebeest-451x300.jpg 451w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />
Fossil records suggest two wildebeest species diverged about one million years ago, resulting in a northern species and a southern species. The blue wildebeest changed very little from the ancestral species, while the black wildebeest changed more to adapt to its open grassland habitat in the south.
<h2></h2>

<h2>Black Rhinos: An Uncertain Future</h2>
Admittedly the most famous breed on this list, it was only relatively recently that rhinos garnered more widespread attention—and for potentially catastrophic reasons.
<h5>Population Devastation</h5>
Twenty years ago, visitors to Tanzania rarely paid much attention to black rhinos. The animals usually made a nuisance of themselves, charging unexpectedly through the bushes of parks, interrupting bird watching or disturbing other animals at waterholes. They were regarded as rather stupid beasts, with little personality and less beauty. Today it is a totally different story, and the black rhino is now second to lions on the list of animals visitors most want to see.
Between 1970 and 1984, East Africa lost 85% of its rhino population. In the 60s there were 109 rhinos in the Ngorongoro Crater and today there are 26. Many rhinos succumbed to the terrible drought of 1971 and actually starved to death, while others fell to poisoned arrows and bullets from a range of rifles—including Kalashnikovs.
<h5>The Culprit</h5>
Pundits claimed the poaching was due to a demand in the Far East for rhino horns as an aphrodisiac. This, however, is not the whole truth; the main culprits are found in one of the poorest countries in the world, North Yemen. This country had been closed to the outside world and ruled by the whims of autocratic imams until civil war broke out in 1962. Soon after, the Yemenis became part of the monied economy and by 1978 the locals were able to buy all the things that they wanted. Among other coveted possessions were daggers with rhino horn handles—formerly the status symbol of the imams and their cronies, and available only in very limited numbers.
Between 1972 and 1978 North Yemen imported about 28 tonnes of rhino horns, approximately 40% of all the horn on the market. It was due to the Yemeni’s huge demand for rhino horns that prices rose to $500 a kilo by 1979. So it is not surprising that the elephant poachers switched to hunting rhinos as a more lucrative enterprise; the other benefit is that it is easier to kill a rhino and hide the horn, compared to elephant tusks, who have much bigger tusks and leave much larger carcasses.
While the Yemenis made up most of the demand, some cultures in the Far East did want the horn, and contributed to the population decline. Their main use for it was medicinal, believing that it is capable of curing a multitude of human ailments. In some parts of Asia, it was used as an aspirin, supposedly curing anything from simple headaches to dangerously common ailments. Rhino horns in these countries can be purchased in the form of tonics, tablets and powders. The horn of the black rhino (and the white rhino) consists of a tightly packed mass of hair-like filaments and can grow to a length of 1.2 m (3.9 ft) for the front horn, and about half a metre for the rear horn.
<h5>What’s Being Done?</h5>
A great deal of money, manpower and equipment is being invested to protect the rhino population. Isolated rhinos are being relocated into selected areas of private ranches, reserves and parks. Anti-poaching techniques are being improved and there are stricter prison sentences if the poachers are caught.

africa

Blog posts for 'africa'