Tag Archives: Africa

Morrocan Adventure Remembered

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Recent cocktail party where I bumped into a client who introduced me as their exclusive travel designer. Some have no understanding of a ‘travel designer’ or ‘travel consultant’. He explained and said please share the story of the family who camped in the luxury tent in the Moroccan desert.

A Journey that is well remembered by many. The father wanted to recreate a college memory of driving through Algiers – despite the heat, we designed a Journey in June. Beginning in Marrakesh, staying at the stunning three bedroom riad at La Mamounia with its own pool and gorgeous gardens. Enjoying the city of souks and snake charmers for a few days we then moved them to the desert. Whisking the family from Marrakesh by helicopter to the Sahara desert flying over the dramatic snow capped High Atlas Mountains- sweeping over vast valleys dotted with colorful Berber villages. Skimming low along the Draa valley to land at an ancient fortified village and nomadic museum. They enjoyed lunch with a local family. The teenage children shared life experiences and learned regional customs of the village children. A soccer ball always helps to break the ice!

Imagine a 4 wheel drive adventure through sandy trails, blooming acacia and tamarisk trees to the dunes, reaching the most elaborate and important kasbahs in the Dades Valley. You have seen these vistas used by movie makers for years including Lawrence of Arabia and Jesus of Nazareth – one of the most dramatic sights in this barren region.

Meet your camels at end of day for a ride to the highest dunes climbing to the peaks for a spectacular sunset over the Sahara Desert. A leisurely ride back to their private luxury desert tent erected in the middle of the desert. Imagine the quiet and the vastness of looking as far as you can see – the wide horizon seems to never end. In the evening, local nomadic Tuareg joined the family for dinner and taught everyone traditional drumming.

Sitting beneath an endless blanket of twinkling stars, an astronomer pointed out distant galaxies and identifies the stars, originally named by ancient Arabs who navigated these sands. Camped in the historic and legendary Caravan Route from Marrakesh to Timbuktu, dreams of exotic adventures are guaranteed. Sunrise- a dawn camel trek, of course!

Private plane to Fes for additional sightseeing in the fabled city, the kids were happy to reach a swimming pool again in the early summer heat. But this adventure still draws interest and is well remembered by family friends as well.

 

Follow the Herd? Africa Migration

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Migration Safari – Lodges and Luxury Tents are Teeming!

The annual movement of wildebeest and other grazing herbivores across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is one of the greatest spectacles in the natural world. The horizon fills with 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, 18,000 eland and 500,000 Thompson’s gazelle, relentlessly tracked by Africa’s great predators. The Migration is rarely the same in terms of precise timing and direction – it is Mother Nature, after all!

The African wild animal migration is one of the most exciting periods to visit. During the year, the herds move most of the time, however, they move most in May – July and November. These times are hard to predict where they will be, so are not necessarily ideal if you stay in one location. Following the herd is not a euphemism on the savannah. Another popular time is from August to October when the animals are in the far northern Serengeti of Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya, and is known for the crossings of the Mara River.

In August you can predict with more accuracy where they will be. All these times are “summer” but are distinctly different as far as which itinerary we would recommend. Mixing up a five star lodge and a luxury portable tent safari is the most efficient method of following the herd during this period. However you need to be adventurous, keen on different experiences…..

A Day in the Life of A Safari Guest

  • As your plane descends towards the sun-baked airstrip, a beaming member of my land team is ready and waiting to welcome you with chilled drinks before you are whisked off on a scenic game drive en route to your lodge or camp.
  • The lodge staff is waiting at the entrance to greet you with refreshing drinks and fragrant towels. Your personal butler escorts you to your bush suite, where your luggage is already waiting, as you unwind and drink the views of the surrounding bush.
  • Mouth watering aromas waft on the still air as lunch is served on the private deck of your suite, on the wide veranda of the main guest area or at the poolside.
  • Choose between a blissful nap on your downy bed or chilling out at the pool.
  • After a sumptuous high tea, embark on a thrilling afternoon-into-evening game drive. Chances are excellent that you will encounter a great variety of exciting animals and birds. Your professional, highly trained ranger and tracker will interpret the wonders of the wilderness, making your experience effortlessly enlightening and unforgettable.
  • As the golden orb of the sun sinks towards the horizon, you stop in a scenic bush setting. As if by magic, a table with snacks and drinks appear, with the noises of the African bush as a primeval soundtrack. A traditional Sundowner is a nightly occurrence in the bush.
  • After a dramatic spot-lit night drive where you thrill to predators hunting and other nocturnal animal activity, you return to the lodge, where iced drinks and snacks await you in the fire- and lantern-lit boma under a bright canopy of stars.
  • Alternatively, you may experience a real surprise on your night game drive. Rounding a turn in the bush, you come across an enchanting scene: dozens of lanterns festoon the trees, and huge fire-bowls illuminate damask-clad tables twinkling with crystal and silver. An alfresco feast of scrumptious Pan-African cuisine is served by smiling chefs in crisp white, followed by cigars, cognac and stargazing.
  • As you drift into a deep sleep, you contemplate the delights that the next day will bring: an early morning wake- up tap on your door, fragrant coffee and muffins before setting off on a game drive as the pre-dawn sky reveals tints of cerise, gradually turning to azure blue as the new day welcomes the warmth of the rising sun. The bush is alive with wildlife, early risers browsing, lion stretching and yawning as their fluffy cubs frolic nearby. A mid-drive stop produces welcome hot drinks, chilled fresh juice and snacks: merely a prelude to the delicious breakfast that awaits your return to the lodge.
  • Later, you may decide on a fascinating bush walk, where your ranger will share intriguing insights into the fauna and flora of the area. Or you may simply opt to relax in a quiet corner, where warm, friendly land teams will ensure that your every desire is anticipated and exceeded.

 Safari is the Ultimate Journey many months of the year!