Monday, November 26, 2012

STANLEY SAFARI LODGE SOLE AFRICAN PROPERTY TO WIN WORLD LUXURY HOTEL AWARD 2012


Competing among some 1000 nominees, Stanley Safari Lodge, an exclusive safari property near Victoria Falls in Zambia, has won Best Luxury Bush Lodge in Africa from World Luxury Hotel Awards (WLHA) 2012. It is the only property in Africa this year to win a WLHA award. The awards, presented at the 2012 WLHA Gala Ceremony held on October 13 in Kuala Lumpur, are conferred on some of the world’s most sought-after hotels, lodges, resorts and private islands.

“We are delighted to have won such a prestigious award, especially considering the star-studded field of entrants and because it reflects highly on our level of service,” said Reinout de Gruijter, owner. 

Only luxury venues operating in a luxury niche market are able to participate in WLHA.  The main criterion to be successfully nominated and included in the official voting process is overall service excellence. “We can always learn from one another and be inspired to greater levels of excellence, meaning exceeding customer’s expectations and paying attention to detail,” said Marinique de Wet, Director of the WLHA.

Stanley Safari Lodge, only 1.8 miles from legendary Victoria Falls, is set on a hill bordering the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, and overlooks unspoiled bush. The views are splendid: the spray of the Falls in the distance, the mighty Zambezi river and, on top of that, yet another beautiful African sunset. From the main garden, infinity pool or privacy of a guestroom, views are superlative.

The open-sided Main House has been designed with space and vistas in mind and has a truly African feel. Guests can enjoy sundowners in the African-style lounge, a three-course dinner in the dining room or spend quiet time in the library or upper deck discovering the secrets of the continent.

The atmosphere at Stanley Safari Lodge is tranquil and intimate, and, with only 10 private cottages or suites, the level of personalized service is superb.

Each and every cottage is individually designed. But what makes Stanley Safari Lodge really special is the open design of many of the rooms: the optimal way to experience the real Africa, just like Stanley must have done centuries ago. 

For more information visit www.stanleysafaris.com

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

NORMAN CARR SAFARIS FROM A RUSTIC WALKING SAFARI TO SOPHISTICATED LUXURY, GUESTS HAVE IT ALL


In the 1950’s, Norman Carr, a tireless and visionary conservationist,  pioneered walking safaris in Zambia’s Luangwa National Park – a concept that today has been embraced in other countries, though the best is still found here.  His legacy continues with Norman Carr Safaris (NCS), comprising a main lodge, Kapani; an innovative and exciting new luxury camp, Chinzonbo; and four Bush Camps, Luwi, Nsolo, Kakuli and Mchenja.  Together, they combine sophisticated luxury and the simple rustic life of the bush.

Kapani, which means “place of mopane trees,” was built by Carr in 1986, and was his home until his death in 1997. It is located on an ox-bow lagoon and houses 18 guests in eight luxury suites, each with its own lounge and en-suite bathroom.  The lagoon house has spacious rooms, elegant furnishings and private views. Kapani is ideal for families and those interested in engaging with NCS local community and conservation projects.

Recently, NCS has welcomed a new investor to the family – Thierry Dalais. The visionary behind North Island – Seychelles, Dalais was captivated by the Luangwa Valley and everything this truly wild place has to offer adventurous travelers. A thrilling new development is well underway with the creation of Chinzombo Camp, a cutting edge safari experience infused with Norman Carr’s history and legacy. The camp is something completely new for Zambia incorporating unique and innovative concepts in design and green technology. Five spacious villas, each more than 1776 square feet, will be equipped with Wi-Fi and cooled sleeping areas. Each villa has its own 10’ by 20’ pool. The sixth villa, at 3013 square feet, is designed for families, and has two bedrooms – one double and one triple – each with its own en suite bathrooms as well as a large swimming pool.

The NCS bush camps have all benefitted from upgrades in soft furnishings, infrastructure and new vehicles. All of the renovations have kept the rustic charm everyone loves, while making the camps more high-end and luxurious.

Norman Carr knew that to go on foot on a safari meant that one instantly becomes part of the surroundings as all five senses come into play.  There is a special exhilaration to being in an area with no roads or people – just wilderness.

The four Norman Carr Safari Camps have been set up so that a walk from one to the next is conducted at a non-strenuous pace with a fully qualified guide and an armed game scout. The camps are rustic and situated in remote areas but they are extremely comfortable and great for those who want to truly “get back to nature.”  Guests may also opt to stay at one camp only.

Luwi Camp is made up of four grass and thatched en suite bamboo chalets close to a hippo- and croc-filled lagoon.  Deep within the Luangwa wilderness, wildlife is instantly visible from the camp and the area is completely exclusive.  Meals are served al fresco with lunch under a shady tree and dinner under the stars. 

Nsolo Camp is a very romantic camp next to a watering hole under the shade of a large grove of trees.  Just three hours walk from Luwi; four spacious en suite rooms are set on a raised wooden platform with thatched roofs and private verandas.  Meals are served in the open or in the shade of the camp’s thatched dining area and are accompanied by the sight of wild life drinking at the waterhole. 

At the confluence of the Luwi and Luangwa Rivers lies Kakuli Camp with its four traditional Mehru style safari tents with en suite bathrooms.  A chitenge, an open-sided thatched area with wide views of the river, houses the bar and dining area and is a great place to relax and watch the immense herds of hippo.  Deep in the bush on an elevated stretch of river bank overlooking a wide grazing lawn, there is always the feeling that something exciting is about to happen.  And most of the time it does.  The views here are spectacular.

Mchenja is Zambia’s premier bushcamp and takes luxury to a level not usually found in the Bush.  Set beneath a magnificent grove of ebony trees (Mchenja means “ebony tree”), five stylishly designed tents have thatched roofs, en-suite shower and bathroom facilities. The camp overlooks a huge sweeping bend in the Luangwa. There is a small pool alongside the bar within the main chitenje which is built around one of the fallen Mchenja trees.  Guests seek cool refuge here during the heat of the day.

Thierry Dalais and his family are also part owners of Chongwe Safaris in the Lower Zambezi. These two legendary companies are now working closely together to offer exclusive, wild and authentic safaris for the most discerning of adventurers.

Rates begin at $ 275 for Kapani Lodge, $ 450 at Kakuli Camp, $ 535 at Luwi and Nsolo Camp, $ 585 at Mchenja Camp, and $ 575 at Chinzombo. Rates include local transfers; all game viewing activities; soft drinks, local beer, spirits and house wines; laundry and National Park entry fees.  

Norman Carr Safaris will also arrange safari packages from seven to ten days which can include stays in Livingstone. For additional information or reservations, email kapani@normancarrsafaris.com, telephone 011-260-6-246015 or visit www.normancarrsafaris.com.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

CHRISTMAS IN PATAGONIA: CRUCEROS AUSTRALIS OFFERS DEALS FOR THE SEASON


While there won’t be reindeer, cruise specialist, Cruceros Australis, invites travelers to a Christmas with Santa Claus and penguins this winter. With Zodiac excursions and complementary lectures, Cruceros Australis conveys peace on earth with the natural beauty of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. A big bonus for families looking for quality time together: kids cruise free.

These two four-night expedition cruises depart December 21, 2012 and December 22, 2012 with your choice of Ushuaia to Punta Arenas or Punta Arenas to Ushuaia. Either way, the route involves Patagonia’s signature wildlife and environment: fjords, canals and glaciers.

While on board, revel in the season as you pass by the raised Christmas tree, enjoy a special Christmas dinner and meet with Santa who will make an appearance with gifts for the children.

A cruise with Cruceros Australis is an all-inclusive experience including sea transportation, shore excursions, onboard entertainment, all meals and an open bar. Passengers will also enjoy local Chilean and Argentinean wines. The menu combines international cuisine and local recipes to highlight the delicious and varied regional fare. Rates start at $2,187 per adult for these departures, and children 15 and under will sail free (one child per adult).

For more information, visit www.australis.com.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

GORILLAS UP; PRICES DOWN: TIME TO GO TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST/UGANDA


According to the just-released 2011 Census by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the critically-endangered mountain gorilla population in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is confirmed at 400. The prior census in 2006 put the number at 302.  Part of the increase is due to improved census methods and conservation through daily ranger monitoring, but it is also due to actual population growth.  Aiding in the rising numbers is veterinary care provided by Gorilla Doctors. Their Uganda field team, led by Dr. Fred Nizeyimana, regularly monitors all of the habituated gorillas in the Park for health problems and performs medical interventions when it is determined that an individual has a life-threatening disease or illness.

Those travelers who have placed on their bucket list seeing the mountain gorillas should plan a trip to Uganda now.  The Uganda Wildlife Authority, in celebration of the country’s 50th anniversary of independence next year, is cutting gorilla fees in April and May 2013 by $150, thus putting gorilla fees in Uganda during those two months at $350.  Beyond that, Ugandan gorilla fees, usually $500, are substantially below those of Rwanda and the Republic of the Congo – now at $750.

There are other reasons to go, too.  Marasa Africa, one of the largest diversified private-sector investors in Uganda, is offering a special fly-in three-day package to track the gorillas in the Park at $2,156 per person sharing.  The rain-forest is spectacular with a heavily vegetated and dense landscape and spending time with the shy and peaceful gorillas is an unforgettable experience.

Marasa’s fly-in four-day package at $2,693 per person sharing includes everything on the three-day package and an additional day on an escorted trek with the Batwa, the pygmies who live just outside the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.  The Batwa guides will discuss how they hunt and the medicinal plants they use.  They will also share a traditional meal and relate ancient legends and traditional songs.   It is a cultural experience like no other.

Accommodations for both packages are in the recently purchased and refurbished Silverback Lodge, part of the Marasa portfolio of quality tourism products in East Africa.  Silverback is situated in the Buhoma section of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO site home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population.  In Bwindi that includes 36 family groups and 16 lone males. Ten family groups totaling 168 gorillas are habituated to human presence for tourism. The 124-square-mile Bwindi is also inhabited by non-habituated chimpanzees, more than 100 other species of mammals, 346 species of birds, and 163 species of trees.

The rates includes accommodation with meals while on safari, domestic scheduled flights and ground transfers in custom built safari vehicles with English speaking guides, gorilla permits, all park fees, and government taxes.

There are many other reasons to go to Uganda, including a safari on the Nile River.  More internal flights are being offered there than ever before.  Premier Safaris is ready to assist.  Please contact:  operations@premiersafaris.com for itinerary suggestions and quote.

Monday, November 5, 2012

CLIFF-TOP WEDDINGS ABOVE THE AMALFI COAST AT MONASTERO SANTA ROSA


Perched high atop a cliff on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa practically floats over the sparkling Gulf of Salerno below. The former monastery features a variety of unique venues to make for a dream-like wedding or reception. From small, intimate fetes to large, festive affairs, weddings may be held anywhere on the property, day or evening.

The gardens comprise four levels of lush landscape and terraced walkways – any of which can be easily transformed into an aisle for an al fresco “I do”. The lower lawn and infinity pool deck, hovering over the Gulf of Salerno, make a perfect location for a reception. Guests can gather to toast to forever while they watch the sky transform as the sun sets.

The Sunset Terrace, located on the highest level of the hotel, features a full panorama overlooking the coast with views stretching from Amalfi to Positano. The expansive terrace has a number of individual seating areas as well as retractable canopies for shade.

For an indoor event, Monastero Santa Rosa has several of spacious indoor suites, luxuriously decorated in contemporary Italian style, all with windows overlooking the sea and many with their own private outdoor terraces.   

Those interested in religious ceremonies will delight in the choice of four local chapels in the charming town of Conca dei Marini. The helpful Monastero Santa Rosa staff is able to take care of all the church arrangements. 

As for dining, Monastero Santa Rosa’s Michelin-starred chef and his culinary team will create a custom-designed wedding menu. Whether it’s Mediterranean cuisine like homemade pasta and freshly caught seafood or personal dishes that convey individual tastes, the team will whip up a multi-course meal comprised of the highest quality ingredients.

After the festivities, the couple can retire to the comforts of one of the suites. The Sea View Premium Terrace Suite, in particular, has been dubbed as the most romantic. The bedroom features a king-sized bed swathed in fine Italian linens while the extraordinary stone bathroom features a walk-in shower and a double-wide tub. The living and dining room are adorned with one-of-a-kind antiques and the enormous outdoor terrace comes complete with a dining table, lounge chairs, lemon trees and a retractable canopy for shade.

The entire property – all guest rooms and suites, restaurant, and spa – may be privately reserved, turning the hotel into a fully equipped Italian villa.

Monastero Santa Rosa’s Special Events Concierge is available to provide guidance and inspiration for all aspects of planning. All arrangements may be left to the dedicated team of staff who will immaculately execute every tailor-made detail for the ceremony, interior and exterior decorations, floral arrangements, photographic and video services, tailor-made dining, guest accommodation, exclusive hire of the spa, childcare and babysitting, limousine and car hire, musical accompaniment for the ceremony and reception as well as make-up application and hair styling. 

Rates at Monastero Santa Rosa start at $480* per room per night and include breakfast. To rent the entire 20 rooms and suites in the low season (April 18 – May 20, October 7 – November 4) the net total daily rate will be $ 28,801* plus VAT & city tax. During the high season (May 21 – October 6), the net total daily rate will be $ 37,762* plus VAT and city tax.

The above mentioned rates are inclusive of full breakfast daily, complimentary daily use of the Thermal Spa Suite (including the Stone Sauna, Domed Herbal Steam Room, Hydrotherapy Pool, Experience Shower, Crushed Ice Fountain and Tepidarium), complimentary use of the fitness facilities, free Wi-Fi internet throughout the hotel, and free shuttle service to Amalfi. Spa treatment packages can be arranged upon request as can meal plans and special menus. 

For further information on getting married or honeymooning at Monastero Santa Rosa visit www.monasterosantarosa.com

*Based on the exchange rates on 11/20/12


Thursday, November 1, 2012

FULLY-STAFFED PRIVATE VILLA OFFERED IN FAVORED NEW DESTINATION, MALAWI GREAT GETAWAY FOR FAMILY OR GROUP OF FRIENDS


Kaya Mawa, an eco-luxe beach resort on Likoma Island in Lake Malawi, offers Ndomo Point House, a private villa for those travelers desirous of total seclusion and personal service, but who don’t want to relinquish the benefits of being at a lodge. A magical getaway for a family or a group of friends, Ndomo Point House comprises four en suite bedrooms, a sitting room, family kitchen, pool, courtyard, five terraces and decks all set on a private beach with uninterrupted views across Lake Malawi. The house is fully staffed with a nanny, a cook, a housekeeper, ground staff and watchmen.

Rates start at $460 per person per night with a three-night minimum and a minimum of four and maximum of eight adults.  Rate includes:  All meals, accommodations, transfer to and from Likoma Aerodrome to Kaya Mawa, mountain bikes, walks, kayaking, snorkeling and sailing.

The dream of owners James and Suzie Lightfoot, Ndomo Point House was originally planned as a two-bedroom beach “shack.”  Over three years the shack evolved into a character-filled villa containing elements derived from the couple’s journeys in Zambia, Zanzibar, Malawi and Lamu, Kenya’s oldest continually inhabited town and a World Heritage Site.

All the facilities of Kaya Mawa Lodge are just six-tenths of a mile away:  a PADI dive school, the Lake's only kite-boarding school, plus kayaks and quad bikes are there for the taking. Guests are invited to spend as much time as they like at the lodge, and even take their meals there, should they wish.  A boat and vehicles are just a radio call away.

Ndomo Point House is located on the Southwestern corner of Likoma Island with views across to the neighboring island, Chizimulu, and on to mainland Malawi. A year-round sunset is a secret surprise!

For more information, contact:  James@kayamawa.com