10 African Adventures Answer Call of the Wild and Comfort · The adventure travel company already...
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Deeper Africa | The New York Times| October 23, 2015 | VPM: 660,840,720 10 African Adventures Answer Call of the Wild and Comfort By ELAINE GLUSAC OCT. 23, 2015 With something for both travel styles, the following new resorts and trips capture the continent’s array of attractions from culinary and cultural to wild and scenic. To range far and wide, or to settle in and dig deep? That is the African travel question. Resorts and wilderness lodges offer in-depth exposure in African climates from coastal to bush, while tour operators take in more territory and manage the logistics of moving you around. With something for both travel styles, the following new resorts and trips capture the continent’s array of attractions from culinary and cultural to wild and scenic.
Transcript of 10 African Adventures Answer Call of the Wild and Comfort · The adventure travel company already...
Deeper Africa | The New York Times| October 23, 2015 | VPM: 660,840,720
10 African Adventures Answer Call of the Wild and Comfort
By ELAINE GLUSAC OCT. 23, 2015
With something for both travel styles, the following new resorts and trips capture the continent’s array of attractions from culinary and cultural to wild
and scenic.
To range far and wide, or to settle in and dig deep? That is the African travel question. Resorts and wilderness lodges offer in-depth exposure in African climates from coastal to bush, while tour operators take in more territory and manage the logistics of moving you around. With something for both travel styles, the following new resorts and trips capture the continent’s array of attractions from culinary and cultural to wild and scenic.
Kenya Angama Mara
OntheveryspotoverlookingtheMasaiMaragamereservewhereMerylStreepandRobertRedfordpicnickedinthefilm“OutofAfrica,”AngamaMaralodgeopenedinJune.FoundedbySteveandNickyFitzgerald,whoranandBeyondsafarilodgesformanyyears,the30-tentcompound(top)sits1,000feetabovetheGreatRiftValley,whichcanbespiedthroughfloor-to-ceilingglassfacadesoneachtent.Resortamenitiesincludeafitnesscenter,swimmingpool,AfricanartgalleryandartstudiousedbyMasaiartists.Thelodgeofferssafarisonfootandinhotairballoonsaswellasviaopen-airvehicles.Ratesfrom$750aperson,all-inclusive.
Information: angama.com.
CreditFour Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Morocco Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca
InMorocco’sprincipalgateway,the186-roomFourSeasonsHotelCasablancaisscheduledtoopenbytheendoftheyear.SetintheAnfaPlaceplannedcommunity,theoceanfrontresortpositionsitselfasequalpartsbeachretreatandexplorationbase,a10-minutedrivefromtheornateHassanIIMosqueandnearbyattractions.ContemporaryguestroomsfeatureMoroccantoucheslikependantlampsandpatternedtextiles,andmostincludebalconies.ThreerestaurantswillofferFrench,Moroccanandglobalsmall-platesfare,andthe10-treatment-roomspawillincludewhirlpools,saunasandsteamrooms.Roomsfrom3,200Moroccandirhams($345at9.30dirhamstothedollar).
Information: fourseasons.com/Casablanca.
South Africa Gondwana Eco Camp, Mossel Bay
Offeringopportunitiestodoscientificresearchalongsiderangers,thenewfive-tentGondwanaEcoCampwillopenNov.1onthe27,000-acreprivatelyownedGondwanaGameReserveinSouthAfrica’sWesternCape.Six-dayprogramsencouragegueststoparticipateinmonitoringandtrackingelephants,rhinos,lionsandcheetahs,sometimestransportingthemforveterinarycare.Participantswillalsolearnbasicsurvivalskillsandtoidentifytheflorathatmakesuptheuniquefynbosecosystem.Twin-bedtentswithbathroomsandcovereddecksprovidelodging,andfacilitiesincludeacommunaldiningtentandaswimmingpool.Ratesfrom10,500rand($825at12.75randtothedollar),all-inclusiveforthesix-dayprogram.
Information: gondwanagr.co.za
South Africa
The Homestead, Stellenbosch
Inthewine-growingBanghoekValleyabout40mileseastofCapeTown,OldenburgVineyardshasconverteditsCapeDutchfarmhouseintoavisitor’svillawithmoderndécorandaccommodationsforupto12insixbedrooms,eachwiththeirownbathroom.Over200yearsold,thegabledhousewastheoriginalhomesteadontheproperty,andincludesaprivatepoolinthesurroundinggardensaswellasgenerousfurnishedterraceswithvineyardviews.ThepropertyoffersaccesstonearbyJonkershoekNatureReserveforhiking,sevenareagolfcoursesandover150regionalwineries.Ratesfrom14,000randanight($1,100),includingbreakfastandawinetasting.
Information: oldenburgvineyards.com.
CreditAsilia Africa
Tanzania The Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater
ScheduledtoopeninMarch2016atanelevationof8,900feet,theHighlandsissaidtobethehighestpropertyintheNgorongoroConservationArea.Thecampwilloffersafarigamedrives,walkstolocalMaasaivillagesandhikesuptwootherareacraters.Roomsfrom$625aperson,anight,includingmealsandexcursions.
Information: highlandsngorongoro.asiliaafrica.com.
CreditLuAnn Cadd
Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania Ape-watchingmeetsthetraditionalAfricansafariinExtraordinaryJourneys’new12-daytriptocentralAfrica.ItsplitsitstimebetweenVirungaNationalParkintheDemocraticRepublicofCongo,hometoendangeredmountaingorillas,andTanzania’sSerengetiregion.Withaprivateguide,travelersspendfouractivedaysinVirungatrackinggorillasandchimpanzees,andhikingNyiragongovolcanotocampbesideitslavalake.FlyingtoTanzania,thetripcontinueswithgamedrivesandovernightsinluxury-leveltentcampsinSerengetiNationalPark.Limitedtoeightpeople,thetripsdepartinFebruary2016and2017andstartat$13,000aperson,doubleoccupancy.
Information: extraordinaryjourneys.com.
CreditSusi Grant
Ethiopia
ExodusTravels’new13-dayguidedtripEthiopiainDepthfocusesontheless-traveledTigrairegioninthenorth,bestknownforitschurchesandmonasteriescarvedintocliffsandrockyoutcroppings.Highlightsincludevisitstomuraledmonasteries,somedatingbacktothe13thcentury,atLakeTana,17thand18thcenturycastlesinGondarandtherock-hewnchurchesofLalibela,spacedbyhikesintheSimienMountains.TheadventuretravelcompanyalreadyoffersfivetripsinEthiopiarangingfromwildlifewatchingtomountaintrekking.Ratesstartat3,000Canadiandollarsaperson,doubleoccupancy($2,400at1.25Canadiantothedollar).
Information: exodustravels.com.
CreditEspiegle
South Africa ThewinemakerNormanHardieofCanada’sPrinceEdwardCountywillrevisithishomelandinaculinary-focusedtourofSouthAfricanextMarch.EpicureanSouthAfricawithNormanHardiefromQuenchTripDesignfeatures12dayswiththeJohannesburgnativevisitingwinerieslikeKleinConstantia,restaurantsliketheGreenhouseinCapeTownandtheDeHoopNatureReserveforencounterswithsmallgameandatraditionalbarbecue.Accommodationsrangefromboutiquehotelstofarmstays.ThetripdepartsMarch26andis$6,975aperson,doubleoccupancy.
Information: quenchtravel.com.
CreditWildland Adventures
Zambia Fortravelersseekingamoreactivesafarithanmostdrive-focuseditineraries,WildlandAdventureshasintroduceda10-dayWildZambiaSafarithatincludeslonghikesandpassagebycanoeaswellasfour-wheeldrivesafarivehiclesinvisitstoSouthLuangwaandLowerZambeziNationalParks.TripsstartatVictoriaFallsandarelargelydividedbetweentworemotebutcomfortablewildernesscamps.Travelerswillwalkthefivemilesbetweenthem(withluggageshuttledforward),trackingbuffalo,giraffeandelephantenroute.TheadventurouscanaddanoptionalnightofcampingunderthestarsinSouthLuangwatotheitinerary.Tripsstartat$7,450aperson,doubleoccupancy.
Information: wildland.com.
Zimbabwe
Nextyear,DeeperAfricawilltackletheissueofpoachinginitsnew11-daytourZimbabweConservationandCulture.InadditiontosafaridrivesinHwangeandGonarezhouNationalParks,travelerswillaccompanyanti-poachingpatrols,meetvillagersandhearconservationiststalk.Theitinerarybalancesovernightsinrusticbushcampswithmore
pamperingwildernesslodges,andSeptembertripsconcludewithavisittotheMachanganaFestival.Departuresinfall2016andspring2017startat$9,985aperson
Information: deeperafrica.com.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/10/23/travel/kenya-south-africa-holidays-lodging.html
