Green is the colour of spring and the sign of new growth in tourism.  The first signs of travel recovering coincided perfectly with spring in South Africa. I particularly love spring here because after the first rains, the trees start getting fresh green leaves, grass reappears on bare ground and most special of all, many

Continue Reading “The Spring Issue”

Leopard can now design your dream French holiday.  It’s been a while crocodiles! I didn’t manage to get an August newsletter out to you because it has been crazy busy around here. I hope this one makes up for it! One of the projects we have been furiously working on is the launch of Leopard

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The Richtersveld is an adventurous wilderness escape like no other.  The Richtersveld is not easy to get to. It is at least two long days of driving from Cape Town, or three days if you would like to take it slower. Our overnight stop was just outside Springbok but stopping in Springbok meant that the

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Namaqualand, a place of desolation and magic.  The Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated of South Africa’s provinces. The arid climate and huge driving distances mean few visitors venture this far afield. On a recent trip to the area I discovered it is a place where the inhospitable climate is contrary to

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Mapungubwe, a place of cultural and geographic significance, and incredible scenic beauty.  I recently took a trip to the northernmost part of South Africa.  Mapungubwe National Park is located at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers. From the lookout deck in South Africa you can see where the two rivers meet and you can peer

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In South Africa, our diversity is our greatest asset.  Nowhere else on the continent can you visit world class vineyards, go on safari, and encounter penguins in the beautiful city of Cape Town in the same holiday. Our diversity also extends into our food, art & culture, and people.  In the first season of the

Continue Reading “The Podcast Issue”

The ultimate wildlife experience, Mountain Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.  Mountain Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is one of the most treasured wildlife experiences of my life. Earlier this month, after a briefing at park headquarters, a short drive to the entrance of the park and a vigorous hike through dense bush,

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The Eastern Cape, a journey into my 333 year family history in South Africa.  Last month we took a family holiday to the Eastern Cape. We had planned it at the beginning of last year, and wanted it to include some time relaxing at the beach and some time exploring the Karoo heartland. It unexpectedly

Continue Reading “The Heartland Issue”

Let the old year end and the New Year begin with the warmest of aspirations.  As this year comes to a close, and I reflect on the year that was, or more accurately, the year that wasn’t, I find that I have very little to say. In my newsletters through lockdown, I shared my thoughts

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An ancient and truly remarkable plant. Welwitschia mirabilis is endemic to the Namib Desert, one of the world’s oldest and driest deserts. The plant has only two strap like leaves which grow throughout its lifetime. These leaves split and fray in the wind and heat, making it seem as though the plant has multiple leaves.

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How the white rhinoceros was saved from the brink of extinction. But their fight for survival is not over yet. The famous hunter F.C. Selous said, in 1892, “Therefore the two white rhinoceros which I shot in 1882 are the last of their species that I have ever seen alive, or am ever likely to

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South Africa is ready to welcome visitors again. The South African government’s “risk adjusted strategy” has meant that we had no idea when international travel would be allowed again, since it was all dependent on the number of new infections per day and the available capacity of our hospitals. And so, it was with great

Continue Reading “The Health and Safety Issue”