The first time I ever saw elephants in a national park, it was a life-changing experience. Africa offers some of the best places in the world to encounter these giants up close. As a travel expert with 10+ years on safari all around Africa, I’ll guide you through where to see elephants in Africa, why these national parks are special, and when to visit them (some times are better than others). By the end, you’ll know where to find them in Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Kenya: Amboseli […]

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When people think of a holiday in Africa, chances are Zimbabwe hasn’t been top of mind for most. But my recent return trip to this beautiful southern African nation refreshed my perspective.  I was last here twenty years ago as a backpacker, and I often think back fondly of that adventurous trip. And while the country has come a long way, it’s also kept many of the things that make it such a neat experience. There’s far too much to see for me to list out in this one article, […]

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When booking private flights, I’m usually gearing up to land and explore somewhere beautiful. Most of the time, when I travel by air, I don’t expect the flight to be as captivating as the place I’m traveling to, but some flight routes make booking the most comfortable private jet and sitting glued to the window an absolute must. If you’re looking for a magnificent view on the ground and from the air, these flight routes will provide you with the most stunning sights while you travel. Along the Amalfi Coast […]

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This is the true story of rescue, perseverance and the remarkable communication between elephants and man. Lawrence Anthony (died in 2012) along with his wife Francoise owned a 5,000 acre reserve in Zululand, South Africa when they received word that a herd of troubled elephants would be killed unless someone could provide them a home. Scrambling to fence the preserve in time for their arrival, they barely finished their work just in time. But almost as soon as the elephants arrived, they escaped – a race against time and those […]

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Q. Please introduce your family to our readers. ​We are the Vawter family. In 2015 we sold or gave away everything we owned and moved aboard our 43ft sailboat. We have been living a location independent life ever since. The girls were 7 and 8 when we moved aboard and now, our eldest is about to enter high school! It’s been a pretty crazy ride. We had intended to do a 5 year circumnavigation, but we ended up taking a much more circuitous route and going much more slowly. In […]

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I have been to Africa a number of times and always gravitate towards the sub-Saharan eastern part of the continent. One of the greatest thrills on the planet is to be on a big game safari in Africa. The wildlife is prolific at times from parts of Kenya down through South Africa but especially in the Serengeti – with herds of wildebeest, plenty of giraffe, elephants and other rarer sightings. But until now, a visit to see gorillas in the wild has eluded me. I am hoping 2020 will be […]

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When traveling abroad, I always seek out wineries whenever possible. To some, going wine tasting in Myanmar might be somewhat of a surprise – an anomaly and to an extent it is. However, there are two wineries in the country, (Aythaya Vineyard and Red Mountain Estate) both in the vicinity of Inle Lake. Red Mountain Estate Winery is located on the outskirts of the small town of Nyaungshe. As one arrives, one quickly sees vineyards lining the hillsides against a backdrop of scenic mountains. Based on the scenery, one could […]

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I have hired a car for the day. Early on a Sunday morning it’s quiet and once out of Cape Town the roads are emptier still. I take the main road, the R316, in a south-east direction. The countryside is deserted apart from the odd group of cattle or sheep out on the rolling yellow fields. The terrain becomes mountainous as I pass Napier and strangely in Bredasdorp I am welcomed to Agulhas, even though it’s another thirty-five kilometres away. At the end of the long straight road from Bredasdorp, […]

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I didn’t think much of it at first. His face was somewhat pale and the ever-present smile had been replaced by a slightly anguished expression. He mentioned he was cold but how could this be? We were in the middle of the hot and humid Cambodian jungle. Maybe it was just exhaustion from a long day of exploring Angkor Wat? I figured if we just rested a while, we’d be OK. Then 💩 happened. Literally. The next few hours were spent assisting him back and forth from the toilet to […]

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In this 21st century, millennials have set their signature style of traveling, that’s widely termed as backpacking. And often, there’s a meaningful social involvement that’s intrinsically attached to the entire travel plan, which has gained popularity as volunteering abroad. Needless to mention, volunteering is a philanthropic act where one devotes his/her time, energy, knowledge and money in order to make some difference to the lives of others. There are numerous local and international organizations who provide incredible volunteering opportunities in South Africa to eager participants and ensure that their contribution […]

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A book for cycling enthusiasts, a book for recreational riders and a book to inspire those to travel and combine the trip with some time on a bike. This book highlights some of the world’s great rides from the seat of a bicycle – with first hand written experiences covering rides from Africa to Asia and points in between. We have been biking most of our life – and in urban settings often are able to take advantage of bike sharing programs. Bicycling is a great way to explore a […]

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South Africa has received its fair share of negative media coverage for its high crime rate. And so it comes as no surprise that many have advised that the country isn’t safe for tourists. With statistics placing South Africa on the list of top ten countries with the highest crime rates, the bad reputation has strengthened. While murder and rape remain a prominent issue in South Africa, a majority of the crimes occur amongst people who know each other and are more frequent in particular areas. These areas aren’t tourist […]

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Aside from swirling and sipping in tasting rooms of fabulous wine estates, there are plenty of scenic activities to be done in the Cape Winelands. The rows of vineyards against the majestic background of mountain ranges, and the narrow roads that expose lush gardens are ample reason why it’s essential for you to explore while visiting Cape Town. Explore the towns on a bicycle With a bicycle, you’ll appreciate meandering through the towns of Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek. Explore the small towns and make stops at the cosy coffee shops, […]

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As usual, I was in my office sipping my cup of soy latte when I heard screaming from a group of female colleagues down the hallway. Having been here at this office for 13 years, my first thought was, “Oh, someone just announced she’s engaged or having a baby.”  My legal office is full of female attorneys. Actually, a majority of them are females. I hit 40 this year. So, as you can see, I spent majority of my fertile years as a female in this work space. But I […]

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Bloemfontein is the judicial capital of South Africa and is the sixth largest city in the country. It’s not particularly famed for its tourism but rather as one of the largest maize and wheat producing regions of the country. Bloemfontein has a deep-rooted Afrikaner history with so many interesting museums and battlefields to explore. So if you enjoy history, then Bloemfontein should be one of the cities on your South African travel itinerary. The Anglo Boer War Museum Bloemfontein was the site of the Bloemfontein Conference, held in 1899 to […]

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