Tuesday 8 December 2015

LE MIRAGE DESERT Lodge & Spa

Le Mirage Desert Lodge & Spa is a luxury resort 21 km from Sesriem Gate -ideal for exploring Sossusvlei. At Le Mirage Desert Lodge, guests are treated like royalty and live in a manner befitting Kings and Queens.

Le Mirage Desert Lodge is a harmonious blend of Moroccan style and nature with each room offering a view of the vast plains of the Namib Desert. The contrast of dark natural stone and crisp white linen with extensive mosquito nets make for pure comfort and relaxation. The spacious rooms offer unique in-suite open plan bathrooms.


SUNRISE AND SUNDOWNER GUIDED QUAD BIKE EXCURSION

Sunrise and sundowner guided quad-bike excursion; (we regret that children younger than 12 cannot participate). View a magnificent sunrise or sunset over the Tsaris Mountains surrounded by the majestic dunes. , Adventure is not far away, and the staff is happy to advise guests on excursions to the sights of Sossusvlei, either self driven or by joining a guided group trip if required.

Hot Air Ballooning 

A once in a lifetime experience - enjoy the beauty of the desert in the early morning with all its complex colorations from the sky. After the exceptionally exhilarating flight, you will be spoiled with a succulent champagne breakfast.

Sossusvlei Excursion

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For those who want to enjoy a guided tour to Sossusvlei, be brave and challenge some of the highest dunes Southern Africa has to offer, we strongly recommend a Sossusvlei Drive.

Reservation / Enquiries +264 61 224712 lemirage@resdest.com

READ FULL FEATURE AND MORE FROM OUR ISSUE 40...
LE MIRAGE DESERT LODGE & SPA
Tuesday, December 08, 2015

LE MIRAGE DESERT LODGE & SPA

AFRICAN GOLF SAFARIS

Golf safaris in Africa are the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation; we've ensured that there's plenty of flexibility too, but above all it's about the 18-hole experience.

Truly superb golf courses await the golfer in Africa: South Africa is home to several of the world's finest golf and safari resorts, as is Mauritius. Stunning links and parkland courses, often the centre piece of an exclusive hotel resort, are situated in South Africa's top destinations such as Sun City, the Kruger National Park and Cape Town, and along some of Mauritius' most scenic stretches of coastline.Enjoy all the challenges and rewards of golfing under a blue African sky. The scenery is fantastic, the course facilities first-class and accommodation is easy to arrange. But the success of our Africa golf safaris lies in our ability to combine a first-class golfing experience with what Africa is most famous for: big game safaris. Many of the recommended courses are located close to national parks and game reserves, and malaria-free Big 5 safaris are also available, ideal for families - golfers or not!

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Add on a beach holiday too: Mauritius has long been a superlative beach and golf destination and we've also selected great courses on South Africa's beautiful coastal masterpiece, the Garden Route, as well as in sub-tropical KwaZulu-Natal where the greens reach down to the Indian Ocean.

Golf in Africa goes far beyond the flawless greens of Sun City: the continent now has over 800 courses, making it easy to combine a golfing vacation with a safari or beach holiday - or both! Add exclusive resort accommodation to breathtaking courses and it’s hard to find a reason not to tee off in Africa – especially when links courses tend to overlook palm-lined beaches and exotic birdsong fills the deep rough.


Take the guesswork out of deciding where to play with our Top 5 golf destinations in Africa. Each delivers superlative golfing with added attractions to enrich your experience: fine food and wine, Big 5 safaris and family-friendly beaches. Did I mention the weather?

AFRICAN GOLF SAFARIS
Tuesday, December 08, 2015

AFRICAN GOLF SAFARIS

STONE TOWN ZANZIBAR

Stone Town also known as Mji Mkongwe (Swahili for "old town") is the old part of Zanzibar City, the main city of Zanzibar, in Tanzania. Stone Town is a city of prominent historical and artistic importance in East Africa. Its architecture, mostly dating back to the 19th century, reflects the diverse influences underlying the Swahili culture, with the East African culture being preeminent, there is a unique mixture of Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements. 
Stone Town is located roughly in the middle of the west coast of Unguja, on a small promontory protruding into the Zanzibar Channel. The closest major settlement on the Tanzanian coast, opposite to Stone Town, is Bagamoyo (to the south-west). The Town is part of Zanzibar City, that also comprises the "New City" of Ng'ambo ("the Other Side"), which mostly extends in the interior of Unguja to the south-east. The ideal dividing line between Stone Town and Ng'ambo is Creek Road.

The old castle in Zanzibar

CC It may not have a particularly romantic name, but Stone Town is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar, little changed in the last 200 years. It is a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and grand Arab houses whose original owners vied with each other over the extravagance of their dwellings. This one-upmanship is particularly reflected in the brass-studded, carved, wooden doors – there are more than 500 different examples of this handiwork. You can spend many idle hours and days just wandering through the fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways. Stone Town was recently and deservedly declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. More information can be found at the UNESCO website.

Most of the houses that can be seen today were built in the 19th century when Zanzibar was one of the most important trading centres in the Indian Ocean region. The coraline rock of Zanzibar was a good building material, but it is also easily eroded. This is evident by the large number of houses that are in a bad state of repair. Several buildings have already been renovated and the Stone Town Conservation Authority has been established to co-ordinate the restoration of the town to its original magnificence.

STONE TOWN: CULTURAL FEATURE
Tuesday, December 08, 2015

STONE TOWN: CULTURAL FEATURE

ESCAPE SPA

PEACE &TRANQUILLITY...


Free your mind, body and soul, whilst a Spa Angel eases you into an elevated state of relaxation. Escape Spa has been developed with simplicity and natural elements in mind. Creating equilibrium... taking new life, renewal powers and stability from surroundingtrees and wood; coolness, refreshment and cleansing abilities from the sea; healing, rejuvenation and grounding from the earth and nature.

Truly intimate bespoke experiences are available on request.

Nestled among gently swaying palm trees and lush vegetation, just steps from the beach on the Southern tip of Desroches Island, Escape is a sympathetically created oasis of peace and tranquility for all island guests.
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Encompassing the environmental and ecological ethos that Desroches actively embraces, the Escape Spa provides a sanctuary where guests’ can nurture, relax and revive their bodies. An extensive menu of luxurious treatments has been carefully conceived and selected to provide healing and nourishment to the body and restore its natural harmony and balance.

The spa is situated on a luxurious tropical island paradise with a passion for the environmental and ecological beauty that exists on this magical island. The Escape Spa has been sensitively designed to blend in with the natural surroundings; it effortlessly fuses the relaxing island atmosphere with the chic simplicity that is Desroches.

Guests enter Escape Spa via the Reception Pavilion where their spa journey begins. Four spacious treatment rooms, all with private showers, bestow a comforting and peaceful atmosphere. The Escape experience continues after the treatment has concluded. Guests are encouraged to lengthen their spa treatment by taking time to unwind, rest and regenerate their bodies in the Chill-Out Space; an integral part of the experience dedicated to aiding the relaxation process and encouraging a reconnection to nature and spirit. Bathed in natural light, Escape offers magnificent sunset views.

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The conservational philosophy embraced by Desroches is reflected in the extensive treatment menu. Natural oils and expertly selected ingredients have been blended together to create signature treatments unique to Desroches, as well as massages that encompass the earth’s elements and natural creations including: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Each of these is conceived with a specific purpose - to Rejuvenate, Zest, Balance, Detox and Soothe.

READ MORE FROM ISSUE 4O


SPA FEATURE: ESCAPE SPA-SEYCHELLES
Tuesday, December 08, 2015

SPA FEATURE: ESCAPE SPA-SEYCHELLES

SC - Kids 1SUN CITY VOTED TOP WEEKEND GETAWAY DESTINATION

Sun International’s Sun City in the North West Province has won the Best Weekend Getaway Award in the well known 2015 Leisure Options Best of Joburg Readers’
Choice Awards as well as the annual Best of Pretoria Readers Choice Awards.

Now in its 20th year and a respected barometer of what’s hot, hotter, hottest in the City of Gold, Leisure Options Best of Joburg Readers’ Choice Awards calls on readers to vote for their favourite places in over 100 categories. Leisure Options is inserted weekly into the Northcliff Melville Times, Rosebank Killarney Gazette, Sandton Chronicle, Fourways Review, and Randburg Sun. Each year, more than 100 000 submissions are received from the public.

READERS CHOICE
Tuesday, December 08, 2015

READERS CHOICE

Tuesday 1 December 2015


Capturing the rich essence of the ‘Spice Island ’ , accommodation in Zanzibar tends to be a blend of the relaxed and the exotic.

There are many excellent hotels, boutique establishments and fully inclusive resorts situated on the island’s famous beaches but several fine hotels can also be found in heart of fascinating Stone Town, Zanzibar’s historical capital. Often combined with a Tanzania safari, Zanzibar is nevertheless a holiday destination in its own right. Dive or snorkel teeming coral reefs, swim with dolphins, explore the nooks and crannies of Stone Town, embark on a Spice Tour or simply laze on the beach - with the right choice of Zanzibar accommodation, all of this and more is possible. If you’re looking for something a little m ore remote and unique, then why not try one of our handpicked lodges on Zanzibar’s neighbouring atolls? Pemba Island, Mafia Island and private Mnemba Island all offer exclusive, luxurious and intimate accommodation, perfect for honeymooners or romantics.

WHY ZANZIBAR


The name alone is likely to conjure up images of spice markets, palm-fringed beaches and white-sailed dhows on a turquoise sea – and happily the reality doesn’t disappoint. Lying only a short distance off the Tanzania coast but at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Zanzibar has long been at the centre of the Indian Ocean experience in East Africa and a Zanzibar holiday is a sensory experience par excellence.


Go on spice tours, taste local dishes and walk the cobbled streets of the capital’s old quarter Stone Town, now a World Heritage Site buzzing with colourful back-street markets and local flavours. And then of course there are the Zanzibar beaches: perfect for anyone who simply wants to enjoy a lazily luxurious beach vacation - Zanzibar and its outlying islands are home to some of the finest beaches in East Africa as well as a number of its best dive sites.


You won’t want for somewhere to stay either: one of the world’s most romantic honeymoon destinations, Zanzibar has accommodation that ranges from luxury beachfront cottages to exclusive boutique hotels and elegant spa resorts; parents on the other hand will be delighted by Zanzibar’s family-friendly hotels and safe-swimming beaches.

READ MORE FROM OUR NEW ISSUE

AN EXOTIC AFRICAN ISLAND EXPERIENCE
Tuesday, December 01, 2015

AN EXOTIC AFRICAN ISLAND EXPERIENCE