Nsolo - South Luangwa - Zambia

this little camp is the sweetest... though it lacks the long views it has incredible charm and one of Zambia's best walking guides in residence, chedi, he actually runs the examination that guides have to do in zambia. i went for a walk here where we only covered about 500 metres in 1.5 hours - what bliss - i admired trees, analysed small running bugs and spotted little birds. i then dined in a dry river bed, ate delicious food and enjoyed a very cold, dry white wine. my bathroom was under a massive tree and open to the stars, the room was simple with reeded walls and good quality linen. location wise it is in the northern area of the south luangwa... one thing was the tsetse flies though. last visited in july 2008. www.normancarrsafaris.com

Chamilandu - South Luangwa - Zambia

in total contrast to puku ridge (about 2 hours drive north) this little camp has only 3 chalets built up on stilts that are total open fronted (no doors, windows = nothing) overlooking the luangwa river. simple with lots of atmosphere, good food and great guides. this camp personifies everything that an african safari should be. last visted in July 2008. www.bushcampcompany.com

Puku ridge - Ssouth Luangwa - Zambia

what an amazing location... looking over a big, flat grassy floodplain where something is always going on providing endless entertainment for those staying in the camp. continuous parade of puku's, baboons, buffalo and all sorts coming by.



the tents are some of the largest and nicest i have seen. THEY EVEN HAVE BATHTUBS. now that is just about unheard of in the safari industry in zambia and botswana. call me shallow but i have been seduced by these larger than life tents with their slick furnishing (all from Weylandts) and yes...the bathtubs. i would highly recommend 3 nights here - game viewing is by open landrover or on foot. Last visited in October 2008 and my god was it hot. http://www.sanctuarylodges.com/

Masai Wedding - Masai Mara area - Kenya

The bride looked young, scared and very sad
My favourite camps in the Masai Mara have to be the Porini Camps.

Stone Town - Zanzibar

cluttered and interesting, smelly, exotic, arty, chaotic, poor, poor, poor, beautiful but very sad sometimes

Shooting Star bungalows and villas - Zanzibar

lovely little place that is owned and run by the charming elly... refreshingly a local zanzibarian and not another foreign manager. great food and a very low key atmosphere. the infinity pool and deck is perfectly positioned for all day chilling or head down the stairs to the beach with its delightful beach bar. there are only 10 or so cottages here and then 2 private villas pictured below. the villas have a bathtub on the roof and a private pool down below. complete hedonistic delight at a really good price. Last visited in June 2008. http://www.shootingstarlodge.com/

Matemwe Retreat - Zanzibar = HEAVEN

total bliss, complete privacy, a butler/chef to whip you up platters of food to enjoy on your roof terrace while lounging in the sun gazing out to sea. take a little swim in your roof top pool or lounge around reading on the daybeds. it does not get much better than this. Last visted in June 2008. www.asilialodges.com/index.php?id=6,7

colour - sea, plants, flowers, road

yellow road stripe, grey gums and green fields

aloe green and rose pink - Bonnievale

st james aquamarine - cape town

the swartberg pass - prince albert

maybe the loveliest mountain pass in south africa... maybe !

cape coast - somewhere between stilbaai and blombos

the perfect blue and the perfect orange

Damaraland Camp - Damaraland - Namibia

stay at this camp if you can. it is managed by wilderness safaris but operated/owned by the tora community. good vibes, good food and very beautiful freestanding semi tented units. simple and clean design with soft woods, silvery grey bed linen and of course the views. climb the moutain behind the camp for a full 360 degree view across the Huab riverbed and surrounding hills. Last visted in April 2008 - the image is taken by Dana Allen http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/

Damaraland - Northern Namibia

its really hard to find space these days and this is why namibia and damaraland in particular is so special. the sense of space is endless...

My screen saver shot...

Chongwe River Camp - Lower Zambezi National Park - Zambia

i sat and ate lunch here with 3 elephants for company. they, like me, just love this spot. the camp is located on the banks of the lower zambezi river right where the little chongwe river joins it. the tents are simple and stylish and not over done. the ensuite bathroom is open to the stars but completely private. each tent is located on the banks of the chongwe river under the trees. the elephants seem to always be around camp adding buckets more good vibes to the great atmosphere. tiger fishing, game drives, walking, boating, canoeing are all on offer. access is only by small plane. chongwe river camp really has it all and is perfect for a first time safari as there is a varied range of activities and the river keeps everyone unhurried. i last visted in july 2008. http://www.chongwe.com/

Sindabezi Island - Livingstone - Victoria Falls - Zambia

an island in the middle of the zambezi river approximately 20 km's upstream from the victoria falls. no swimming allowed as you will be munched by a crocodile, hippo or one the gigantic cat fish (maybe). sindabezi is owned by tongabezi - the other only place to stay in the over commercialised Victoria Falls area. it takes 20 minutes by boat to reach sindabezi. the cottages are totally open fronted and your bathrooms have NO walls. you can lie in bed and listen to the hippo's munching next to you at night with only the mosquito net and your roll down bamboo 'wall' between you. currently under renovation sindabezi is being jazzed up a bit so may loose some of its rustic charm but i do think it will maintain its completely unique character. Last visited in december 2006.

Mango Drift Backpackers - Likoma Island - Lake Malawi

fun fun fun and more fun... you can only get here on the ilala ferry so its a great crew that will find themselves here with a little effort. the loveliest beach, the friendly locals, simple backpacker style lodgings and plenty to do add up to make this a spot where one can easily loose a week in a blink. time flys when you are doing nothing and you won't want to leave. oh so affordable and definately where every independant traveller or even those who can't afford kaya mawa next door (same owners) should stay here for a minimum of 4 nights. Likoma island has about 7000 locals and can be walked around ina few hours. it is completely safe and feels a lot like what i think africa should be like everywhere - its very special. Last visited December 2008 http://mangodrift.weebly.com/index.html

Domwe Island - Cape Maclear - Lake Malawi

explorer / simply living / back to basics / backpacker bliss on your own private island... hire a tent, mattresses, buy some food and the guys will ferry you across only returning when you need to be picked up. if you have ever dreamed of doing it robinson crusoe style i reckon this si the only spot you will get it right. walk the island, swim in the lake, count the little fishes, take a sail and then start again welcome to total bliss and you can afford it. you can book the island out totally max capacity is 24 or just head out there with a few folks you really like. last visited in december 2008. http://www.kayakafrica.net/

Nkwichi Eco Lodge - Manda Wilderness - Lake Malawi (North-east coast)

the whitest beach sand i have ever seen. this is thanks to a geological fault line which produces this total unique powder soft white beach on lake malawi. i fell for nkwichi in a big way so much so that i am considering taking myself back here rather soon for an extended stay if they will have me. i like it whenyou need to catch a plane, a boat, find the immigration official to stamp your passport on the beach, get back in the boat, zoom down the lake shore for another 20 minutes and only then do you reach this little lodge. built totally from natural materials the simplicity and beauty of its location will blow you away. bathrooms are totally outdoors (i mean completely) and each cottage is tucked away in the surroundding bush with its own little lakeshore swimming spot. this lodge has done big things for the locals and the biggest to date is obtainign a title deed for the local communities for their 120 000 hectare section of land in mozambique... this is pretty much unheard of. see their site for the various projects they run. i last visted in July 2008. http://www.mandawilderness.org/

Kaya Mawa - Likoma Island - Malawi

you can only reach this island on the ilala ferry or by flying in on a small plane. the island has 7000 inhabitants and a giant cathederal. what amkes it so special is that it has been slightly forgotten so this is a little island that has developed side ways... their is no danger, very little malaria and people sleep with their doors wide open. kaya mawa is a lodge built by hand from local stone. its magic and each little cottage is totally unique. honeymoon island is literally that you have your own island and the staff will deliver all your meals, bottles of champagne and whatever you need to you... so you don't even need to see the other guests WHAT BLISS. I last visited in July 2008 http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/

Mumbo Island - Cape Maclear - Lake Malawi

you don't know you needed some time here until you actually arrive. mumbo island is one those magical places that you hope still exist in the world... no people, just the birds and a big, gorgoeus lake to swim in. what makes it even better is that this little lodge has a very small footprint - there are only 6 tents and each has a prime location overlooking the lake. the bathroom is ensuite in that each tent has it's own bucket shower and seperate loo house with composting toilet (not stinky at all). sleeping in one these luxurious walk in safari tents was the deepest sleep I have ever had. I watched the lake from my bed and fell asleep dreaming already that I was floating away. Allow at least 3 nights here http://www.kayakafrica.net/