As in: ’Cool’, a blanket term covering all sensory interpretations, each, ultimately, justifying the other. A look, a sensation, a mood – as one. A man enters a crammed subway carriage in midsummer wearing in a wool, $900 Tom Ford suit. He looks cool, initially, but as beads of sweat pool on his brow, patches appear under his pits, and a screaming baby sicks on his lapel, his coolness ebbs away in a flash. Casa Cook el Gouna on the other hand…

_{Casa Cook El Gouna}

For one there are no babies – this is an adults only resort. Visually Casa Cook straddles that odd intersection of ancient and space age – linear, minimalist, earthy – drawn up, the design team explains, with “the post-modern traveller in mind”.

Think if Frank Herbert’s Dune featured an Aristocratic, gridded suburb – each private terrace boxed off by hedges every bit as angular as the structures they surround. Muted, heat proof, stone has been carved into benches, and formed into hotel room floors and walls, all delightfully cool to the touch – necessary when summer temperatures reach up to 50 degrees.

Plunge pools are plentiful. Grilled jumbo prawns are piled high. Signature cocktails (the Watermelon Negroni and the African G&T – hibiscus leaves for regional specificity) hit the spot. All in all, cool.

_{Outdoor seating at Casa Cook El Gouna}

_{Southern pool area at Casa Cook El Gouna}

If you can peel yourself away from one of the southern pools innumerable loungers, Casa Cook offers Kite Surfing lessons on their private stretch of beach. For those seeking a change of scene, the town of El Gouna is a 10 minute drive away. El Gouna’s a New Town, and, having been raised on a less than appealing English New Town diet of Welwyn Garden City and Milton Keynes, I had my reservations.

But having been told, then sworn to secrecy, then told another seven or eight times, that Angelina Jolie and Mohammed Salah own holiday homes in El Gouna, I thought, ‘if it’s good enough for them, it’s probably good enough for me.’

_Kiteboarding

So, the raw statistics: Age? 35 years. Tuktuks? £1 per trip. Dominant architectural style? Nubian traditional (traditional for locals, practically Tattoine to an ignorant westerner like myself). Lagoons? Well of course! 27, soon to be 28. Perhaps not all New Towns are created equal.

_{Desert tour with Orascom}

It was on my lagoon boat tour that my guide pointed me in the direction of lagoon number 28, mid construction and surrounded by tractors. Maybe I’m old fashioned but I felt, pretty steadfastly, that ‘Lagoon’ and ‘Tractor’ should not share space. Physical space, page space, any kind of space, so antithetical are they in all they stand for.

_{Patio area at Casa Cook El Gouna}

After all is there any word so evocative of natural wonder, of organically occurring, god bestowed heaven on earth as, ‘lagoon’? With that in mind, the invitation to observe lagoon 28 felt akin to a Vegas magician un-vivisecting his long legged assistant in plain view, proclaiming “and THIS is how we did it.”

I averted my eyes. Then remembered I am a 31 year old man. Maturing, after all, is realising that true delusion is believing in the make believe of Hollywood fantasy. Mermaid princesses with Jamaican fish companions? Webbed, damsel snatching, bi-pedal creatures? Not in El Gouna. And frankly, when the illusion of the artificial lagoon is this good, who cares it’s an illusion at all?

_{Plunge pool at Casa Cook El Gouna}

_{Room at Casa Cook El Gouna}

A brief off road drive takes you to a vast stretch of desert, once underwater, that now ranks as the world’s third longest natural valley. It’s traversable by quad bike, with tours culminating with tea in a Bedouin settlement at sunset. Equally accessible from Casa Cook is a yacht dotted bay leading into the Red Sea, home to an abundance of dolphin pods and coral reefs. Boats leave daily.

by Charlie Holder

_{Lagoon tour and desert tour organised by Orascom Development Egypt.}

_{Rooms at Casa Cook El Gouna start from EUR 300 per night including breakfast. For more information, please visit https://casacook.com/casa-cook-el-gouna}

The post Casa Cook el Gouna – An Egyptian desert mirage built of stone first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

Positioned opposite the Atlas Mountains across an impressive 231 hectares of immaculately kept grounds bursting with olive, palm and orange trees, the 134-room hotel is an intimate oasis for those looking to indulge in Marrakech’s offerings.

With four restaurants that handpick flavours from across the world to accommodate all palettes, a personal recommendation was Al Aïn. Presenting an unusual blend of Lebanese dishes with Moroccan spices, this fusion was brought to life by Chef Abbas backdropped against live Andalusian music to give you an immersive traditional experience like no other. 

_{Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech}

Though golf isn’t my sport, even I could appreciate the 18-hole course, designed by Cabell B Robinson, that spirals around the hotel landscape. It’s also the only luxury hotel in the “red city” to have one directly in its parameters. Taking a more relaxed approach to my stay, I took full advantage of the swimming pool – notably the largest pool in the city – before heading to Fairmont Spa. 

Morocco is famous for its hammams and, despite Fairmont Spa’s contemporary architectural exterior, the accent is on traditional wellness. Treatments include hammam baths, massages using argan oil, facials and body wraps featuring fabled Atlas-sourced ghassoul clay. After experiencing a full-body hour-long massage, I wandered back to my suite with a glass of Moroccan mint tea in hand and a far more relaxed feeling all around.

_{Hot Air Balloon at Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech}

The hotel exudes the outlook that anything is possible, so watching the sunrise of the mountainous surroundings beckoned a hot air balloon trip with Ciel d’Afrique. Unforgettable is a term that still doesn’t quite illustrate the views I saw that morning, so I urge you to go see them for yourself.  

Sometimes ‘biggest’ and ‘best’ can give the wrong impression of a place, but the Fairmont Royal Palm is a hotel that exceeds both descriptions. Pushing Moroccan culture into a new realm over the past decade, the beauty of the land will continue to be celebrated here for the next 10. 

by Imogen Clark

_{Deluxe Suite rates start from 9,000 (MAD) per night during high season and from 6,150 (MAD) for low season. fairmont.com/marrakech}

The post Glass indulges in some winter sun at Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech  first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

Built to resemble a casbah, all sand coloured stone, ascending terraces and cool passageways, it offers up the quintessentially Moroccan experience with an extra eye on traditional interiors, classic local cuisine and age-old spa rituals.

The only thing missing is the hustle and bustle of a medina. But that is a plus. Located in the sleepy village of Oualidia about a two-and-a-hour drive from Marrakech, where its larger sister hotel, La Sultana Marrakech, is based, this is a place you head to for peace and quiet.

Bounded by lush gardens and overlooking a tranquil salt water lagoon famous for its bird life and oyster beds, it is just what the doctor ordered to still the mind and relax the body. Beyond lies the open sea, where mighty Atlantic rollers come crashing down, one after another, but even these are a soothing, distant thunder.    

_{Salt water Lagoon}

Despite its imposing dimensions, La Sultana lives up to its description as a boutique hotel, comprising just 12 rooms and suites (plus the exclusive Treehouse Suite in the gardens) each one different from the other but all elegantly appointed, with spacious private balconies looking out to the lagoon and nice little touches like Clarins bathroom accessories and stylish Tunisian porcelain crockery.

On the day I arrived, I sat around an open wood fire that had been made up especially for me to ward off the evening chill, before going down to dinner at the orangery-style restaurant, where I was served delicious Moroccan cuisine, with locally sourced clams, oysters and spider crab and vegetables grown in the hotel’s own organic garden.

Mealtimes were always a pleasure and the staff ever attentive. Thanks to a hotel cookery class I attended, I can now at least prepare a fish tagine with salad.      

_{La Sultana Oualidia}

It was early March and although the sun was shining out of a perfectly blue sky it didn’t seem warm enough to go for a swim the next day in the outdoor pool or try beginner’s luck at the surf school further along the lagoon beach. Instead I opted to go kayaking with one of the hotel’s sports instructors. It was an idyllic experience, passing by brightly painted fishing boats bobbing about in the breeze and cormorants perched like statues on wooden stakes.

After reaching the other side of the estuary we strolled to the cliff tops, where we viewed the ocean working itself into a spectacular lather as it came up against the rocks below. By now suitably warmed up, I had a wonderfully refreshing swim back in the calm waters of the lagoon before joining a party for a beach barbecue of grilled seafood.

_{Indoor pool and spa}

_Suite

In Morocco public bathhouses known as hammams are a focal part of everyday life and so I jumped at the opportunity of visiting the hotel’s individualised version. It’s an ancient tradition involving a total cleansing of the body and as such requires you to leave modesty at the door. 

Wearing only disposable pants, I spent the best part of 45 minutes sitting in a steam room and having hot water repeatedly thrown over me by a smiling attendant, being smothered in soft and not particularly sweet-smelling local black soap before being scrubbed all over and watching my dead skin fall away and disappear down the plughole.

Result – you float out of the room with your skin feeling like a new born baby’s. A full body massage, front and back, followed and I was so impressed I returned the next day for a facial. These were all part of La Sultana’s spa and wellness treatments that take place by the majestic Romanesque-style indoor pool and are definitely not to be missed.

by Angela Cobbinah

_{Rates for La Sultana Oualidia: Until November 4, from £589 per night. From November 5-December 19, from £471 per night. From December 20-January 6, from £589 per night.}

_{Rates for Sea and the City package combining La Sultana Oualidia and La Sultana Marrakech start from £2,844 for three nights at La Sultana Marrakech and three nights at La Sultana Oualidia. The package is valid all year round (except Christmas and New Year), with a minimum stay of two nights required at one of the properties.}  

The post Glass unwinds in a seaside Moroccan haven at La Sultana Oualidia first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

Having built a reputation over the years for its unparalleled range of exclusive wines, it comes as no surprise that Great Plains continues to expand its expertise.

Wine in the Wild

“There is a sophisticated 5-step vinification process that makes wine making an art. At Great Plains we appreciate fine art, and storytelling. Our selection of wines is built on the appreciation of fine wine for what it brings by way of nose, taste, and experience of all our senses, but also what story they tell beyond the bottle. Many of these winemakers are our personal friends who are conservationists, care for communities and make spectacular wine,” explained Dereck Joubert.

In a celebration of craftsmanship and know-how, the company have now launched a new wine app. From 2024, all guests visiting ol Donyo Lodge, Mara Plains, Mara Nyika and Mara Toto Tree Camp Kenyan Réserve Collection level properties will be able to experience the app.

Wine in the Wild

Guests are invited to scroll through the list of beverages and learn detailed information about their chosen wines. Bringing an interactive sommelier experience to wine room dining, the app explores tasting notes and flavour profiles with ease and efficiency.

Similarly, Great Plains is introducing a wine room tasting and dining experience to its Mara Nyika, Mara Plains and ol Donyo Lodge spaces. In intimate, cosy spaces, guests can enjoy special tasting menus with paired wines.

Wine in the Wild

Meanwhile, for those hoping to sip a sundowner overlooking Africa’s beautiful plains, the new ‘wine in the wild experiences’ are an excellent choice. Available at all Great Plains Kenyan camps, these ventures come to life thanks to the camps’ incredible surroundings. At ol Donyo Lodge, guests can enjoy a glass of wine after a signature treatment at the spa. Staff can also arrange a candle-lit bush dinner in the middle of the plains for extra tranquillity.

Whether it’s absorbing the warmth from the boma’s campfire or a bush breakfast after a morning bike ride, Great Plains have a wealth of exciting opportunities to explore.

Wine in the Wild

Maintaining an emphasis on conservation and sustainability,  the team has focused on selecting winemakers whose values align with the brand’s own. From Painted Wolf and Paul Clüver to Cederberg Wines and Bosman, Great Plains has joined forced with some of the wine industry’s trailblazing environmental leaders.

“We have decided to keep 65% of our wine list South African and 35% from the rest of the world, to accommodate the international pallets and allowing us to adapt and accommodate wine trends, climate change and new terroirs, like the UK,” commented Savanna McKittrick.

Intertwining traditional safari experiences with glamour and flair, it’s evident that Great Plains’ wine offerings promise to be simply unforgettable. For more information on the new experiences, please visit here.

by Sophie Richardson

The post Great Plains launches Wine in the Wild experiences across its Kenyan camps first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

Our highly informative guide silently prepares an icy gin and tonic, mindful not to wake the mighty predators. It’s a thrilling experience – our vulnerability is real and a sudden movement from us could startle the lions and end in high drama.

Gingerly, I photograph the scene with the professional Canon camera that I have been provided with. (Images will be downloaded on departure.) As I zoom in at one of the largest females, I observe numerous scars across her torso – evidence that life for these big cats is not always this chilled. 

_{Masai Mara}

We’re in the Masai Mara, Kenya, to experience two award-winning Great Plains safari camps. We arrived in our small propeller plane from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, landing on one of the dusty airstrips serving this vast savannah.

Great Plains Conservation is a pioneering conservation organisation that operates in Africa, primarily focusing on preserving and restoring some of the continent’s most iconic and endangered landscapes and wildlife, founded by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, National Geographic Explorers at Large who are filmmakers, adventurers and philanthropists.

_{Masai Mara Reserve}

Over dinner, we catch up with the charismatic Jouberts. Dereck explains that each of the 14 Great Plains camps are situated in remote unprotected locations in Kenya, Botswana and Zimbabwe, and have been built to ensure minimal impact on the environment and wildlife.

Every structure erected is temporary and can be dismantled without leaving any building footprint. Camps are constructed in such a way that they don’t hinder the free movement of the wildlife, with all private and communal areas built upon elevated platforms, so the animals can seek sanctuary underneath or pass through unhindered.

Beverly informs us how she personally leads the internal design of every camp in order to create an authentic African feel. Scouring each specific region with her keen eye, she has managed to develop a unique atmosphere within every property, with Beverly’s distinctive fine art photography adorning the walls of communal areas at each destination.

_{Mara Expedition Camp}

At Mara Nyika camp, a stratospheric Relais & Chateaux property, there are six uber-spacious canvas-walled suites creating a labyrinth of luxury, with bathrooms comprising an open shower and a copper stand-alone bath with optimal viewing across the plains.

Mara Nyika’s location on the western side of the private 20,000-hectare Naboisho Conservancy ensures thrilling wildlife viewing. During our stay, a leopard gives birth beneath one of the suites. The sighting of a mother departing our camp transporting her cub in her mouth was an exhilarating highlight. 

_{Mara Nyika Camp}

Mara Expedition camp, a 45-minute drive away, is rented from and staffed by the local Masai Mara people. During our twice daily safari drives, we’re provided with superb game viewing and an opportunity to learn more about our natural world.

This is the best place to witness the intense action of the Masai Mara ecosystem within the 70,000-acre Mara North Conservancy. At night, we tuck up in our cosy hot water bottle-filled bed, accompanied by the sound of a throaty rumbling of wildlife in the distance. 

_{Mara Expedition Camp}

With just five canvas tents accommodating up to ten guests, this intimate camp’s most unique feature is its swimming pool perched high upon a disused army truck (so the local wildlife doesn’t attempt to drink the pool water). It is the perfect spot for far-reaching views across the treetop canopy. 

The inclusive gourmet culinary offerings at each of the Great Plains camps have a unique emphasis on healthy vegetarian and vegan options, heavily comprising local and home-produced seasonal produce. Highly skilled chefs offer standout dishes. Menus are concise, with a choice of meat and fish options, with each plate masterfully presented and accompanied by an impressive wine list. 

_{Masai Mara}

The most indelible moments of our Great Plains experience are our early morning safari drives before sunrise. We sit awestruck at the scene of the silhouette of the animals starting their day, set against the dramatic crimson glow of the sun rising from the savannah’s horizon – testament to the rich tapestry of the Masai Mara.

by Amanda Bernstein

For more information: greatplainsconservation.com greatplainsfoundation.com

The post Glass gets wild on the Great Plains Safari in Kenya first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

Glamorous kaftan-clad guests (with their perfectly behaved children in tow) down icy drinks and are seen slathering their bodies with sun cream, preparing to embark on a day’s sunbathing. But we are eager to return to the solitude of our villa. 

_{Mile Long Beach}

We’ve arrived into balmy Zanzibar located off the coast of mainland Tanzania and, after being met at the airport in a shiny white Range Rover, we head for The Residence Zanzibar, a secluded holiday retreat an hour’s drive away.

Back at the infinity pool, we dry ourselves off and jump on our matching bicycles to make our way to our beach villa, following the manicured pathway passing by the resort’s spa and then the Boat House, the starting point for all the water sports and activities on offer. These include dolphin cruises, sandbank excursions, paddle boarding, sunset cruising and kayaking. 

_{Spa Reception}

The villa is flanked by swaying palm trees that seem to touch the sky. We have our own pool surrounded by sun loungers and spend our days flip-flopping between walks along the bleached sand to soak-up intoxicating turquoise sea views, then return to the privacy of our sundeck to chill in the sunshine. 

_{Frangipani Ocean Front Pool Villa}

As night falls, we head to the water, the gentle ripples lapping over us, and watch the dramatic golden sunset light up the sky before disappearing into the horizon. Our large lounge area has glass sliding doors that lead out to the pool.

The bedroom, where the king size bed takes centre stage, has a calming atmosphere, thanks to the vertical wooden beamed ceiling that creates even more space and leads into a smart marble bathroom comprising indoor and outdoor shower rooms and a sizeable freestanding bath with heavy ceramic tiled floor.  

_{Infinity Pool}

The resort spans 32 hectares of lush tropical vegetation dispersed with pops of colourful bougainvillea, all  fringed by a mile-long mesmerising palm-lined beach.  There are 66 villas of various categories, each with their own pool and outside seating area, ranging from garden views to beach-fronts, including plenty of two-bedroom family villas. 

We look forward to the relaxed atmosphere at dinner in the all-day restaurant. The recently appointed food and beverage manager, the charming Prasanta Ghora, and his team present a vast choice of dishes, many with Indian influence.

Each evening, the focus alternates with themed menus such as the seafood barbeque (which provided a massive hit). There are plenty of delicious alternatives to choose from, with light options such as freshly prepared pasta and salads also available. 

_{Sunset at The Residence Zanzibar}

For dessert, a vast array of tempting pastries and fresh fruit platters dripping with juice are artistically displayed in abundance. We also have breakfast here each morning, with its well-stocked buffet and egg station, with the opportunity to eat outside before it gets too hot.

A couple of evenings during our stay, we head to the recently opened Pavilion, a romantic, à la carte restaurant located al fresco under twinkling fairy lights. It’s where we reflect on our day while being serenaded by music selected by the resident DJ, and contemplate when we may return to this tropical paradise, only next time bringing our children.

by Amanda Bernstein

_{Rates start from £363 per night on a Luxury Garden Pool Villa for 2 adults on a half board basis (Including buffet breakfast & dinner).} 

_{For more information visit cenizaro.com}

The post Glass discovers a tropical paradise at The Residence Zanzibar first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

They are seen from the camp (and on boat safaris that daily view elephants, crocodiles and hippos)  with the comfort of — and this is the second reason — the eco-designer luxury of a very exclusive kind.

Sitatunga Private Island, the latest opening from the renowned eco-tourism company Great Plains, has been built from virtually 100% recycled material without sacrificing gorgeous adornments in bathrooms and all-suite accommodation for a small number of guests.

Each suite has its own indoor lounge, private pool and a deck for serene views over a lagoon in Botswana’s precious Okavango Delta.

Funnel-shaped fishing baskets, once used in the area to trap fish, inspired a design idea that features the rooms as tents hanging inside giant baskets. Personal service, a hallmark of Great Plains, extends to the provision of a complimentary professional camera and lens for use on safari walks and boat trips.

by Adina Ilie

From £1848 per night, all inclusive; for bookings and more information visit https://greatplainsconservation.com/safari/sitatunga-private-island’s/

The post A New and Private Slow-Safari Hideaway in the Okavango Delta first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

My room is contemporary yet homely, filled with fabrics in autumnal tones. “It is in my DNA to build, to create, to develop,” says Analjit Singh, the owner, who travels the globe sourcing artwork to drape the walls. Singh also devotes his time to enhancing the gardens – I step out of my room and walk into a sea of purple and white, blooming allium bulbs.

_{Le Quartier Francais – Central Auberge}

The hotel is home to Épice – the French word for spice – which serves an array of dishes catering for every dietary requirement. I later learn the restaurant boasts the same team behind La Colombe, and this explains the exceptional standard of cuisine. The staff go beyond offering warmth and service and at breakfast they enthusiastically entertain our baby and provide every measure to ensure her upmost comfort.

_{View from the spa at Leeu Estates}

A shuttle ride away, I arrive at twin property, the Leeu Estates, a grandiose out-of-town residential estate offering a paradisiacal retreat among rolling vineyards. The spa and its treatments are not to be missed. Gardens are filled with lily pads flickering in the sunlight, gently hummingbirds and the mountainous terrain beyond. There’s also a terrace restaurant where a meal here will further improve your day.

by Rachel Spencer

A stay at Le Quartier Francais starts at approximately £450 for two people sharing a double room including breakfast and complimentary wine tasting.

A stay at Leeu Estates starts at approximately £625 for two people sharing a double room, including breakfast and complimentary wine tasting.

leeucollection.com

The post Glass discovers Le Quartier Francais, a bijou retreat in South Africa’s Western Cape first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

Tswalu is home to 80 different mammals and 240 species of birds. But as South Africa’s largest private game reserve, covering over 100,000 hectares of land, guests need to be patient if they hope to catch sight of some of the reserve’s more elusive inhabitants.

 Cheetahs at the Tswalu Private Wildlife Reserve

The yellow-billed hornbill (think “Zazu” from The Lion King), I soon learn, is not among the Kalahari’s more bashful creatures. After checking into Tarkuni Homestead, one of several luxury camps available at Tswalu, I open the door to my room to find two of the territorial birds mid “intimidation flight”. One after the other, they swoop towards my window, attempting to scare off their own reflections. The duo make for a colourful, if somewhat aggressive, welcoming committee — and are another early indicator of the incredible diversity at the reserve.

Tarkuni Homestead, one of several luxury accommodations at Tswalu

The view from the patio at Tarkuni Homestead

Tswalu provides all guests with a private guide and tracker for the duration of their stay, who tailor the safari experience to each group’s interests. Early the next day, we set out in search of the creature at the top of my wishlist: the black-maned lion. There are only 20,000 left in the world, and Tswalu is home to several dozens. Quin warns it might take a while to locate the cats — but the journey provides an opportunity to see the tracking process in action.

Tracking, I learn, requires the ability to decipher meaning from the mundane. To me, a massive pile of black dung in the middle of the road is nothing more than a messy roadblock. To our tracker, Pete, it means a rhino is somewhere nearby — a white one, he says, owing to the dung’s dark color. Pete, who grew up on a farm near the reserve, picked up his tracking skills through a lifetime in the Kalahari. But Tswalu also offers a training program for youth from the surrounding area to learn the trade as well.    

Enrollees in Tswalu’s Tracking Academy

Several hours into our drive, there’s still no sign of our lions. Then, suddenly, Pete gestures to a patch of red earth nearby. We’ve found lion tracks, Quin explains, as he circles paw prints in the sand. Lions leave behind large, distinctive tracks and travel in groups — making their tracks easier to spot than their big cat cousins, like leopards or cheetahs. These tracks are also distinct, so likely fresh, meaning the pride must be nearby.

Unsurprisingly, Pete sees the beasts first. He points a few meters away from our open-air vehicle, where a dozen lionesses and cubs are hiding in plain sight, camouflaged by their earth-toned coats. Driving a bit further into the brush, we find the pride’s patriarch lounging in the shade of a shepherd’s tree, scratching his mane like a lazy house cat — albeit one with claws up to 38 millimetres in length.

One of two prides of black-maned lions on the reserve at Tswalu

With the sun starting to set, we part with the cats to make our way towards dinner. Meals are included at Tswalu, with most prepared by a personal chef in guests’ accommodations. But groups staying three nights or more are invited to ditch their safari wear for an evening of fine dining at Klein JAN — a restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen.

Klein JAN might be best described as a “dining experience.” The meal begins with cocktails and canapes on the porch of a century-old farmhouse, which has been carefully restored with historically accurate decor and furniture. Guests then travel down a spiral staircase leading four meters underground to reach a root cellar — kept cold thanks to an 18th century refrigeration system, for minimal environmental impact on the area.

At the other end of the cellar is an open-air dining room, cut into the hillside, where diners enjoy a seven-course tasting menu. The ingredients, down to the rainwater, are sourced from the Kalahari.

Klein JAN is located in a refurbished, century-old farmhouse

Klein JAN’s climate-controlled food cellar, four metres underground

The next morning, we stop by the Tswalu Foundation — a visit which helps make explicit an undercurrent in all of the experiences on offer at the reserve: the future of the Kalahari is in doubt. The thrill I felt spotting a yellow-billed hornbill in the wild my first day, for instance, was tempered after I learned the birds may go extinct as soon as 2027 due to climate change. Anti-poaching helicopters, which take daily flights overhead, are a noisy reminder that some of the reserve’s most prized creatures, like pangolins and rhinos, have been hunted to near extinction.  

Rather than shy away from these realities, Tswalu encourages guests to involve themselves in its many conservation and sustainability efforts. This could include a simple chat with pangolin expert, Dr. Wendy Panaino, who is studying the impacts of climate change on the mammals. Or a more involved trip, such as a multi-day excursion helping researchers ear notch young rhinos to study their habits and combat poaching.

A stay at Twsalu helps to support this important work — and test a theory that, by the end of my stay, I left hopeful might prove to be true: that luxury tourism, long an exacerbator of threats to the Kalahari, might instead help to save it.

The pangolin, coveted for its scales, is among the world’s most illegally trafficked animals

Guests can help researchers “ear notch” an anti-poaching tracking device on rhinos

by David Dodge

For additional info, visit Tswalu Kalahari: Private Wildlife Reserve

The post Glass learns to track big cats in South Africa first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

Set in the Tazi Palace, originally built for the King’s advisor in the 1920s, the 133 room hotel has been entirely transformed by OBMI & CCCRA architects, all while paying homage to its original grandeur, with suites and penthouses also available. 

Inside Fairmont The Tazi Palace Tangier

Celebrating the rich history and culture of Morocco, visitors will experience a cultivation of style and artistry native to Tangier, at a hotel which endearingly celebrates its surroundings.  

In addition to a fantastic wellness programme and unobstructed views of the Moroccan riviera, the hotel likewise boasts an eclectic mix of fine cuisine. From the Northern Mediterranean fusion of Crudo to the Persian hospitality of Parisa, guests will be spoilt for choice when it comes to dining.

by Ben Sanderson

The post Fairmont open new hotel in the heart of the Moroccan riviera, The Tazi Palace Tangier first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

Fairmont Nile City in Cairo

Fairmont Nile City has a grand and glitzy presence by the River Nile and its amenities (including a spa) are more enticing than the monotone greyness of the city around it. A rooftop pool beckons, ten floors above the Gold Lounge, and the Willow Stream Spa delivers equally blessed relief after returning from visits to Cairo’s world-class museums.

My body and mind were nicely primed for one of the house cocktails at the hotel’s Saigon restaurant, recommended for its intimate, darkly lit interior and a beguiling menu that is less Vietnamese and more a mix of Japanese and Thai favourites.

In the ancient land of the pharaohs, there is something a little surreal about enjoying sushi, papaya salad and tom yum soup in a dining room with contemplative views of the Nile. A bonus came with a very decent Egyptian Chardonnay selected from the wine list. In a Cairo museum I had seen images of wine making in tomb paintings and it was heartening to know that the tradition was alive and well after the passage of five millennia.

Rooms with a view at Fairmont Nile City

My traveller’s tip is to leave densely-packed Cairo without too much delay and head into the Nile Valley. The small city of Luxor, nearly 600km south of the capital, occupies both banks of the river and its west side, where buildings cannot exceed four levels, is placidly fronted by palm trees and tranquil water.

I was staying on the east side, home to the magnificent temple complex of Karnak and its monumental architecture –titanic columns, immense courts, obelisks – that collectively is more impressive than the pyramids. From the east bank, a bridge accesses the stunning Valley of the Kings and a temple built by Hatshepsut, Egypt’s only female pharaoh, that stands majestically in an amphitheatre of hills.

The splendid opulence of Steigenberger Nile Palace’s lobby in Luxor

The Steigenberger Nile Palace is a luxurious abode for a two- day stay in Luxor. All shiny marble from the outside, the lobby gives way to an open-air, fountain-centered quadrangle under intense blue skies. Two restaurants, a Lebanese and an Italian, occupy shaded corners of the open space but with the benefit of air-conditioned interiors.

There is also a Thai restaurant which is loveliest at night when you are seated on its balcony under a giant palm tree overhead, its fronds gently swaying in the evening breeze. You look across the Nile to the lit-up Temple of Hatshepsut and the ridge behind which pharaohs like Tutankhamen rested in peace until tomb robbers and archaeologists found them out.

Views across to the west bank from Steigenberger Nile Palace in Luxor

From Luxor it is less than 200 km to Egypt’s southernmost city, Aswan, a romantic destination for its serene riverside setting where lateen-sailed feluccas glide with grace across the water. A felucca cruise from Luxor is the most quixotic way to reach Aswan if your schedule can fit into a journey of two days and one night but I travelled by road and watched the scenery gradually change.

At first there were tableaus of farmers and their donkeys amidst lush landscapes of fields irrigated by canals from the Nile but these slowly gave way to the desert that encroaches closer and closer to the road. Aswan, when you arrive, feels like an oasis and the sensation is hard to shake off.  Vistas of amber sand and granite outcrops dominate the scenery.

Aswan, close to the First Cataract (there are six between here and Khartoum, 1000km further south), is known as ‘the gateway to Africa’ and it retains a sense of mystery which makes you feel like an explorer. Herodotus, an ancient Greek, came here in the fifth century BC to inquire about the source of the Nile but today one of the attractions is the giant dam that controls the river’s flooding.

On Elephantine Island at the Movenpick Resort in Aswan

The Movenpick Resort, the best hotel in Aswan, occupies one end of the island of Elephantine in the middle of the Nile. A small boat shuttles you freely to and fro whenever needed and this adds to the sense of seclusion – you are, literally, in the middle of one of the world’s greatest waterways.

The hotel’s exterior is unprepossessing but once inside it is easy to relax and slip into a state of contentment: waking up to views of the river’s far bank is sublime; the restaurants’ mezze are varied and delicious; and the hotel’s Nubian décor is calming and colourful. A small organic garden and a bird-watching hide are pleasing touches and excursions to see the famous Aswan dam and the temples of Philae can be easily arranged.

Sailing to Aswan on a felucca from Luxor

A window seat on the flight back to the capital confirms the geographical oddity that is Egypt. Most of the country is arid desert, devoid of settlements and uninviting in the extreme but the Nile is the source of fertile land which is home to over 100 million people. A trip down the Nile Valley, from Cairo to Aswan, brings home the strangeness and surprises of an ancient land which is inseparable from its river. It is a land whose people are steeped in traditions of hospitality and a politeness of the heart that is not easily forgotten.

by Sean Sheehan

For travel information, see www.egypt.travel; for direct flights from London and Dublin to Cairo, and domestic flights like Aswan-Cairo, see EgyptAir

The post Glass goes on a luxury exploration of Egypt and the Nile Valley first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

Wilderness Safaris’ remote luxury Namibian camps

Wilderness Safaris, which has been dedicated to conserving Africa’s wilderness through positive action since 1983, will ensure that guests are taken care of every step of the way, accommodating a small number of guests at each camp and ensuring comfortable social distancing.

Wilderness Safaris’ remote luxury Namibian camps

“We believe that the wide-open spaces and awe-inspiring landscapes of Namibia make this the perfect destination for those seeking the inspiration and healing power of nature during this time,” says Wilderness Safaris Namibia MD, Alexandra Margull. “Our luxury camps are small and exclusive, set within large, pristine wilderness areas, and offer our guests the opportunity to reconnect with the natural world, themselves and their families. We are particularly excited about the rejuvenated Little Kulala, which will offer a superlative holistic health and wellness experience.”

The surrounding Namibian wildlife

Inside Wilderness Safaris’ remote luxury Namibian camps

The vast assortment of fun-filled activities on offer range from adventurous e-biking and climbing the iconic Sossusvlei dunes, to discovering rare desert-adapted wildlife on game drives along the Skeleton Coast. “It is exciting to be resuming operations, not only for our staff to host guests again but also for our neighbouring communities, who largely rely on the tourism industry,” adds Margull. “We are so grateful for the assistance from our Chairman’s Foundation who have helped us to distribute food hampers to five conservancies recently which have helped hundreds of vulnerable families meet their basic food and hygiene needs during this time.”

Inside Wilderness Safaris’ remote luxury Namibian camps

Hosting guests once again will allow Wilderness Safaris to continue its community support, as well as its conservation and human-wildlife conflict mitigation efforts in north-west Namibia, both of which have been a major focus for the company during the pandemic.

The surrounding Namibian wildlife

“We understand that some guests may feel apprehensive about travel right now, but we have taken great care to enhance all of our health and cleanliness standards, in line with the World Health Organisation’s protocols,” points out Margull. “This situation has also given us a renewed appreciation of the impact ecotourism has on the lives of so many people, and we certainly look forward to creating life-changing journeys once again – journeys that enable us to continue making a positive difference.”

by Joshua Hendren

Little Kulala reopens on November 6,
Doro Nawas opens from November 3
and Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp from November 16

The post Wilderness Safaris welcomes guests back to its remote luxury camps in Namibia first appeared on The Glass Magazine.