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Zimbabwe

Revisiting Magical Mana Pools, Zimbabwe

By Lyndon Duplessis Mana Pools is a near-legendary national park which lies along the lower Zambezi River in far north-eastern Zimbabwe.  Renowned for its game-viewing (elephants, big cats, buffalo, plains game & African painted dog), the area is highly atmospheric and for many seasoned safari goers, Mana Pools is the holy grail.  Being on the Zambezi and with the Zambian…
Bert Duplessis
August 24, 2024
Madagascar

Madagascar – An Enduring Love Affair – Part 2

In Part 1 of my Madagascar blog - which can be found here - about our June-July 2024 return trip to Madagascar, we dealt with the many things which make it such a special place. Headed up predictably by an entire family of primates, the lemurs, each of the more than 100 species of which is found only in Madagascar,…
Bert Duplessis
August 24, 2024
Tsara Komba

A Superb Madagascar Holiday Hide-away: Tsara Komba

By breakfast on day two I was hooked on Time & Tide’s Tsara Komba, an intimate island resort with eight ocean facing chalets on the beautiful small island of Nosy Komba, in far north-western Madagascar. All it took was a taste of the most divine ‘pain au chocolat’ followed by a bite of a perfectly executed croissant. Only the French…
Bert Duplessis
August 22, 2024
Madagascar

Madagascar –
An Enduring Love Affair

Madagascar for me, has been an on and off love affair. Mostly of the long distance kind but always smoldering just below the surface. Just an image, a song or a thought away from being back where it all began in 1999. It was infatuation at first sight when I saw my first ring-tailed lemur at Berenty that many years…
Bert Duplessis
August 1, 2024
Madagascar

Anjajavy Le Lodge, Northwestern Madagascar Coast

I first became aware of Anjajavy some years ago at a travel industry event in Cape Town and a visit to the resort had slowly percolated to the top of our ‘must-visit’ list. Reflecting upon our all too short visit there, I regret that we had not made it to Anjajavy sooner. It is a jewel of a spot, as…
Bert Duplessis
July 26, 2024
Botswana

On Safari at Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, Okavango Delta

What is the ‘secret sauce’ for an unforgettable few days on safari in Botswana?  It starts with the animals, of course.  The elephants, lions, giraffes, hippos - all of them.  Add a beautiful, romantic setting.  And finish it off with first-class accommodation, food and drinks and an expert guide to help you understand and appreciate the nuances and little-known secrets…
Bert Duplessis
August 4, 2022
Uganda

Uganda: People, primates and the ‘old Africa’ vibe

My one-word review of Uganda?  Vivid.  Just like it says in the dictionary:  Intensely deep and bright and producing powerful feelings and strong, clear images.  There’s nothing standard, neutral or monochrome about Uganda.  It is larger than life, bursting with energy, color and vitality, with simply spectacular diversity on every level:  the people, the countryside, the animals and birds and…
Bert Duplessis
July 28, 2022