Clouds Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Uganda

A lodge with the most stunning locations in Africa - looking out, from above the clouds, across the Virunga volcanoes of the Great Rift Valley and behind you the tangled jungle of the primordial impenetrable forest that is Bwindi and home to the precious mountain gorillas of Uganda. Since it opened, this small and remote lodge continues to win prizes, awards and accolades both internationally and locally.

The trailhead to see the Nkuringo Family group of gorillas is just steps away from the lodge, and the home range of this group of gorillas is around an hour and a half's hike from the lodge depending on the movement of the group at the time of your visit. There are currently an additional 5 other habituated gorilla groups easily accessible from the lodge.  Tracking gorillas is always high on the agenda, but other activities include forest walks, birding, and visiting the local community which the lodge embraces as part of it's award winning community based tourism.



Guests at Cloud stay in their own cottage, built of volcanic stone, with their own personal butler. Each cottage has a large sitting room with double-sided fireplace, private verandah and comfortable bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, and each features the work of one of Uganda's most respected artists (known as the 'Clouds 9'). Guests over the years have commissioned their own pieces and now the work of these artists grace the walls of homes and offices in New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles and London. The main building of the lodge has soaring ceilings, massive exposed wooden beams and big picture windows with endless views of treetops, volcanoes and mountains.



Boo's Best Because:

• The Gorillas
• Steps away from the Nkuringo trailhead for the gorilla tracking
• One of Africa's most stunning views
• Comfortable with fireplaces in every room, cozy duvets to ward off the chilll
• Great fresh food, much of it grown in the lodge's own organic garden
• Community partnership and involvement and a pioneer in eco-tourism for Uganda 
• Maximum Number of Guests: 18 guests in 5 double/twin cottages and 2 family cottages (children need to be aged 15 years and over to track the gorillas). 

Lewa Wilderness - Lewa Downs Northern Kenya

For 40 years guests have been visiting Lewa.

Situated on the northern slopes of Mt Kenya, the Lewa Downs Ranch has been the Craig family home since 1924 when the grandparents came from England and began raising cattle here. Lewa Wilderness is one of the original family homes and is still home to your hosts Will and Emma Craig. Today Lewa Downs has 3 extraordinary assets - beautiful countryside, excellent gameviewing (including the endangered species - rhino, grevy's zebra & sitatunga) and the major commitment to community development and participation.

The passion for adventure and conservation has continued over the four decades and Lewa has become Kenya's leading model for conservation on private land, and a leading catalyst for conservation and its direct benefits to communities.




Boo's Best because....

• Owned and hosted by the Craig family with a great history of conservation
• Loads of activities - gameviewing by vehicle, camel or horse, walking with Masai, farm and craft tours, cultural visits, rhino sanctuary, tennis, swimming, prehistoric sites, nightdrives, scenic flights in open-cockpit biplane 
• Perfect for a family safari
• Immediate gameviewing
• Maximum Number of Guests: 18

Accommodation: Nine guest rooms in thatched cottages set in stunning gardens with colourful birdlife, complete with horizon swimming pool. In the ranch house, make yourself at home relaxing in the sitting area filled with Kenyan memorabilia.

Closed April, May and November

Rates (in US Dollars): From $510 to $740 per person per night. Reductions for children.

Epic Train Journeys between Cape Town and Pretoria, South Africa

Epic Train Epic Train Journeys between Cape Town and Pretoria, South Africa


For many visitors to South Africa, there is no finer way to see the country than on the popular two night train journey between Cape Town and Pretoria. Both the Blue Train and Rovos Rail operate this route. The difference is that the style of the Blue Train is slick and thoroughly modern whereas Rovos Rail maintains the atmosphere of the Edwardian/Victorian era in keeping with the age of steam trains.

The Rovos cabins and dining room are beautifully renovated originals with handsome wood panelling and period features. The rebuilt sleeper coaches contain the most spacious train suites in the world. Each carriage has its own story - a few dating as far back as 1911 were constructed in Europe and shipped to South Africa. The train is hauled by steam, diesel or electric locomotives at various stages of the journey and carries a maximum of 72 passengers in 36 suites. In maintaining the spirit of a bygone era, there are no radios, no television on board and the use of cellphones is confined to the privacy of suites. Guests dress up for dinner and enjoy excellent cuisine and South African wines. There are stops at the picturesque village of Matjiesfontein and also at Kimberley, the diamond boom town.



Journeys between Cape Town and Pretoria are operated on a regular basis throughout the year. Other short journeys include Pretoria to Victoria Falls or Durban. There are longer journeys, operated once or twice a year, to Namibia or Tanzania, and including a 28 Day Cairo to Cape journey using a combination of aircraft and trains.

Singita Private Game Reserve

Singita Private Reserve, Sabi Sands, Greater Kruger National Park

Singita Private Game Reserve is located at the heart of the Sabi Sands on the south-western fringe of the Kruger National Park. The Sabi Sands is globally renowned for its diversity and concentration of big game, and the vast herds of buffalo and elephant, large prides of lion, majestic leopard and antelope by the thousands make Singita one of the finest locations in Africa for viewing the Big Five.

Within the private reserve are 2 lodges located just around the corner from eachother - Boulders & Ebony - and one camp - Castleton Camp. Castleton Camp can only be booked on an exclusive basis for a party of up to 12 guests, perfect for families or friends travelling together. Ebony is for the traditionalists and Boulders is for those who enjoy modern style accommodations - both are superlative, members of Relais & Chateaux and have won countless awards for their excellence, the latest accolade was to be ranked No 10 of the Best Hotels in the Middle East, African and Indian Ocean, Conde Nast Travel Awards 2011.



Boo's Best because....

• Just the best, immediate gameviewing, brilliant for wildlife photography
• Exquisite accommodations
• Outstanding food
• Excellent guides
• Maximum Number of Guests: 24 at each lodge.

Accommodations: Both Singita Ebony and Singita Boulders consist of 12 luxurious suites each.

Best Time: Year round but expect rain from November to March.

Rates (in South African Rand): R13,225 per person per night.

Exploring Malawi - Boo's Best

Malawi does not have the large herds of plains game and guaranteed predator viewing of other countries, but unlike it’s landlocked neighbours it does have the white sandy beaches of Lake Malawi, and this together with pockets of excellent gameviewing and the most welcoming and friendly people, make it a desirable destination.

The best gameviewing is along the Shire River from Mvuu Wilderness Lodge in the Liwonde National Park. The perfect end to a safari in Malawi or Zambia is a few days on the beaches at the exquisite Kawa Maya on Likoma Island, Lake Malawi. In the past we have linked Malawi and Western Tanzania by private charter.

Mvuu Wilderness Lodge

Liwonde National Park in southern Malawi is the country's premier gameviewing destination. The reserve encompasses the wide and scenic Shire River, the main river exiting from Lake Malawi, as well as quiet backwaters & lagoons, marshes, open savannah and floodplain, mopane woodland & hills. The lodge nestles discreetly in a lagoon just off the river and the main buildings are set high above the water with wonderful views. The wide variety of habitat in this small National Park supports an incredible diversity of plant, animal and birdlife. Elephant, sable antelope, waterbuck and impala are common. The birdlife is prolific and the rarer species can be seen with relative ease.

Boo's Best because....

• Best gameviewing in Malawi
• Great river cruises for close ups of crocs, hippo and birdlife
• Excellent birding around the lodge
• Large breeding herds of elephant
• Black Rhino sanctuary
• Maximum Number of Guests:   16

Accommodation: Spacious tents with private viewing platform looking out on to the lagoon.

Best Time: May to October inclusive

Rates (in US dollars): From $360 to $440 per person per night with a single supplement of $100.

Safaris in Kenya

Kenya is the spiritual home of safaris and remains Africa's most beautiful and diverse country and one of the few safari destinations with a strong traditional tribal life. For scenery Kenya is second to none. Breathtaking mountain ranges, tropical rainforests, the Great Rift Valley with it's soda and fresh water lakes, mighty rivers, stunning coastline and the wildlife is legendary - open plains dotted with wildlife to the acacia tree horizons, lakes rimmed with pink flamingoes, home of the Big Five, scene of the famous wildebeest migration.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not a country overcrowded with tourists, there are areas of tourist concentrations, you just have to know how to avoid them. The secret is to join Charlie McConnell on his privately guided safaris using his mobile tented camp to penetrate the more remote wildlife areas of his native country. Or stay in a combination of small exclusive camps and lodges, usually owner-hosted, located in game areas well off the beaten track.

Charlie McConnell Classic Safaris in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda




Ride Kenya



Off-beat riding safaris Kenya


Rekero Camp Masai Mara Reserve, Kenya

Botswana

Botswana: vast, barely populated with very diverse eco-systems, a gift of climate and geography. Nowhere else on earth does such a lush delta, the Okavango, simply sink into the sands of a desert, the Kalahari. The ebb and flow of this fresh water provides food and shelter to an astonishing variety of wildlife encompassing nearly 8500 square miles. The Okavango Delta is the most incredible and unique wildlife wilderness. 

The Kalahari, home to the Bushmen, too has some spectacular gameviewing areas with huge concentrations of zebra and wildebeest and the picturesque flamingos of the saltpans.  The country has enjoyed remarkable economic growth since independence and has remained entirely stable over the decades.


Ride Botswana
Okavango Delta



Okavango Horse Safaris
Okavango Delta of Botswana



Soren Lindstrom
Classic Safaris in Southern & East Africa


David Foot
Riding safaris in Botswana


Shinde Camp
Okavango Delta, Botswana


Mombo Camp
Okavango Delta, Botswana


Abu Camp
Elephant Back Safaris, Okavango Delta, Botswana


Zarafa Camp
Selinda Reserve, Botswana

Jack's Camp
Kalahari, Botswana