Molori Safari Lodge | South Africa
The word “molori” means “to dream” in Setswana and truly captures the essence of the Molori Safari Lodge, one of South Africa’s most luxurious game lodges.
Situated 400kms northwest of Johannesburg in South Africa’s Northwest Province, the reserve borders Botswana. The lodge offers wonderful views of an expansive valley and the Dwarsberg Mountains, as well as of an abundance of game.
This five-suite retreat, originally built as the owners’ corporate and family escape, was constructed in 2002 in the heart of the 75,000-hectare malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve. In 2007 the owners, Kirk Lazarus and Ivor Ichikowitz, decided to open the property to the public, at which point the retreat received a complete makeover transforming it into an intimate, local-chic Lodge which hosted its first guests in October 2008.
For families and groups of friends or those wanting complete and total privacy, Molori Safari Lodge is a good option due to its intimate scale. To appreciate all the resort has to offer, a minimum of a four- to five-night stay is recommended.
For close encounters with nature, Molori offers twice daily game drives that aim to leave guests with memories of much more than just the “big five.” The 75,000-hectare reserve boasts several prides of lion, large herds of elephant, black and white rhino, countless buffalo and more than 340 bird species, as well as the endangered cheetah, brown hyena and a healthy population of wild dogs.
Daily shuttle flight services are available, from Johannesburg International Airport (ORTIA) to Madikwe Game Reserve’s private airstrip. Guests wishing to arrive incognito may request the use of a private helicopter, which flies directly to Molori’s own helipad. Now that sounds like me!
Don't forget that the FIFA World Cup is on in South Africa 11 June - 11 July 2010. Safariworx arranges tailor-made travel around Africa, so contact them if you need help.
Phinda Private Homestead | South Africa
It is some years since I first visited Phinda Game Reserve. At that time the owners had just opened their boutique, PHINDA ROCK RESORT – notable for its small size and unique architecture/interior design. The folks at Phinda seem to be always on the move with new and really interesting offerings.
The latest is this sole use, exclusive lodge, which has been put together with small family groups in mind. Includes private ranger/host, tracker, butler, chef and dedicated safari vehicle.
‘Homestead’ offers four spacious suites accommodating eight guests. The lodge is open year round.
The homestead lies within the northern region of a 23,000 acre private Reserve. Greater St Lucia Wetland Park – a world heritage site is to the East and white-fringed beaches of the Indian Ocean only 30km away. Phinda is a BIG FIVE destination with excellent cheeta, white and black rhino, elephant, nyala (largest privately owned populations in the world) and lion.
Best time for game viewing is from March until the end of September.
The weather is sub-tropical with hot, humid, wet summers (September to April) and warm to cool dry winters (May to August). There are daily flights from Jo’burg to Richards Bay with other options available.
Las Casitas del Colca | PERU
Las Casita del Colca rests comfortably in the peace and serenity of the Colca Canyon in Southern Peru.
Colca, is one of the deepest canyons in the world at 3.25km deep and for a length of 100 km. Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon but with less steep walls, the Colca Canyon remains relatively undiscovered and untouched by tourism.
As part of the Volcanic Mountain Range of the Occidental Andes, spectacular vistas are formed by the volcanoes, some of which are still active including Hualca Hualca, Ampato and Sabancaya which looms in the background.
A fertile region, the canyon is dotted with traditional villages where farming still takes place on the pre-Inca and Inca agricultural terrace.
Dotted throughout the property are twenty private and spacious Casitas offering high-end luxury and exclusivity. Each Casita features a luxurious bedroom, spacious lounge and large bathroom all complimented by under floor heating, as well as featuring a private terrace and heated plunge pool.
The General Manager, César Torres, meets you on arrival and sets the pace for the staff. For instance, on a cold evening they are likely to offer you a blanket to wrap around yourself for the walk home. I'm a firm believer that small properties very much relect the personality of the person in charge and in this case a dedicated hotel professional turns the wheel.
This property works well with families. The drive in is quite long, so allow time to stop for tea and absorb the scenery. (There may be a helicopter service on stream soon, so check). An Orient-Express luxury hotel, Las Casitas del Colca presents an ideal opportunity to experience the beauty of the Andes, and I suggest you allow 3 nights to truly appreciate this marvellous hidden jewel.
Serrin House | Cappadocia, Turkey
As I mention elsewhere in this newsletter, the key to a great experience is an even greater host. Eren, the owner, falls over backwards and her staff follow. Somehow this amazing woman is ‘there’ 24 hours every day to take personal care of you. She greets every guest with her friendly dog (Findik), and waves you off with the warmest of goodbyes when you depart.
Set in the side of a hill and carved into boulders, Serrin House is a 15 minute (rather steep) walk from the town center, with stylish "cappadocia-cave-meets-Scandinavian design" interiors. The furniture appears to be hand-picked so that it somehow complements the moonscape that is Cappadocia ("Kapadoyka"). Stone floors and walls are accented by modern European plumbing fixtures. The central courtyard of the hotel acted as a great gathering point for all the guests to meet, share a drink, travel tales and lies!
Ask for Room 1 if you want more natural light and also more space. Be prepared for a darkish cave effect with the other rooms (but that is part of the charm). If you can’t live without the net, wireless works in Room 1, but not in Room 3 (not a surprise since it is a cave room) but wired connection is available at all times in the common room, which also has a TV (no TV’s in the rooms, in the interests of peace and relaxation)
Erin will advise you best ballooning companies and other places to go. She will no doubt include Ziggy’s in her recommendations. Ziggy's Shoppe & Cafe opened in spring 2007, and immediately developed a loyal following. The old Cappadocian stone house has been beautifully and artfully restored, with particularly lovely decorative stone carving (look especially for all the birds and vines).
Several fireplaces blaze with warmth and light on chilly evenings, and on those warm summer nights, the place to be is on one of the open-air terraces, enjoying the soft breezes and distant views.
The Levin - London
The Levin is owned and operated by David Levin, creator of the exceptional Capital Hotel. The hotel will have a special appeal to shopaholics as it's situated in a residential street, a short walk from Harrods and Harvey Nichols. An added attraction in this area is the array of boutique designer shops and boutiques of Sloane Street and Beauchamp Place. Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and Kensington Museum are on the doorstep.
The twelve newly decorated bedrooms with air conditioning include an in-room champagne bar and state of the art audio/video system. For insomniacs there's 24 hour room service and delicious dining options with the adjacent 'LE METRO BAR AND BRASSERIE' and 'THE CAPITAL RESTAURANT AND BAR'.
La Villa | Piedmont, Italy
Your arrival at La Villa, is celebrated with a glass of Prosecco courtesy the delightful owners, Chris and Nicola. The mood is quickly set for a distinctly personal experience. And only enhanced by the “Frette’ linens, hand made soaps and other attention to detail which is clearly evident. This ‘country house’ is one of the nicest you will find in Piedmont and is located with a triangle formed by Torino, Genova and Milano.
The Villa boasts exquisite interiors throughout, all with spectacular views over the vineyards in the backdrop of the snow capped Alps. Not to mention the excellent cuisine in La Vie Restaurant, an amazing chef, and the abundance of local produce massaged by wines considered to be amongst the finest Italy has to offer.
This destination has the advantage of being a little off the traditional tourist track, so if you don’t speak Italian, take a phrase book. You will need a car and preferably one fitted with a GPS. Although if you are prone to getting lost, Piedmont is not a bad place to do it!
If you are into wine the really good areas of Barolo and Barberesco and Dolcetto are about 50 minutes drive. Nicola and Chris provide maps, exact typed directions and will recommend and book lots of places for you to visit. Lange traditions are well exposed along the “Strada del Barolo e grandi vini di Langa” Wine Route, where everything - landscapes, cellars, inns - speaks of vino.
Consider that Piemonte is the ‘Slow Food’ centre of the world and the home of mouth-watering gourmet cuisine, so there are plenty of gantronomic options available. If eating out, we suggest you take the 15 minute drive to Restaurant San Marco in Canelli.
From the outside, the Michelin-rated San Marco, flanked by rather dull apartment buildings, looks unimpressive. Step inside and you enter a different world: an intimate, informal restaurant with a simple but elegant decor.
The chef, Mariuccia Roggero Ferrero, offers regional and seasonal dishes, including mushroom salads, pasta with truffles, tajarin, agnolotti 'al plin' and finanziera - plus home-made bread. Speciality desserts include Langa bunet, soft hazelnut 'torrone' and various pastries. The wine list includes over 600 labels. It’s pretty expensive but you don’t get eat big slices of white truffles on pasta every day.
Hacienda de San Rafael & Corral del Rey | Seville, Spain
The Hacienda de San Rafael, once a thriving olive estate, has been thoughtfully restored and converted into a luxury estate, striking a comfortable balance between rustic charm and modern sophistication. This privately owned eighteenth-century hideaway is perfectly positioned half-way between the historic cities of Seville and Jerez de la Frontera.
The eleven duplex rooms encircle a bougainvillea-filled courtyard, each with its own veranda, perfect for enjoying breakfast in the morning. The interior deĢcor bears the signature of their designer Kuky Mora-Figueroa, who has used fabrics, antiques and artefacts sourced on her extensive travels to Asia & India. For something extra special, the Hacienda has three casitas offering the ultimate in rustic chic. They lie in a scented private garden with a shared infinity pool, each has a large bedroom, separate living room and an upstairs siesta zone. An outside “chozita” offers guests a comfortable day bed for relaxing or individual dining.
It's ideally located for unearthing the charms of Andalucia. Touring options spread like spokes with Seville to the north; Cordoba and Ronda to the east; Granada to the south and Jerez and Cadiz to the west - with all the intriguing landscape and towns and villages in between. Take Les Pueblos Blancos (The White Villages) of Arcos, El Boque and especially Grazalema high up in the mountain with startling views and a menu of delicious eating places.
Hacienda is owned by entrepeneurial brothers Anthony and Patrick Reid, who also own Corral del Rey. Located in the centre of Seville in the old quarter of Barrio Alfalfa just five minutes from the Cathedral, the original 17th Century Casa Palacio has been meticulously restored and converted and offers chic accommodation.
Situated around the galleries of the central courtyard are the six (mostly quite small) bedrooms which fall into three categories; superior, deluxe and junior suite. Each room has its own creative 'look', also designed by Kuky Mora-Figueroa. There is a state of the art sound/vision system in each of the bedrooms as well as marble and limestone bathrooms with walk-in rain showers and very good quality linen. Taking a dip in the rooftop pool is an ideal way to cool down in the hot Seville sun
Estancia Vik Jose Ignacio |Uruguay
Here's a blue ribbon treat for horsey art lovers! Estancia sits on 4,000 acres in the rolling countryside of Jose Ignacio, Uraguay.
Jose Ignacio is Uraquay's idyllic, vibrant coastal area, located 20kms north east of Punta del Este. It's emerging as Uraguay's premier international destination, drawing travelers to enjoy the pristine beaches, nature, rugged landscape and relaxed bohemian atmosphere.
Estancia Vik has the rare combination of elegance and comfort. Each room is an work of art and has been beautifully designed by different Uruguayan artists - but with great oversight by the founders who have ensured that every space in the Estancia meets seamlessly.
Every piece of furniture appears to have been meticulously chosen and blends perfectly with the modern ranch feel. The architecture is equally impressive and unique to Uruguay. The residence has two accommodation wings, each with 6 rooms.
These images paint the picture - so to speak!
In keeping with local tradition, the Estancia showcases a Uruguayan Parillero (barbeque) with the traditional tin walls and fogon (central open fire). Celabrated artist Marcelo Legrand painted the walls and ceiling in his brilliantly chaotic style.
The Resort, which opened in February 2009, has a stable of fine Criollo riding horses and its own polo field.
SIGNOFF
That's it for my inaugural publication year. In the first issue for 2010 I'll introduce you to a brand new no-expense-spared resort which has been built by the owner of RED BULL. Be prepared to be excited - and start saving.
The opinions expressed are my own and not tainted by any lodge 'sponsorship'. I encourage you to do your own research as well, and one of the most useful sites I could suggest for any travel opinion is www.tripadviser.com.
If you make contact with any of the lodges I have included it may be helpful (to both of us!) if you let them know that you have been referred by me and LUXURYLODGE.com.
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