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      Okavango Delta

      Okavango Delta

      Arguably the most well known of Botswana’s attractions, the Okavango Delta is without doubt one of the most beautiful places on earth. Home to all of …/

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      Scenic Helicopter Flights from Cape Town – see the Cape from a different angle

      Scenic Helicopter Flights from Cape Town – see the Cape from a different angle

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Author: Vanessa Ratcliffe

Author: Vanessa Ratcliffe

Home Archives for Vanessa Ratcliffe Page 6
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Vanessa Ratcliffe

Vanessa was one of the first Cape Town tour guides, way back (before email, before Google, before Blogs) around about when the V&A Waterfront was developed and safaris weren’t so luxurious. She has travelled up and down the South African coastline and overland to Zimbabwe and through Namibia and done a stint in Malawi. She has sampled an enviable collection of fabulous safari lodges and boutique hotels and dreams of going hot air ballooning over the Masai Mara. She loves doodling, hosting dinner parties and reading.

Posts

Now more than ever, is the time to help those in need

Now more than ever, is the time to help those in need

By Vanessa Ratcliffe, April 7, 2020
Posted in: News

I've heard Covid-19 is being referred to as a Business Class virus. In so many ways it is... Africa is feeling vulnerable right now. We are acutely aware that it's the less fortunate in Africa’s informal settlements who can't self….../

Now more than ever, is the time to help those in need
Tswalu: Remote And Unique In The Red Sands Of The Kalahari

Tswalu: Remote And Unique In The Red Sands Of The Kalahari

By Vanessa Ratcliffe, February 1, 2020
Posted in: News

Tswalu Private Game Reserve sits in the heart of the Northern Cape province of South Africa, within easy driving distance of both the southern border of Botswana, as well as of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Covering an area of over….../

Tswalu: Remote And Unique In The Red Sands Of The Kalahari
Green Season Safari: The Best Time for Wildlife Photography plus Great Value

Green Season Safari: The Best Time for Wildlife Photography plus Great Value

By Vanessa Ratcliffe, January 18, 2020
Posted in: News

Traditionally the best time to go on Green Season Safari in Southern Africa is in the dry winter months (May to August) when the bush is dry and sparse making spotting the game a whole lot easier. At this time,….../

Green Season Safari: The Best Time for Wildlife Photography plus Great Value
#VictoriaFallsIsNotDryingUp

#VictoriaFallsIsNotDryingUp

By Vanessa Ratcliffe, January 14, 2020
Posted in: News, Zimbabwe

Is Victoria Falls really drying up? Having just been at beautiful Vic Falls in December, we were appalled as our news feeds – like yours no doubt - began to flood with alarming ‘reports’ and photographic ‘evidence’ that this spectacular World….../

#VictoriaFallsIsNotDryingUp
&Beyond’s Spectacular Sossusvlei Desert Lodge Relaunch

&Beyond’s Spectacular Sossusvlei Desert Lodge Relaunch

By Vanessa Ratcliffe, November 27, 2019
Posted in: Namibia, News

One of our all-time favorite Namibian lodges has had the most magnificent revamp - and we can't wait to head over to the spectacular desert region of Sossusvlei to experience it for ourselves.   Nestled deep in the heart of….../

&Beyond’s Spectacular Sossusvlei Desert Lodge Relaunch
Madala Bags: Designed for Adventure

Madala Bags: Designed for Adventure

By Vanessa Ratcliffe, November 23, 2019
Posted in: News

Now that we've got your safari planning under control, you may be wondering what kind of bag you should buy... Just like you, we've all had our first safari - or perhaps your first safari was a packing disaster, with….../

Madala Bags: Designed for Adventure
Ngorongoro Crater: Our Top Tour & Activity Guide

Ngorongoro Crater: Our Top Tour & Activity Guide

By Vanessa Ratcliffe, October 14, 2019
Posted in: News, Tanzania

Looking for an African adventure that cuts out  all the the usual safari clichés and is so full of different activities and tour styles that it'll pique the intrigue of even the most seasoned safarian? Tanzania’s pure, pristine wilderness is….../

Ngorongoro Crater: Our Top Tour & Activity Guide
Update on water levels in the Okavango Delta

Update on water levels in the Okavango Delta

By Vanessa Ratcliffe, July 19, 2019
Posted in: Botswana, News

This summer, Botswana was hot and dry. The 2019 summer rains were not as plentiful as previous years, and unfortunately the rainfall in the Angolan highlands was below average too.  As a result the annual flow of water into the Okavango….../

Update on water levels in the Okavango Delta
Brand New Year, Brand New Properties!

Brand New Year, Brand New Properties!

By Vanessa Ratcliffe, January 11, 2019
Posted in: News

With this superb selection of brand new builds and some of the most exciting lodge renovations we've ever seen, 2019 promises to be a year filled with 'next level' safari experiences! &BEYOND TENGILE RIVER CAMP (NEW) Location: Sabi Sand Game….../

Brand New Year, Brand New Properties!
Revealing Rwanda’s New Lodges

Revealing Rwanda’s New Lodges

By Vanessa Ratcliffe, December 19, 2018
Posted in: News, Rwanda

With the brand new year unfolded before us like a just-bought map - crisp, unmarked and beckoning with possibility - we've pinned down Rwanda as the most exciting new  'sustainable and versatile safari destination'!  With Wilderness Safari's Bisate Lodge leading….../

Revealing Rwanda’s New Lodges
Convince me to go to Africa!

Convince me to go to Africa!

By Vanessa Ratcliffe, September 5, 2018
Posted in: Namibia, News, South Africa

Need convincing why you should plan an Africa trip? 1. VALUE FOR MONEY South Africa, in particular, is where your $ travels as far as you will, especially when dining at world-class restaurants, enjoying the finest of wines and exquisitely authentic retail experiences….../

Convince me to go to Africa!
Busanga Plains – Zambia’s best kept secret

Busanga Plains – Zambia’s best kept secret

By Vanessa Ratcliffe, June 12, 2018
Posted in: News, Zambia

Zambia’s remote Busanga Plains are one of the best places to visit in Southern Africa if you want to see lions. Find out more about what to see and where to stay in the Kafue National Park, one of Africa’s lesser….../

Busanga Plains – Zambia’s best kept secret
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TrustScore 5 | 337 reviews

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