Travel

  UNFORGETTABLE SAFARIS - five ways in five days By Neil Kook Mashatu is a private wildlife sanctuary located in northern Tuli at the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo rivers where eastern Botswana meets South Africa. It’s not called “Land of Giants” for nothing – it is home to the largest population of elephants (1000+) on private land on the continent, as well as prolific wildlife and bird species. What sets Mashatu apart is its vast open spaces, the...

By Steve Taggart The Portuguese property market is showing significant signs of improvement, as domestic and international buyers alike take advantage of the low prices that the Iberian country now offers. After three years of falling values, Statistics Portugal has revealed that property prices increased by 1.22% in the year to the first quarter of 2014, though prices are still well below their 2007 peak. In the southern Algarve region, for example, they remain 22.5% below their peak level. The...

By Sky Holmes ART WORLD GIANTS MEET IN PICASSO/DALÍ, DALÍ/PICASSO! Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida one of only two venues to host this landmark exhibition. Set in an inviting locale for art lovers wanting to escape the grey skies of Britain, the Dalí Museum in St Petersburg, Florida tells one of art history’s great untold stories in a new landmark exhibition. Picasso/Dalí, Dalí/Picasso explores the legacies of two of the most influential 20th century Spanish artists, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí and features...

By Naomi Nightingale  The Shangri La Hotel at The Shard and The Goring are two very different hotels, that represent two sides of London, but which is the London I love? It is my belief that there are two sides to London. While both are set in this exceptional, urban jungle, featuring the same landmarks and people, their differences are as prominent as the twinkling beacons that tell us we are home. The sides to which I refer are the...

By Henry Austin There’s a phrase in the Kurdistan region of Iraq: “Those days when we had no friends but the mountains.” It speaks to a time when as a people they had nowhere else to seek shelter from oppression, most recently from the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein. Today they have plenty of friends as they stand on the front line in the battle with the extremist Islamic State rebels in both Syria and Iraq. From a safe distance...

 By Naomi Nightingale  Nothing is off limits, even for a solo, female traveller, but if you’re daring enough to take to the streets of Marrakech alone, be sure you’re in the travel know.    There is a land that has caressed my dreams ever since I heard of its flowing deserts and colourful culture. It has always been a waiting wonder, whose path I’d never gained the privilege of crossing. Marrakech, Morocco, Africa’s diverse daughter, had eluded and teased my...

By Neil Kook  WINTER IS HERE and many are starting to dream of escaping to warmer climates this Christmas. Why not spend the festive season sunning yourself on the beach in Mexico, snorkelling in Indonesia, or wandering the markets in Germany? Lamudi has compiled the top eight locations for winter getaways this Christmas. Nusa Lembongan, Bali, Indonesia Still relatively unknown, the stunning Nusa Lembongan is one of a group of three islands making up the sub-regency of Klungkung, located southeast...

By Anastasia Miari Santiago's Sandwich Take -over Sandwiched between the Andean mountains, Santiago, the Chilean capital has become somewhat of a hub for gastronomy in recent years. The economy has been growing consistently, with Chile leading Latin America in income per capita. This means an increased penchant for dining out amongst the Chileans, as well as a flourishing bar and restaurant scene. Funny then, that a metropolitan melting pot of cultures like Santiago, full of sushi hot spots, ceviche restaurants...

WHAT’S NEW AND HAPPENING IN LISBON THIS SEASON  Quirky tours, trendy restaurants and colourful exhibitions land in the Portuguese capital By Neil Kook       Lisbon, Libson, Lisbon. Despite being one of Europe’s most ancient and historic capitals, Lisbon is constantly evolving to meet the demands of the modern traveller, adding a host of new attractions, tours and exhibitions to its already impressive repertoire. Here are some of the latest:  NEW TOURS  Street art tours: Fans of Banksy and...