Luxury Trains, Deluxe Camps & Beautiful Beaches

We were celebrating my father's 60^th and a group of fourteen of us were booked on the wonderfully luxurious Rovos Rail train, which winds its way through South Africa and Botswana to arrive on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls two nights later.

Words cannot really do justice to the sheer opulence of this train.  From the moment you arrive at the Capital Park Station in Pretoria, you are transported back to another era and literally treated like royalty.  On board the train everything surpassed even my lofty expectations, from the beautifully appointed rooms to the antique wood panelled dining carriages.  The food and service is quite spectacular and dressing for dinner adds to the atmosphere.  The journey itself is fascinating, and so with nothing to do but sit in the open-aired observation carriage with a cool drink in your hand, you can watch the African landscape slip by.

We alighted at the famous colonial Victoria Falls Hotel, offering the best views of the Falls.  The hotel itself is steeped in history and feels as though it is from another era, but it is very comfortable with good food and service.  The Falls are just a 20 minute stroll away, but you have to look out for rogue buffaloes on your walk which can be grazing just off the path!

The following morning we flew back to South Africa and spent a night in the Kruger Park before I departed to stay at the super luxurious Chitwa Chitwa Camp in the nearby Sabi Sands.  I have been lucky enough to stay at a number of camps in this area of the Kruger and they are all very competitive with each other regarding food, luxury and game viewing and Chitwa Chitwa is no exception.  Although it was an unseasonably grey and rainy day when we arrived, I was instantly made to feel at home with hot chocolates and a delicious lunch over looking the waterhole.  My room was absolutely huge, with a lovely deck and plunge pool and one of the biggest beds I've ever seen.  In spite of the rain I still had a great game drive with a lot of white rhino and a leopard so close I thought it was going to get into the jeep with us!

The next day I set off for Mozambique on a flight out of Nelspruit, the local airport.  I started with a stay at Indigo Bay on Bazaruto, which is the most resorty place in Southern Mozambique, with about 45 rooms and a wealth of things to do to keep any family happy.  There are three pools and a stretch of incredible white sand leading down to a turquoise sea.  The rooms were lovely, very spacious and cool and mine opened right onto the beach with a little hammock which gently swayed in the breeze.  A stay at Indigo Bay is incomplete without a visit to their new spa, set on top of a hill with outstanding views out to sea.  I indulged in a body wrap which was quite an experience!  I only had time to fit in some snorkelling but there is also waterskiing, diving, fishing and sailing so you'll never get bored at Indigo Bay.

The last stop was undoubtedly the most luxurious.  Azura Retreat on Benguerra Island has just finished an extensive rebuild and is looking spectacular.  I was put in the Villa Amizade with two bedrooms and two bathrooms as well as a living room and a bar which looks out over the pool and a deserted stretch of beach.  Nothing was too much trouble for the staff here and I was spoiled endlessly, with massages, sparkling wine and an evening trip on their dhow just as the sun was setting.  Unfortunately the weather didn't hold on the second day so I couldn't do any more interesting water based activities, but during the rain we were wrapped with fluffy blankets and brought hot chocolate and snacks while I watched the latest James Bond - perfect!  The food was exquisite and one night there was a tasting-menu with seven dishes.  I lost track a bit, but each one seemed to be more delicious than the last.  Suffice to say they definitely deserve their Relais & Chateau status. 

I also got a chance to visit Marlin Lodge, Benguerra Lodge and Bazaruto Lodge during my stay in Mozambique and the great thing is that they are all so different from each other.  One of the recurring themes in Mozambique however, is the friendliness and welcoming charm which I experienced wherever I went. 

I was flown out on a helicopter with a transparent floor which was an incredible experience, and despite the rain I still managed to spot a dolphin playing in the waves below.  My stay in Mozambique had been far too short and I just can't wait to go back to see more of it in the sunshine.

Email or call our Africa Team on 020 7386 4646 for more information.

Costs for our 13-day 'Ultimate South Africa' tour start at £2,445 per person inclusive of flights from London.

Read more about holidays in South Africa and Mozambique