November 28, 2008

Mauritius Honeymoons

ROMANCE WITH LE RECIF HOTEL

Nestled on the protected Western coast of Mauritius, overlooking a bay sheltered from the trade winds, Le Récif is halfway between the coastal village of Grand Baie and Port Louis, the capital. This hotel is a charming and elegant haven for your holidays. At the foot of Le Recif lies a magnificent marine park which offers a wonderful site for underwater lovers. Surfers will also find an exciting surf spot.




Mauritius Holiday - Le Recif Hotel - Romantic Honeymoons

Price starting from: R10 400.00 per person sharing


Rooms Standard Garden view (25-30m2) 18 Standard Sea view (25-30m2) 37 Superior Sea view (40-45m2) 15
All rooms are equipped with: Individually controlled air-conditioning, Private bathroom, shower and separate toilets, Double queen sized bed or twin beds, Mini-bar, Individual safe, Hair-dryer, International direct dialling telephone, Television (satellite channels)
Electricity : 220 volts.

Available Services at Le Recif
Free - Kayak - Pedalo - Glass bottom boat - Snorkelling - Water Ski
Paying- Big game Fishing - Scuba Diving and Excursions
Restaurants at Le Recif

Le Pointe aux Piments
Main restaurant on the waterfront. Open everyday
Breakfast : buffet style, from 7.30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Lunch : “A la Carte” from noon to 3 p.m.
Dînner : International buffet with “live cooking” or “table d’hôte” from 7.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Seats : 100

L’Océan
Seafood restaurant “à la Carte” overlooking the sea, open everyday except sunday. Seafood specialities. Dinner (on reservation) : from 7.30 p.m. to 10. p.m. (with a supplement on the half-board credit). Seats : 25.
La Sirène Bar Main bar.
Ideal to look at magnificent sunsets over the lagoon. Open everyday from 10 a.m. till midnight.Snacks available up to 18hrs
‘Le Latanier’ Wellness Lounge
Take a breath of fresh air and discover our unsurpassed services:- Sauna - Hammam - Massage.

November 25, 2008

Vic Falls, Kruger & Cape Town

VIC FALLS, KRUGER AND CAPE TOWN

Experience the “Smoke that Thunders” when the mist of the mighty Victoria Falls hits your face. Wake up to the sound of a lion’s roar in the distance… Have breakfast with the magnificent Table Mountain as a backdrop… This package provides a combination of fly in destinations in order to limit the time spend on travelling. It does however allow you the freedom of self-exploration in Cape Town, via car rental. Victoria Falls, Kruger National Park and Table Mountain are some of the top attractions in Southern Africa. Our Zambia to Cape Town Safari will give you a feel of what Southern Africa is all about…

Victoria Falls Safari - Kruger Safari - Cape Town Safari

Experience the highlights of Southern Africa, Victoria Falls, Kruger & Cape Town...


Day 1 - 2: ZAMBIA / TAITA FALCON LODGE

On arrival you will be met and transferred to the lodge for 2 nights. Taita Falcon is stunningly perched on the very edge of the Batoka Gorge, offering a superb view of the raging waters 200m below. The chalets are open plan and constructed of reed and stone. Each chalet is en-suite, with mosquito nets in the rooms. For a real 'African Experience' Taita Falcon Lodge is the place to stay!
There are mosquito nets on all the beds and mosquito coils are used in the evenings. Taita Falcon Lodge is the perfect place to enjoy all the excitement and action of the Victoria Falls whilst retaining the essential peace and tranquillity of a remote African Lodge in the wildest of settings.
At Taita Falcon Lodge you will be spoilt for choice in an environment where you will be surrounded by breathtaking beauty and tranquillity.
During your stay you will have the opportunity to take part in numerous activities/ tours which will allow you to explore the area. The tours included are a Vic Falls Visit, Guided Bush Walk, Cultural Village Tour & a Sunset Cruise.


DAY 3: JOHANNESBURG / MICHELANGELO AT MANDELA SQUARE

This morning you will check in for your flight to Johannesburg. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the hotel for 1 night. The elegant Michelangelo on Nelson Mandela Square is the perfect vantage from which to observe the entertainment and corporate capital of Africa.
The Michelangelo makes a lasting impression, with its signature Renaissance architecture, elegance and service excellence, All suites have private bathrooms with a separate shower and toilet, hairdryers, radio, TV & pay movie channel, individually controlled air conditioning, direct dialing phones, electronic razor plug (220/110V), complimentary tea & coffee and mini bar. For your security, all rooms are equipped with electric safes and smoke


DAY 4-6: KRUGER / JOCK SAFARI LODGE

This morning you will transfer back to the airport to check in for your flight to the Nelspruit. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the lodge. Jock Safari Lodge incorporates the romance and elegance of the past colonial era, and reflects in its unique style the indigenous Zulu and Shangaan cultures.
This luxurious lodge is situated in the southern area of the KNP at the confluence of the Mitomeni and Biyamiti rivers, half way between Skukuza and Malelane. Twelve individual thatched suites, screened by lush trees and reed walls, offer guests utmost luxurious privacy, creating a unique experience of gracious old world elegance surrounded by unspoilt wilderness. Each suite, with queen or twin beds enveloped in a canopy of voluptuous white netting, has its own personal “sala” (thatched viewing deck), plunge pool, romantic Victorian ball and claw bath, his and her vanities and outdoor shower. The suites have been built overlooking the rivers and offer breathtaking river bed frontage, bushveld vistas and game viewing. Each suite is also fully equipped with 5 star amenities such as air-conditioning, fans, tea and coffee making facilities, mini bar and safe.During you stay at this luxurious lodge you will enjoy morning & evening game drives.


DAY 7 – 9: CAPE TOWN / THE LONG BEACH

This morning you will be transferred back to the Nelspruit airport for you flight to Johannesburg. On arrival in JNB you will collect your luggage and check in for your flight to Cape Town. Upon arrival in Cape Town you will collect your rental car to drive yourselves to The Long Beach.
The Long Beach is situated in the picturesque lobster-fishing village of Kommetjie, a short thirty-minute drive from Cape Town. It is truly a special place to stay, offering a rare and rewarding alternative, romantic hideaway. The beach, literally on your doorstep, is eight kilometers of fine, white powdered sand, so pristine that it alone will leave you breathless.
Each of The Long Beach's six luxury suites was designed with comfort in mind - to make the most discerning guest feel relaxed and thoroughly pampered. Each suite is adorned with colonial-style lime washed wooden shutters, which, when opened depict spectacular views of the crystal blue Atlantic Beach and the pure white sands of Kommetjie's famous, Long Beach.
Hotel facilities include a swimming pool, relaxing sun deck with ocean views and the perfect spot for whale - watching in season.
During your stay you will enjoy two full day tours: a Cape Peninsula tour and a Winelands tour. You will be collected and dropped off at the hotel for both these tours.

DAY 10: DEPARTURE
This morning you will drive yourselves to the CPT airport where you will drop off your vehicle and check in for your flight back to Johannesburg.

Enjoy your Safari with Lathita Tailor Made Travel

Victoria Falls Safari - Kruger Safari - Cape Town Safari

October 04, 2008

August 08, 2008

Jambo Kenya

JAMBO KENYA

I’ve never been to Kenya and my knowledge of the country was limited to media publications, which mostly focused on safari’s to the Masai Mara. This is my experience of this wonderful destination.

We were booked on a flight at 00h40, but the plane was delayed so we only departed at “ridiculous o’ clock” (03h45am) from OR Tambo Airport. We flew with Kenya Air, a very good airline, which served great meals and lots of drinks on the way to Nairobi. There were plenty of seats open so I could make myself comfortable and catch a few hours sleep along the way. The flight was under 6 hours and we touched down in Nairobi just after 11 o’ clock (Time zone: GMT + 1 hour). After border post formalities, we made our way to the domestic departures for a 45 minute flight to Malindi. Upon arrival we've been met by friendly faces in the national greeting “Jambo” (hallo). Being a coastal town close to the equator means tropical weather. We left a cold Johannesburg at barely 5 degrees C and arrived in Malindi where the winter temperature seldom drops below 25C. The Kenyan people are extremely friendly. We took a short transfer from the airport to Tropical Village, a Plan Hotel resort, located in an area known as Malindi Beach 1.

Tropical Village is true to its name- sultry with plenty of palm trees, landscaped gardens, typical Swahili architecture and Morocan décor. On arrival we checked in and received welcome cocktails…the first of many during our stay. I was a taken by the friendliness of the staff – jambo-jambo and karibo (you are welcome) was the lingo everywhere we went.


Malindi Beach was so different than what I imaged it – Kenya is world apart from everything I know in South Africa. As the sun set, more cocktails were served and we sat at the bar meeting new people from around the world.

Our first night in Malindi was rounded off by a Masai performance at the entertainment area in the resort. Back in our room we laid in a king size four poster bed, wrapped in a mosquito net, listening to the sea breeze rustling through the palm trees. This is the kind of stuff, romantic holidays are made of.



The next day we explored Malindi Village. The resort arranged a Village tour and we jumped into a mini bus. The streets were busy with busses, bicycles, cars, trucks, tuc-tuc’s (three wheeler motorbike taxis), pedestrians, coats and chickens …”the world and his wife was in town” (a description used by Charley Boorman in his book The Long Way Down – the book I was reading for the holiday). Even though the streets were packed to capacity, nobody lost their temper…”hakuna matata” – not a problem, is the outlook on every aspect of life here. Malindi Village is characterized by Arabic architecture and many small shops and informal markets. It is a colorful town with a fusion of Swahili and Italian culture. On tour we stopped at an informal market where eager sellers met us with friendly “jambo” greetings and traditional curios ranging from leather products and creative wood crafts to interesting fabrics. Price was negotiable and sellers liked to bargain on every item. Later the day we stopped at a typical Tavern for a taste of the local drink – palm wine. It is easily the most revolting thing I have ever drunk but at KES350 (less than US$1) per bottle, it is popular with the locals. On route we visited the Gedi Ruines, Watamu beach and a wood craft factory where local tradesmen hand crafted curios. At the hand craft showroom I could not resist buying more curios.

The next few days we spend lazing on the beach, the stress on normal life evaporating into to the clear blue sky over head. At Tropical Village there are plenty to do – morning stretching by the pool, aqua aerobics, archery, beach volleyball, dance lessons and many more. The resort sports a PADI centre and non-motorized water sports. In the evenings there is entertainment (“animazion” as it is called) which includes games, cabaret and African dancing…never a dull moment. The open lounge offered a relaxing atmosphere where you can just sit enjoy a few drinks or mingle with the other guests.

As an extra surprise, my husband arranged a romantic private beach dinner for two. It was picture perfect, with a wooden gazebo draped in soft white linen floating in the breeze and romantic background music against the brake of the waves just a few steps away. Our waiter served us wine, delectable seafood platters and decadent desert. It was a very special occasion.

When in Kenya one has to include a safari as part of your stay – the perfect beach and bush destination.

We departed at mid-morning from Malindi and made our way inland. We passed several villages and a natural forest, before the landscape started to change to a drier savanna. Tsavo East National Park is located about 2 and a half hours drive from Malindi. We were again welcomed by friendly staff and our ranger joined us for a late lunch before we embarked the game viewer for a game drive. The ranger was very knowledgeable and good in spotting animals, birds and plants along the way. We saw huge buffalo herds and elephants at the river. Back at the lodge we enjoyed a hearty dinner and we chatted to the other guests, who came to Galana River Lodge for bird hunting the next day. We had an early night, as we planned a morning game drive, starting at 05h30. The next day’s game viewing was exciting. We spotted hyena, lynx, bat eared foxes and jackal, animals which we do not often see in South Africa (perhaps because I usually do not get up at ridiculous hours in the morning for game viewing). By mid-day we returned to the lodge with great photographs of elephants, a variety of antelope and birds. We unfortunately did not see lion or leopard, but the experience was still satisfying. After freshening up and a quick lunch, we made our way back to Malindi.

All to soon our stay in Kenya has come to an end. We had one last night in this idyllic setting and we tried to make the best…but we were very tired after the safari and went to bed quite early.

Waking up I had a stone in my heart. I have fallen hopelessly in love with Kenya, but I had to return to work, home, traffic, bills and the normality’s of life. As we transferred to Mombasa for our flight back to South Africa, I was already busy in my head, planning our next visit to this amazing part of the world.

For more information about holidays in Kenya go to
www.lathita.co.za or write to info@lathita.co.za

I wish to thank Plan Hotels and their staff for their hospitality.

June 05, 2008

Bluebay Beach Resort - Zanzibar

Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa - “The most beautiful Beach Resort in Zanzibar”



Bluebay Beach Resort is situated on the finest wide, white, sandy beach on the island of Zanzibar. Located on the East Coast in an area known as Kiwengwa, the hotel is only 35 minutes drive from the town and the airport on a recently built tarmac road. Bluebay Beach Resort opened in December 1999 and offers a wide range of facilities in addition to the magic Indian Ocean "Spice island" itself.

Bluebay Beach Resort is situated on the most beautiful 25 acre site with its bedroom cottages located on rising ground overlooking verdant gardens, the public areas, the pool, the more than 1,000 beautiful palm trees, the sparkling white beach and the azure sea with its coral reef offering particularly warm and safe swimming.


Experience Zanzibar and Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa


The rooms
Bluebay Beach Resort offers 80 Superior rooms, 6 Deluxe rooms and 2 Sultan rooms, all of which enjoy magnificent views of the Indian Ocean. Each consists of spacious bedroom, separate dressing room, en suite bathroom and verandah or balcony.
All rooms are tastefully decorated using traditional Zanzibari furniture to include large four poster beds with mosquito nets, a writing bureau, coffee table and easy chairs. Split level air conditioners, ceiling fans, satellite TV's, mini-bars, hair dryers and telephones add a touch of luxury to each room whilst the presence of smoke detectors and fire alarms are a sign of our commitment to the safety and well-being of our guests.

Restaurant and Bars
The Bluebay Beach Resort 'Makuti Restaurant' enjoys magnificent views over the modern deck-level swimming pool to the ocean beyond and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner within our guests meal plan arrangements.
The main bar located beside the swimming pool serves a wide selection of European and South African wines, local and imported beers, spirits and minerals as well as coffee, Cappuccino and Espresso.
The Beach Bar and Restaurant, as the name implies, is situated on the very edge of the beautiful Indian Ocean and is an ideal place for guests to sip cold drinks or to enjoy a feast of seafood specialties, pizzas prepared in our authentic wood fired oven as well as other light fare, all served in an informal setting with toes in the sand and a magnificent thatched roof to shade you from the hot tropical sun.

The Spa
Being in harmony with the environment have always been a priority at Bluebay. Keeping to our ethic, we have created the most fantastic Spa in East Africa. By using primarily natural material the Spa has a relaxed tropical island feel. The wooden deck, the thatch roof built with palm trees growing up through it, the splashing water and the abundance of beautiful exotic plants makes the Spa the ultimate place to completely rejuvenate your body and elevate your mind.
A lifting sense of wellbeing engulfs you as you are guided by our professionals through our different treatment rooms, specialists at adapting to each persons requirements, they massages you in airy sea view rooms, over looking the beach and the turquoise ocean beyond.
As with everything at the Spa, the skin care products have been selected for their pure and natural ingredients. Ror a really memorable experience ask your therapists to blend and mix the local spices and fruits right in front of you. All these natural freshly prepared treatments are famous for their virtues for the body and aromas to relax the mind.
During these days of leisure, stimulate your taste buds as well, try out the health food options created by our connoisseur chefs using ingredients grown in our own gardens.


Experience Zanzibar and Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa

April 02, 2008

Travel to Africa

Travel to South Africa

Promoting travel to South Africa has the potential of increasing and expanding your travel business tremendously. South Africa has so much to offer, and almost everybody thinks of "Safari" when talking to them about travel to South Africa.An African Safari is an opportunity of a lifetime. South Africa has preserved wide tracts of land for conservation; allowing visitors to witness and experience close encounters with African animals at home in their natural habitats. Many game reserves can be found around South Africa, all offering excellent opportunities and experiences. The Kruger National Park, the largest game reserve in South Africa at nearly 2 million hectares is home to an impressive number of species.

The Big 5 - lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhino, are among these. Also to be seen are zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, cheetah, wild dogs and hippo. Private game reserves offer exclusive luxury accommodation in harmonious bush lodges or luxury tented camps. With most of these lodges in excellent settings, it is not uncommon to see game from your private viewing deck overlooking a waterhole. Game viewing takes place from open-air vehicles and a private game guide will ensure that the experience is unforgettable, getting you up close and personal with the wildlife. Before dark falls, watch the blazing African sunset melt away and darkness take its place as a lion roars in the distance. With every modern comfort, excellent cuisine and sipping South Africa’s delicious wines, the romance of Africa is certainly captured. Later around the campfire, recall and share the exciting experiences and game viewings of that day while listening to the calls of the night.

To ensure that your clients have an "experience of a lifetime" and have peace of mind about traveling to South Africa, there are certain things you need to be aware of when booking your clients on a tour and safari to South Africa. It is important to know the tour operator you are booking with. I suggest that an agent book their clients' safari vacations through a company that is familiar to them, not just an unknown company that they might have stumbled upon on the internet, but one that they personally know or that has been recommended to them. It is even better if that company has an office within the United States. Being able to call that company on a toll free number to talk directly with a representative and have all your questions answered is so assuring!Client satisfaction is key in selling any vacation, but is paramount when selling a safari vacation! Know what your clients' interests and needs are. Do your clients want a luxury tent accommodation or do they prefer a more modern lodge? Do they want to travel with a very small group only or do they want to be part of a larger group of travelers? Are they the more seasoned and adventurous traveler whose interest lies in a self-drive tour?

The baby boomer generation and senior travelers travel well in small groups. Traveling in smaller groups is much more enjoyable. This offers greater intimacy, and the leader and the guide can pay attention to each client and their comforts, and they feel that this tour is designed just for them. Escorted tours and personally accompanied tours make your client feel unique and safe. They are not just a number in a large group, but they get individual attention and have the opportunity to experience South Africa just the way they always imagined to.Look for a company that can cater to your clients' needs, one that can offers specialized tours and customized travel, one that is flexible and can offer tailor-made tours to meet your clients' needs such as honey moons, anniversary destinations, small group travel where your client is made to feel unique and safe, or even cater for larger groups such as university alumni groups. Your clients might be interested in cultural experiences, the theatre, home visits to local South Africans, or food and wine tours. South Africa boasts two luxury trains. Their main route is from Pretoria to Cape Town and vice versa taking either one or two days for the journey, but there are other shorter or longer side trips that are available. Both offer a memorable and very special experience.Another important aspect to consider is the issue of malaria.

There are a number of game parks and reserves in malaria-free areas that offer the "Big Five" (Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Rhino and Buffalo) game viewing experience in just a great a way as the famous Kruger National Park does. It is important for you to be able to offer this malaria-free safari option to your clients through the operator you are working with.South Africa is the destination of the future. Most of your clients have been to Europe, have done more than their fare share of cruises, and want to learn and experience something new. Exchange rates make South Africa particularly attractive. Some Americans are considering alternatives to a European holiday, as the euro-to-dollar exchange rate makes such trips more expensive. The situation has made South Africa, with the favorable exchange rate of more than 8 Rands per dollar, more alluring. And on closer look, many travelers discover the nation's offerings are often on par with those of Europe.

Lathita Travel offers unique travel to South Africa. Robin and Stella personally accompany the groups from the USA on requestand travel with them for the entire duration of the trip. For more information, contact Lathita Travel at www.lathita.co.za, robin@lathita.co.za, or call 1-866-466-8222 or 502-545-1878. (USA)