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Sri Lanka

Feb 5, 2020 Mark Hobbs

Sri Lanka: Sigiriya Rock Fortress

The Sigiriya palace and fortress complex in central Sri Lanka is recognized as one of the finest examples of ancient urban planning, which has resulted in it being recognised in 1982 as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Versailles, France

Aug 5, 2022 Mark Hobbs

France: Paris, Versailles

The Palace of Versailles was the principal residence of the French kings from the time of Louis XIV to Louis XVI. Embellished by several generations of architects, sculptors, decorators and landscape architects, it provided Europe with a model of the ideal royal residence for over a century.

Malaysia, Penang

Dec 15, 2023 Mark Hobbs

Malaysia: George Town, Penang

George Town is the colorful, multicultural capital of the Malaysian island of Penang. Once an important Straits of Malacca trading hub, the city is known for its British colonial buildings, Chinese shophouses and mosques.

Costa Rica

Dec 15, 2023 Mark Hobbs

Costa Rica: Limon Province - Ara Manzanillo

Once prevalent throughout the entire Costa Rican Caribbean, Great Green Macaw populations have declined alarmingly in recent decades. The Ara Manzanillo project is one of the programmes aiming to reverse the decline of these beautiful birds.

South Africa:

Dec 15, 2023 Mark Hobbs

South Africa: Kruger National Park

The world-famous Kruger National Park is South Africa’s largest game reserve and one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries on the planet. The Kruger has nearly two million hectares of unfenced wilderness, in which more mammal species roam free than in any other game reserve.

National Parks & Monuments

UNESCO World Heriatage

Unique & Obscure Attractions

Wildlife & Conservation

About Mark & Karen

We have always had itchy feet and loved to explore both close and far. What we’d like to do is spend even more time traveling and finding out more about the fantastic and diverse world in which we live!

As part of our mission we actively working on developing our lifestyle to reduce our footprint and impact on the resources of the planet and at the same time free up more of our time and money to use for traveling.

Initially, we sold our house and moved full-time into an RV. In 2022 we cut loose and hit the road.

We have always tried to be conscious of what we put into our bodies which has eventually led us on a path to veganism. Beyond this we are trying to be greener and are adopting a minimalist lifestyle (living in an RV forces you to live with less).

Blog Posts

Belize: The Belize Barrier Reef system

Stretching nearly 185 miles along the entire coastline, Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world. The Belize coastline is also dotted with hundreds of picturesque, and mostly uninhabited, small islands called cayes (pronounced keys) and three of only four atolls in the Western Hemisphere.

Thailand: Bangkok – Wat Suthat Thepwararam

The Wat Suthat is one of the most important and one of the oldest temples of the Rattanakosin era in Bangkok. It is one of the six temples in Thailand of the highest grade of the first-class Royal temples.

Bhutan: Black-Necked Crane Festival

The Annual Black-necked Crane Festival is held every year on November 11th at Gangtey Gonpa, located in the Gangteng-Phobji Valley in Bhutan. The Black-necked crane is the only alpine crane species on the planet and is revered as a symbol of longevity in Bhutan.

Thailand: Bangkok – Bangkok National Museum

A visit to the National museum reveals the History of Thailand And how people lived during the different periods. It gives you a view through the windows of the past. The National Museum was established in 1887 by King Rama V. The original building was formerly the palace of a vice-ruler.

A perfect view of the Tiger's Nest monastery from the viewing platform - Paro Bhutan

Bhutan: The Tiger’s Nest

Paro Taktsang་, also known as the Tiger's Nest, is a sacred Vajrayana Himalayan Buddhist site located in the cliffside of the upper Paro valley in Bhutan. It is one of thirteen Tiger's Nest caves in historical Tibet in which Padmasambhava practiced and taught Vajrayana

Thailand: Bangkok – Jim Thompson House

American Jim Thompson was an officer at the OSS, stationed in Thailand during World War II. After the conflict ended, he stayed in the country to work on a new business plan. In 1947, he sent bolts of vibrant, hand-woven Thai silks to fashion heavyweights in New York City.

Thailand: Bangkok – Chatuchak Weekend Market

The Chatuchak Weekend Market, on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, is the largest market in Thailand. Also known as JJ Market, it has more than 15,000 stalls and 11,505 vendors, divided into 27 sections.

Sweden: Tanum carvings – World Heritage Site

The Tanum rock carvings are an outstanding example of Bronze Age art. There are an astonishing 1,500 known rock carving sites in western Sweden’s Bohuslän region, including the ones in Tanum, where inhabitants from the Bronze Age have carved images into the smooth rocks of the landscape.

Nepal: Chitwan National Park & Reserve

At the foot of the Himalayas, Chitwan is one of the few remaining undisturbed vestiges of the 'Terai' region, which formerly extended over the foothills of India and Nepal. It is home to one of the last populations of single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros and Bengal tigers.

Thailand: Bangkok – Giant Swing

Standing nearly 90 feet tall, the Giant Swing is located in front of Wat Suthat in the heart of Bangkok. The teak archway, originally used in religious ceremonies, was constructed toward the end of the 18th century, during the reign of King Rama I

Turkey: Ephesus Archaeological Site

Ephesus is an ancient city in Turkey’s Central Aegean region, near modern-day Selcuk. Its excavated remains reflect centuries of history, from classical Greece to the Roman Empire – when it was the Mediterranean’s main commercial center – to the spread of Christianity.

Greece: Meteora Monasteries

The impressive rocks of Meteora rise from the plains of Thessaly making it one of the most amazing places in Greece. Centuries ago monks inspired by this natural wonder started building monasteries high up on the rock pillars, making a fascinating place to visit.

Hungary: Budapest – St Stephen’s Day Festival

On August 20th, the Hungarians celebrate the name day of their first king, King Stephen. This is one of three national holidays in Hungary, but the only one that isn’t related to a revolution or a political riot.

Austria: Vienna – Schönbrunn Palace

At the end of the 17th century Emperor Leopold I commissioned the Baroque architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, to design an imperial hunting lodge for his son, Crown Prince Joseph, later to become Emperor Joseph I. Replacing the château de plaisance built on this site. It was to grow into a palatial imperial residence over the course of the eighteenth century.

Denmark: Helsingør – Kronborg Castle

Kronborg Castle has existed at Helsingør (Elsinore) since 1420. It’s been burned to the ground and rebuilt since, but always maintained its vital position at the head of the Øresund Sound. This is the actual castle that Shakespeare set Hamlet in.

Looking up at the main temple structure - Wat Saket Golden Mount - Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand: Bangkok – Golden Mount

Widely regarded as one of the oldest temples in Bangkok, Wat Saket Golden Mount was built in the Ayutthaya period, which spanned from the 1300s to the 1700s. It has been continuously renovated by various monarchs since its completion, most notably by King Rama V.

There are so many lovely wooden buildings in Roros

Norway: The old mining town of Røros

The traditional mountain village of Røros in Trøndelag is one of the oldest towns of wooden buildings in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Røros came into existence in 1644, after the first copper discovery in the area. Over the years, it became one of the most important mining towns in Norway.

Indonesia: Java – A local village tour

Borobudur is surrounded by many vilages or Kampungs. Each village has their unique in culture, typical houses, traditional and local food. The village tour takes after visiting Borobudur temple. There are two pssibilities of either by Andong (horse cart) or cycling.

Sweden: Grimeton Radio Station

Grimeton Radio Station is an early longwave transatlantic wireless telegraphy station built in 1922–1924, that has been preserved as a historical site. In 2004, Grimeton Radio Station was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List of unique natural and cultural heritage sites.

Some of the artillery here were huge! - Suomenlinna, Helsinki, FInland

Finland: Suomenlinna or Sveaborg

Suomenlinna or Sveaborg is a sea fortress, which was built gradually from 1748 onwards on a group of eight islands belonging to the district of Helsinki. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and also a suburb of Helsinki with around 800 residents.

Cambodia: Siem Reap – APOPO Visitor Center

A chance to meet the hero rats that are helping to clear landmines in Cambodia. Apopo has trained the highly sensitive, almost-blind Gambian pouched rat to sniff explosives, which dramatically speeds up the detection of mines in the countryside.

Indonesia: Java – Prambanan Temple

Built in the 10th century, this is the largest temple compound dedicated to Shiva in Indonesia. Rising above the centre of the last of these concentric squares are three temples decorated with reliefs illustrating the epic of the Ramayana.

Indonesia: Java – Candi Pawon and Candi Mendut

Candi Mendut is located about 3km east from Borobudur and Candi Pawon is 1km from Borobudur. Mendut, Borobudur and Pawon, all of which are Buddhist temples, are located in one straight line, and have a spiritual and historical connection.

Indonesia: Java – Borobudur Temple

In 1814, the Dutch engineer HC Cornelius discovered in the Java jungle, in Indonesia, the ruins of a gigantic mandala, the impressive Borobudur temple, built between 780 and 830 AD by the Sailendra Buddhist dynasty.

Cambodia: Angkor Archaeological Park

Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Stretching over some 400 km2, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century.

Vietnam: Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary

Mỹ Sơn is a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Shaiva Hindu temples in central Vietnam, constructed between the 4th and the 14th century by the Kings of Champa, an Indianized kingdom of the Cham people.

Thailand: Bangkok – Wat Arun

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan or wat arun, Temple of Dawn is a Buddhist temple in Bangkok, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun.

The view of the top of Murchison Falls, Uganda

Uganda: Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest wildlife reserve. Four of the Big 5 roam here at the edge of the Victoria Nile whose waters burst through a narrow openning and drop down a steep cliff before reaching the bottom in a frothy fury.

In the heart of Bangkok, The Fig Lobby is within a 5-minute drive of MedPark Hospital and Terminal 21 Shopping Mall. This 4-star hotel is 3.3 mi (5.3 km) from CentralWorld Shopping Complex and 3.5 mi (5.6 km) from MBK Center.

Thailand: Bangkok – The Fig Lobby

In the heart of Bangkok, The Fig Lobby is within a 5-minute drive of MedPark Hospital and Terminal 21 Shopping Mall. This 4-star hotel is 3.3 mi (5.3 km) from CentralWorld Shopping Complex and 3.5 mi (5.6 km) from MBK Center.

Laos: Slow boat along the Mekong River

One of the most popular ways to reach the historic Laotian city of Luang Prabang overland is by taking a boat trip along the Mekong river from the Thai border. It is often called a 'slow boat' because it takes two days to make the journey.

Thailand: Koh Samui – ten great things to do

Koh Samui, Thailand’s second largest island, lies in the Gulf of Thailand off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus. It's known for its palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves and dense, mountainous rainforest, plus luxury resorts and posh spas.

Thailand: Koh Samui – Muay Thai

Muay Thai or Thai Boxing is the national sport and cultural martial art of Thailand. It was developed several hundreds of years ago as a form of close combat that utilizes the entire body as a weapon.

The red terracotta ubosot at Wat Ratchathammaram on Koh Samui, Thailand.

Thailand: Koh Samui – Wat Ratchathammaram

Wat Ratchathammaram, or better known as the Red Temple of Koh Samui, is another beautiful sacred site on the island. Right next to it is a golden pagoda, which shines incredibly impressively in the sun. In addition, a staircase decorated with snake heads leads directly down to the sea.

Thailand: Koh Samui – Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks

Grandfather and Grandmother Rock are one of the biggest tourist attractions in Koh Samui, hundreds of people come to photograph and be photographed with them every day.

Thailand: Koh Samui – Guan Yu Shrine

The Guan Yu Shrine is one of the few Chinese temples of Koh Samui. It was only opened in 2016 and is therefore one of the more modern temples on the island. But also this very colourful and modern holy site is worth a visit.

The huge image of Guanyin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy and Compassion - Wat Plai Laem, Koh Samui, Thailand

Thailand: Koh Samui – Wat Plai Laem

The Wat Plai Laem, sometimes also called the Lady Monk Temple, is located in the northern part of the island and is, without a question, one of the most beautiful temples in Koh Samui.

The Gaint Buddha image in Koh Samui, Thailand

Thailand: Koh Samui – Big Buddha

The 12m high Big Buddha image was erected in 1972 and is now one of the landmarks of Koh Samui. Many Thai visitors come here to worship and in recent times, the Big Buddha has also become a favourite attraction amongst foreign tourists.

Thailand: Ovenight on Cheow Lan Lake

The beautiful Cheow Lan Lake in Khao Sok National Park consists of emerald green water with a delicious temperature of about 28 degrees. The lake is surrounded by immense limestone cliffs, the highest of which is 960 metres high!

Thailand: Night hike in Khao Sok NP

Khao Sok trekking and hiking in the National Park is some of the best in Thailand. The rainforest around Khao Sok is home to an abundance of wildlife. You can hike to waterfalls, swimming holes and caves.

Thailand: Ao Phang-Nga National Park

Ao Phang Nga National Park is situated along the coast of Phang-Nga Province south of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. The park encompasses an area of 400 km², including the biggest native mangrove forests in Thailand along the mainland and many islands.

Thailand: Surin Islands

The Surin Islands is an archipelago of five islands in the Andaman Sea, 55 kilometres from the Thai mainland. Koh Surin National Marine Park rates as one of Thailand's prime island locations and is a popular place for diving and snorkelling tours.

Thailand: Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe is a Thai island in the Andaman Sea, near the border with Malaysia. It is part of Tarutao National Marine Park, which is populated with small islands and known for its coral-rich waters. The island has sandy beaches, including Pattaya and Hat Chao Le.

Malaysia: Langkawi – Five great things to do

Langkawi is an archipelago made up of 99 islands on the west coast of Malaysia. Surrounded by the Andaman Sea, the main island offers a mixture of picturesque paddy fields, jungle-clad hills, and tranquil waterfalls.

Malaysia: Langkawi – Giant Eagle Statue

The icon of Langkawi, Eagle Square locally known as Dataran Lang is the home of Langkawi’s giant statue of an eagle. Local folklore suggests the island gets its name from two Malay words – helang (Eagle) and kawi (reddish-brown), hence the name lang-kawi.

Malaysia: Langkawi – Kilim Karast Geoforest Park

Kilim Geoforest Park (or Kilim Karst Geoforest Park as its full name) is one of the three geoforest parks associated with the Langkawi Geopark. Langkawi Geopark comprises the whole of Langkawi Island and was endorsed as the 52nd Global Geopark by UNESCO on 1st June 2007.

Malaysia: Langkawi – Sky Bridge & SkyCab

Langkawi Sky Bridge is a 125-metre (410 ft) curved pedestrian cable-stayed bridge in Malaysia, completed in 2005. The bridge deck is 660 metres (2,170 ft) above sea level at the peak of Gunung Mat Cincang on Pulau Langkawi.

Malaysia: George Town – 15 great things to do

George Town is the colorful, multicultural capital of the Malaysian island of Penang. Once an important Straits of Malacca trading hub, the city is known for its British colonial buildings, Chinese shophouses and mosques.

Malaysia: Penang – Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi

Established in 1810 Cheah Kongsi is one of the oldest Hokkien clan associations in George Town, Penang. Its members have their ancestral origins from Sek Tong Seah in the Sam Tor District of the Hai Teng County at Cheang Chew Prefecture, Fujian Province, China.

Malaysia: Penang – Batik Museum

This Musuem aims to tell the historical story of how this art form began in the 1950's and its subsequent development by a good number of talented artists in Malaysia.

Malaysia: Penang – The Wonder Food Museum

The Wonderfood Museum is a unique museum in Penang that features oversized replicas of traditional Malaysian dishes, art and historical information. There are larger-than-life delicacies on display from across Asia.

Malaysia: Penang – Kek Lok Si Temple

Kek Lok Si Temple is a Buddhist temple situated in Air Itam, Penang, Malaysia. It is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, and is also an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhists from Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore and other countries in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia: Penang – Chew Jetty

Chew Jetty was one of 5 wooden jetties constructed in 1888 as part of a development project on the quay side in George Town. 2 other wooden jetties were built in the same area in the 1960s. One jetty burnt down so only five remain.

Malaysia: Penang – George Town Street Art

George Town's street art scene boomed in 2012. That year Ernest Zacharevicm, a Lithuanian artist, created 6 wall paintings during the celebration of the annual George Town festival. These murals soon achieved worldwide fame.

The Pinang Peranakan Museum has a distinctive green exterior - George Town, Penang, Malaysia

Malaysia: Penang – Pinang Peranakan Mansion

The Pinang Peranakan Mansion is a museum dedicated to Penang's Peranakan heritage. The museum itself is housed within a distinctive green-hued mansion at Church Street, George Town

Malaysia: Penang – Khoo Kongsi

Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, or Khoo Kongsi for short, is one of the most distinctive Chinese clan associations in Malaysia. It is known for its extensive lineage that can be traced back 650 years ago, as well as its closely-knit and defensive congregation of buildings and a magnificent clanhouse.

Malaysia: Penang – Cheong Fatt Tze (The Blue Mansion)

Built between 1896 to 1904, teams of master craftsmen from China were hired. The majestic blue house was built with 38 rooms and 5 courtyards. At that time, 3 of his wives occupied the Blue Mansion. The Blue Mansion (otherwise known as Cheong Fatt Tze's Mansion) was large enough to accommodate his extended families.

South Africa: Gauteng – Exploring Johannesburg

Johannesburg is South Africa's largest and fastest-growing city and is built on a history of racial division that achieved its most dramatic form in the twentieth century policy of strict separation known as apartheid.

South Africa: Gauteng – Cradle of Humankind

The Cradle of Humankind is a paleoanthropological site and is located about 50 km from Johannesburg. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, it is home to the largest concentration of human ancestral remains in the world.

The second outdoor space was more private - Sima Kade Bush Retreat, Magaliesburg , South Africa

South Africa: Five cool and unique places to stay

South Africa is a stunning country and there is a lot to see and do when you visit. There is a huge amount to accommodation to choose from, but if you are looking for something more unusal then this post will give you some ideas.

The second outdoor space was more private - Sima Kade Bush Retreat, Magaliesburg , South Africa

South Africa: Magaliesburg – Sima Kade Bush Retreat

Designed as sustainable off-grid retreats for total immersion in the natural environment, Sima Kade is truly at one with its surroundings. The cabins here are built using stone and wood from the valley to mimic the surrounding environment.

South Africa: The Panorama Route

The Panorama Route is a scenic road in South Africa connecting several cultural and natural points of interest. The route, steeped in the history of South Africa, is in Mpumalanga province, centred around the Blyde River Canyon, the world's third largest canyon.

South Africa: Kruger National Park

The world-famous Kruger National Park is South Africa’s largest game reserve and one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries on the planet. The Kruger has nearly two million hectares of unfenced wilderness, in which more mammal species roam free than in any other game reserve.

Inside the walls - Fort Nongqayi, Eshowe, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

South Africa: Eshowe – Fort Nonquai

The Zululand Historical Museum is housed at Fort Nongqayi. The Fort was built in 1883 by the British to house the Zulu Native Policemen called Nongqayi and was completed in 1894. The Nongqayi were trained in this fort and were led by Colonel Addison.

South Africa: St Lucia – Hippos and the beach

Surrounded by an UNESCO World Heritage Site, this town is at the heart of magnificent natural coastal forests, wild animals, majestic bird life, breathtaking beaches and hospitable people. There are at least 1 200 crocodiles and 800 hippos found in Lake St Lucia.

Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia. Its modern skyline is dominated by the 451m-tall Petronas Twin Towers The city is also home to British colonial-era landmarks such as the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

The wetlands of iSimalisingo at stunningly beautiful - iSimalingiso Wetlands, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

South Africa: iSimangaliso Wetland Park

A World Heritage Site, iSimangaliso Wetland Park (the former Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park) incorporates an astonishing variety of habitats from the Ubombo Mountains to grasslands, forests, wetlands, mangroves and ancient dunes, magnificent beaches and coral reefs.

Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur – Batu Caves

Batu Caves is an iconic and popular tourist attraction in Selangor. Site of a Hindu temple and shrine, Batu Caves attracts thousands of worshippers and tourists, especially during the annual Hindu festival, Thaipusam.

A white rhine blocks our way - Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

South Africa (W)

South Africa: Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park

Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park, formerly Hluhluwe–Umfolozi Game Reserve, is the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa. It consists of 960 km² of hilly topography 280 kilometres north of Durban in central KwaZulu-Natal, and is known for its rich wildlife and conservation efforts.

Camdeboo National Park, Graaf-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa

South Africa: Camdeboo National Park

The 19 400-hectare Camdeboo National Park is unique in South Africa encompassing some of the most rugged and spectacular Karoo-mountain landscapes, a large freshwater dam and it almost entirely surrounds the historic town of Graaff-Reinet.

Malaysia: Malacca (Melaka) City – A guide to visiting

Melaka, formerly Malacca, is a town and port, on the Strait of Malacca. The city was founded about 1400 as part of a Malay kingdom. Malay rule ended in 1511, when it was conquered by the Portuguese and it developed into the most important trading port in Southeast Asia.

South Africa (A)

South Africa: Addo TiPi Bush Camp

Tipi Bush Camp, on a private reserve adjoining Addo Elephant National Park. There are three large 6.3 metre diameter TiPi’s, based on the American Indian style can each accommodate 4 people on a self catering, un-serviced basis.

The entrance to Fort Siloso on Sentosa Island, Singapore

Singapore: Sentosa Island & Fort Siloso

Fort Siloso is a decommissioned coastal artillery battery in Sentosa, Singapore. It consists of 12 such batteries which made up "Fortress Singapore" at the start of World War II, and saw action during the Battle of Singapore.

Emirate of Dubai

UAE: Dubai – 10 great things to do

Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates known for luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture and a lively nightlife scene. Burj Khalifa, an 830m-tall tower, dominates the skyscraper-filled skyline. At its foot lies Dubai Fountain, with jets and lights choreographed to music.

Singapore: The Gardens by the Bay

The Gardens by the Bay is a nature park spanning 101 hectares. The park consists of three waterfront gardens. The largest of the gardens is the Bay South Garden. Its Flower Dome is the largest glass greenhouse in the world.

Emirate of Dubai

UAE: Dubai – The Miracle Garden

The Dubai Miracle Garden was launched on Valentine's Day in 2013. It occupies over 72,000 square metres, making it the world's largest natural flower garden, featuring over 50 million flowers and 250 million plants.

South Africa: Addo Elephant Park

Addo Elephant National Park is a diverse wildlife conservation park situated close to Gqeberha in South Africa and is one of the country's 20 national parks. It currently ranks third in size after Kruger National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Emirate of Dubai

UAE: Dubai – The remarkable Dubai Frame

The Dubai Frame is an observatory, museum, and monument in Zabeel Park, Dubai. It holds the record for the largest frame in the world. The building has a height of 150.24 metres and a width of 95.53 metres.

Royal Hill of Ambohimanga in Madagascar

Madagascar: Royal Hill of Ambohimanga

Ambohimanga dates from the 16th century and developed into the capital city in the 18th century. The walled city, with stone gates, three palaces, cemeteries and holy places, combines Malagasy and European architectural styles.

Climbing the trail to the top of the escarpment that leads to the interior of Isalo National Park in Madagascar

Madagascar: Isalo National Park

Established in 1962, Isalo National Park protects over 190,000 acres of land dominated by a dramatic sandstone massif that has been eroded by time and weather into an otherworldly collection of plateaus, canyons, gorges, and pinnacles.

Madagascar: Paper making and Anja Community Reserve

The Anja Community Reserve is a woodland area and freshwater lake, situated at the base a large cliff. It was created in 2001 with the support on the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) to help preserve the environment and to provide local employment.

Madagascar: Manakara & the Canal des Pangalanes

Manakara is the end point of the Fianarantsoa railway which runs from the inland city to the sea. The city is located at the east coast near the mouth of the Manakara River and has a small port. We were there to visit and learn more about the region.

South Africa: Knysna – Two Angels

Situated at the water’s edge of the Knysna Lagoon, this magnificent 6 Bedroom House, plus 3 sea-facing cottages, offers the very best location on the South African coastline.

South Africa: Mossel Bay – Dias Museum

The Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex was officially opened on 3 February 1989, however its can be traced back to the 1960s when the museum was first opened. The museum later became known as the Post Tree museum complex before being renamed again in 1989.

Zafimaniry craftsman at work in his workshop in Ambositra, Madagascar

Madagascar: Zafimaniry marquetry and Ambositra

Madagacar's Zafimaniry ethnic group is estimated to be only number 25,000. They are known for their woodcarving knowledge and art, which was added in 2003 to UNESCO's list of the world's Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Madagascar: Antsirabe rice fields

Rice, in Malagasy 'vary', is incredibly important to the people of in Madagascar. The island has one of the highest per capita consumption of rice worldwide: On average, each Madagascan eats 120 kg of rice per year.

Stunning views across Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar

Madagascar: Ranomafana National Park

Being the third largest national park in Madagascar, Ranomafana is home to a wealth of endemic plants and animal species. Declared as a UNESCO world heritage site, this national park boasts of twelve lemur species and other mammal species.

Madagascar: Ambatolampy – aluminum pots

The small town of Ambatolampy is famous for the manufacture of aluminium pots for cooking. We always enjoy visiting places to see how things are made, a bit like watching a Discovery Channel programme, but just in person.

Mauritius: Southwest – an area of natural beauty

Mauritius' southwest is the sunniest and driest region of the island, with a nature and landscapes that will remind you of the African savanna. In the mountains Charamel has many natural wonders and the coast is home to Le Morne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

South Africa: Point of Human Origins

Mossel Bay is at the centre of some of the most significant archaeological discoveries ever made regarding the origins of modern humans. Unlike other sites that can be remote, dry and downright inhospitable, the archaeological findings here are set against a stunning backdrop of seaside caves.

Mauritius: Ganga Talao Hindu Temples

Considered by many as the most sacred Hindu place in Mauritius, Grand Bassin or the Ganga Talao is a large lake formed out of a crater.It is surrounded by several colorful temples and idols of gods and goddesses.

The Santos Express in Mossel Bay overlooks the Indian Ocean - Mossel Bay, Western Cape South Africa

South Africa: Mossel Bay – Santos Express

Sleep on “The Train” as it is known by locals situated next to Santos Beach, Mossel Bay on the Garden Route. Enjoy this unique and romantic experience only 30 metres from the Indian Ocean..

The was a large ornamental pond fullof giant lily pads at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden in Mauritius

Mauritius: Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden

The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden is located in the proximity of Port-Louis in the district of Pamplemousses and is home to an incredible variety of tropical plants - many of them being indigenous.

Mauritius: Port Louis – Aapravasi Ghat

Aapravasi Ghat is an immigration depot and made Mauritius the first British colony to receive indentured, labour workforce from many countries. From 1849 to 1923, half a million Indian indentured labourers passed through here.

The 'Organ Pipe' formation at Cango Cave - Western Cape, South Africa

South Africa: Oudtshoorn – Cango Caves

The Cango Caves is a cultural and natural landmark in South Africa. The 20 million year-old Cango Caves system consists of a series of hidden chambers cut deep into a thick limestone rock layer. It is situated in the Swartberg Mountains, 30 kilometres north of Oudtshoorn.

South Africa: Cape Agulhas

Cape Agulhas or the "Cape of the Needles" is a rocky headland in Western Cape, South Africa. It is the geographic southern tip of Africa and the beginning of the traditional dividing line between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans

South Africa: Gansbaai and shark cages

Gansbaai is a fishing town and popular tourist destination in the Western Cape of South Africa. It is known for its cage diving in search of sharks and for whale watching. We spent a couple days in this small town exploring the region.

South Africa: Gansbaai – Platbos Forest Cabins

Platbos Forest offers self catering accommodation in an indigenous forest found on the Baviaanspoort Hills in Gansbaai. This ancient forest has trees that date back over a 1000 years in age. This endangered and rare ecosystem is one of a kind and worth the visit.

Smoke escapes the roof of a hut - Eswatini

Eswatini: Mantenga Cultural Village

Set against the scenic backdrop of Nyonyane mountain, this replica mid-19th Century Swazi village, constructed using authentic materials and techniques, is one of the country’s most popular attractions.

The escarpment of the Drakensberg is very impressive - Drakensberg Mountains, Lesotho

Lesotho: Drakensburg Mountains & the Sani Pass

The Drakensberg is part of the Great Escarpment and separates the extensive high plateaus of the South African interior from the lower lands along the coast, It rises to more than 11,400 feet (3,475 metres) and for 700 miles (1,125 km).

South Africa: Muizenberg beach huts

The Muizenberg beach huts are iconic. Their vivid colours lure you right in. This small seaside town is located about 30-minutes from the centre of Cape Town and is known as the South African surfing birthplace. These beach huts offer some shelter from the wind in the height of the summer season.

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