Botswana

Valentine's Day Hotel Packages

If you are interested in proposing to your belonged on Valentine's Day, Hacienda San Angel in Puerto Vallarta is ready for you. The "Perfect Proposal" package includes accommodations for two in one of the Hacienda's Royal Suites, in-suite massages, private Mexican cooking and margarita making class for two, private terrace dinner for two and personal Mariachi serenade, daily breakfast in bed and transportation to and from the airport.

On the big day, at sunset, just prior to a private dinner on a secluded terrace, the Hacienda arranges for a Mariachi troupe to serenade the bride-to-be from the cobblestone street below her suite's arched window setting the scene for a romantic proposal. The Perfect Proposal two-night stay package is priced at $2250 and is based upon availability. Price is based upon Royal Suite accommodations, guest suites in lower and higher categories are available. The Perfect Proposal Package can be booked by calling 877-815-6594 or by emailing info@haciendasanangel.com. The resort also features the Puerta del Cielo, open-air wedding and event chapel so it is also an excellent site for a destination wedding.

Check out more amazing Valentine's Day adventures around the world after the jump.

Tags: Aruba, Botswana, Cabo San Lucas, Concorde Hotels Resorts, Duane Hotel, El Convento, Hacienda San Angel, Hyatt Regency, Paris, Puerto Vallarta, san juan, San Juan Puerto Rico, Santa Fe, valentines day, valentines day hotel packages

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Savute Elephant Camp by Orient Express

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

If you're looking to observe wildlife, there's no better destination that a place known as the elephant capital of the world-the Savute Channel of northern Botswana. Here, you'll find the Savute Elephant Camp, a Luxist nominee in the best adventure getaway category.

Nestled along the banks of the Savute in the midst of Chobe National Park, the camp is operated by Orient-Express and boasts some of the best safari opportunities in all of Africa. It's not uncommon to see prides of 40 lions lapping water from the channel, or to watch large herds of elephants grazing nearby. You'll also likely catch a glimpse of wild dogs, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas; during the summer months, Savute is also among the world's best bird-watching spots.

Gallery: Savute Elephant Camp in Botswana by Orient Express

The camp itself has an observation deck just 10 meters from the closest watering hole, a 20-meter swimming pool area right above the riverbed, an outdoor dining area with television and internet access, and even a same-day laundry service. The rooms are all luxury tents set on raised platforms, shielded by traditional African thatched roofs. Each includes a private deck, hammock, en suite bathroom, and air conditioning. Though sweeping views of local wildlife come with every room, Savute also offers a number of excursions in open jeeps to see ancient baobab trees or historic rock paintings.

Rates start at $545 per night, based on double occupancy, during the low season (November through March). Prices for the high season (June through October) start at $1,090.

Vote for the Adventure Getaway that you think is the best of breed. The winner will be announced on September 1st.

Tags: Awards-Main, Botswana, Chobe National Park, Luxist-Awards, Orient-Express, Savute, Savute Elephant Camp

Extraordinary Journeys Offers Luxury African Safaris

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

If it doesn't involve J. Peterman or a Hemingway novel, "safari" is probably not a word you're all that interested in hearing about. Mother-daughter team – and pilots – Marcia and Elizabeth Gordon of Extraordinary Journeys would like to have a few words with you before you banish that term for good. Working in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, Extraordinary Journeys doesn't sell you a trip, it plans a safari specifically for you.

They have organized more than 300 African excursions for weddings, honeymoons, getaways and just-becauses, and like the proverbial snowflakes none of them have been the same. Because the excursions aren't fixed, the Gordons can combine camps, lodges, villas, private planes, 4x4s, tribal visits, elephants, horses and specific game sightseeing tours in any way you wish. They even arrange personal shoppers when you're navigating the wilds of Cape Town, you know, so you won't get stuck in line at the register behind all those penguins – they take forever at checkout...

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Tags: africa, african safari, african travel, botswana, extraordinary journeys, kenya, namibia, safari

Kim Kardashian In Africa To Tour Diamond Mines

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Celebrity Shopping

The lovely Kim Kardashian has worn plenty of diamonds but now she's headed to Botswana and South Africa to promote them. Kardashian's visit comes at a time when Botswana's rough diamond sales are down 68 percent. The country's economy is deeply dependent on diamonds and has shrunk in recent months.

Kardashian will visit the Jwaneng mine, Diamond Trading Botswana and Motswedi Rehabilitation School in Mochudi. Her visit is on behalf of the Diamond Empowerment Fund, the organization founded by Russell Simmons. Kardashian and her boyfriend, football player Reggie Bush are traveling along with Kardashian's sister Khloe, former football player Ray Crockett and Diamond Executive Director Ellen Haddigan. Kardashian is documenting her experiences in Africa on her Twitter account.

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Tags: botswana, diamonds, kim kardashian, KimKardashian

The 2009 Pirelli Calendar by Peter Beard

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

For the past 40 years, Italian tire company Pirelli has issued a limited-edition calendar to a select list of VIPs - the kind who have fleets of Pirelli-shod Ferraris. They always feature plenty of nude and semi-nude supermodels. The 2009 Pirelli Calendar has an African theme and was shot in Botswana by famed photographer Peter Beard with models including the stunning Isabeli Fontana, Malgosia Bela, Daria Werbowy and Raquel Zimmermann, along with a fleet of agreeable elephants and not a lot of clothes. Unless you're on the list, getting your hands on an actual calendar may be difficult, but check out the gallery for a preview.

Gallery: 2009 Pirelli Calendar

Tags: Africa, Botswana, Ferrari, Peter Beard, PeterBeard, Pirelli, Pirelli Calendar, PirelliCalendar, Supermodels

De Beers Grounds Their Diamond-Hunting Airship

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Two years ago I wrote about the start of De Beers attempts to use a zeppelin to detect diamonds in Botswana. The experiment is now at an end. The airship has been permanently grounded by De Beers after heavy winds shook the ship from its mooring near the Jwaneng mine injuring its crew. The zeppelin was too badly damaged to be put back to work and De Beers has decided to use other methods of diamond exploration.

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Tags: airship, botswana, de beers, DeBeers, zeppelin

Diamonds For Africa Fund

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

We've written before about conflict diamonds and various movements to support ending dangerous diamond mining practices but what about diamonds that have already been mined and set in rings? A new nonprofit group called Diamonds for Africa has announced that they will collect donated diamond jewelry to raise money for African aid. Co-founder Corey Frayer decided to start the fund after researching conflict diamonds and deciding to donate his fiancee's ring because he did not know the source of the diamond. He has partnered up with Brilliant Earth, which specializes in conflict-free diamonds from Canada and the Indigenous Land Rights Fund. They are urging people to donate diamond jewelry or make cash donations and hope to raise $300,000 this year to benefit the San Bushmen in Botswana's Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

[via Diamonds.net]

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Tags: african aid, botswana, conflict diamonds, diamonds