South Africa

Explore South Africa Like The Bachelor

Brad Womack, this season's bachelor on the ABC television show of the same name, has narrowed his picks down to three contestants. The next episode features a South African getaway and is usually the case, the chosen destination has come up with a resort package so viewers can join in on the fun.

In Episode 9 airing on February 28 the love seekers head to Lion Sands Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sand on the banks of the Sabie Riverin Kruger National Park. Dates will include safari game drives; a romantic encounter at the Chalkley Tree House; relaxing in a secure bush bedroom under the stars; and an interaction at Elephant Whispers. They will also take a helicopter tour to the Blyde River Canyon in the Drakensberg Mountains for a delicious picnic lunch. The Rose Ceremony will take place at Lion Sands' Tinga Legends Lodge, a safari lodge built around an enormous Jackalberry tree which is reputed to be over 200 years old.

South African Tourism and South African Airways Vacations have created The Bachelor Ultimate South Africa Getaway, a fantastic 10 days/7 nights package inspired by Brad and the Bachelorettes' romantic South African adventure that includes the following:

Tags: brad womack, hotel deals, south africa, the bachelor

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Delaire Graff Estate, A Diamantaire's South African Paradise

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas, Wine

Perhaps the world's most famous living diamantaire, Laurence Graff,is also in the resort and wine business. The Delaire Graff Estate is luxury South African resort in the Stellenbosch area, home to some of South Africa's best vineyards. Graff opened the estate last year but has owned the land for years. The estate has just 10 overnight lodges but also includes a state-of-the-art spa, Indochine--an Asian fusion restaurant and a fully operational vineyard producing high-quality Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Shiraz and other wines.

Tags: delaire graff estate, delaire graff spa, laurence graff, south africa, south africa travel, south african wine, stellenbosch

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South Africa Nature Preserve Vacation Rental for $70,000 a week

by Ann Brenoff (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Remember learning the haunting melody of "In the Jungle" at summer camp? Well, now you can live it. A private outpost in South Africa's Mapungubwe Private Nature Reserve is listed for lease at $70,000 a week. No neighbors, unless you count the lions and elephants who roam freely around you.

The owner has most thoughtfully arranged private security for this experience. The 10,000-square-foot home comes staffed and has nine bedrooms and eight baths. Located in South Africa's Limpopo Province, the unique home is the ultimate nature and safari experience. Surrounded by elephants, leopards, lions, antelopes, zebras and other animals, guests are flown in by helicopter or private plane. There is access to telephone and Internet but this is truly intended to be a "get away from it all and commune with nature experience" -- luxury style. The staff are all native-born, familiar with the preserve, and live on site in separate quarters. There is a full building master suite with a view of the South African countryside. The home is built in true African style with a thatched room and decorated appropriately for the environment. All modern conveniences are provided.

There is an open air shower and an outdoor living room with fireplace. Inquiries about leasing the home may be made of Magnus Hellberg, Partners Trust Realty in Los Angeles.

Gallery: $70,000 a week South African Rental

Tags: africa travel, african travel, luxury vacation, luxury vacation rental, south africa, vacation rental

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Mario Testino Taps Victoria's Secret Stunner Candice Swanepoel as the Next Hot Model

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

The world's next top model isn't chosen on some inane reality TV show; in actual fact, superstar fashion photographers like Mario Testino decide which girls become superstars. The latest beauty to get the benediction of Testino, who helped turned Kate Moss into a household word, is South African Victoria's Secret stunner Candice Swanepoel (above). The famed photographer just shot the blonde goddess for a very steamy shoot in VMAN's latest issue, Models.com reports. "Candice is an amazing new find for me," Testino says. "Gorgeous, free, fun. I decided to do the whole trip on her visiting Denmark. She was awesome and did not feel inhibited. She made the shoot an amazing experience. The guys were in awe of her." Some great ad campaigns can't be far behind. Meanwhile Testino just shot another extremely sexy portfolio for British Vogue, featuring some of his favorite supermodels like Moss, Naomi Campbell and Lara Stone posing in not much more than eyeshadow.

Gallery: Stunning Candice Swanepoel

Tags: Candice Swanepoel, fashion, Kate Moss, Lara Stone, lingerie, Mario Testino, models, Naomi Campbell, photographer, South Africa, supermodel

The Ten Best Family Vacation Destinations Around the World

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Children

Four Seasons Hualalai on the Big Island's Kona Coast.

Luxist readers have selected their favorite luxury vacation spots for families around the world. From Scotland, France, New Zealand, and South Africa to Hawaii, Colorado and the Galápagos Islands, these destinations offer wonderful programs tailored specifically for children, in addition to luxurious accommodations and other incredible amenities.

The top ten vacation destinations for families, according to our readers, include:

Abercrombie & Kent's River Barge Cruise Through the Burgundian Countryside (France)
Abercrombie & Kent offers many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for family vacations, but one of the most special trips has got to be its river barge cruise through the Burgundian countryside. A chartered seven day cruise aboard La Belle Epoque, A&K's 126-foot-long, 16.5 feet wide barge, is a luxurious and relaxing way to travel and taste award-winning Burgandy wines.

The barge, which is equipped with six cabins, all outside facing and each equipped with en-suite bathrooms. There's one deluxe double cabin; one deluxe twin/double; two twin/double cabins and two cabins each with twin beds. There's also a small swimming pool, a sauna and several sun decks. Bicycles are also available for anyone in the family wanting to cycle in the towns the barge visits. A gourmet chef is on board to prepare all of the meals, which are included in the cost of the excursion.

Tags: Abercrombie Kent, awards-main, Beaver Creek, best family vacation, Burgandy, Cruise, Ebony Lodge, family vacations, galapagos, GalapagosIslands, gleneagles, Gleneagles Hotel, Grand Wailea, Hawaii, Kenya, kona village, Kona Village Resort, Lindblad Expeditions, luxist-awards, Maui, National Geographic, New Zealand, Sabi Sand Reserve, Singita Game Reserve, south africa, treetops, Treetops Lodge, TreetopsLodge, Vail

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The 10 Luxuries of the Saxon Hotel

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Saxon Boutique Hotel, Villas & Spa is a celebrated Johannesburg hotel which is well-known to luxury travelers as one of the finest boutique hotels in not just South Africa, but the world. The Saxon has hosted Oprah Winfrey, the Black Eyed Peas, Shakira and Kevin Spacey (how's that for a diverse sampling?) and features a distinguished collection of African art worth approximately 6.5 million South African rand (over $925,000).

If the art doesn't sway your fancies, the history will. The Saxon, a Leading Small Hotels of the World and Virtuoso member, was the private residence of insurance giant Douw Steyn until the year 2000. Nelson Mandela famously stayed there after his release from prison, and it was there that he edited his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. The former South African president continues to visit The Saxon today, reportedly every year around the same time -- but naturally, they're not saying when.

Tags: Abercrombie Kent, Africa, art, Black Eyed Peas, Douw Steyn, Johannesburg, Kevin Spacey, leading small hotels of the world, Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, Saxon Boutique Hotel, Shakira, South Africa, spa, The Saxon, Villas Spa, virtuoso

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Bain's Cape Mountain Whisky

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

There are traditional whisky-producing locales and then there is the new generation. The former includes places like Scotland, Ireland and Tennessee. But these days, the traditional distilleries are being met with a range of whiskies coming from around the world. The Japanese, with their aptitude towards replication the smallest detail, has made a name for itself in this arena. India has impressed with its Amrut whisky. And now South Africa can be counted among them.

Until the mid-80s, Scotland was still importing grain from South Africa for distillation in its whiskies, so some locals thought it was about time the country produce its own. Bain's Cape Mountain Whisky – produced in Wellington and named after the man who built the first road there – has actually been on the market for the past year, but has just returned triumphant from major drinks competitions in the UK, where it took a gold medal and best-in-class citation at the 2010 International Wine and Spirits Competition and a silver at the 2010 International Spirits Competition. Not too shabby, bokkie. Not too shabby at all.

Tags: bains, bains cape mountain whisky, cape mountain whisky, single grain, south africa, whiskey, whisky

The Lodges at Phinda: One of the World's Finest Unspoiled Havens

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Nestled between the mountains of uKhahlamba-Drakensburg Park and the sunny beaches of the Indian Ocean, South Africa's Phinda Private Game Reserve is one the world's finest unspoiled havens---and a Luxist nominee in the best adventure getaway category.

The five lodges of Phinda are set less than ten miles apart from one another amid the KwaZulu-Natal province, which boasts two World Heritage sites. There's the Phinda Zuka Lodge, a set of luxuriously-appointed African bush bungalows where guests enjoy a personal chef, driver and butler; Phinda Mountain Lodge, a balcony-dotted collection of rooms perched on the crest of a mountain; Phinda Forest Lodge, a handful of glass-enclosed suites situated amid one of Southern Africa's rare sand forests; Phinda Rock Lodge, a cluster of six suites carved into a rocky hillside; and Phinda Vlei Lodge, a set of suites along the edge of a forest-backed meadow where you're likely see monkeys and herds zebra right outside your front door.

Gallery: The Lodges at Phinda, South Africa

Tags: Beyond, Luxist-Awards, Phinda, South Africa, The Lodges at Phinda

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Ebony Lodge at the Singita Game Reserve: The Armchair Safari

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Notching up virtually every hotel and travel award since its inception in the mid-1990's, the Ebony Lodge at Singita Game Reserve at Sabi Sand, South Africa, has been nominated for a Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award for Best Luxury Summer Family Vacation.

Singita Game Reserves masterfully balances hospitality, conservation and community, setting it apart from other safari experiences. Singita believes in "fewer beds in larger areas", the idea that a minimal amount of guests would have little impact on the land, and its fauna and flora. This benefits the environment, but also provides up-close, intimate experiences for the guest, with numerous opportunities where they can interact with the surroundings and learn more about conservation principles.

Singita's heritage can be traced back to 1925 when James Fawcett Bailes first purchased a pristine tract of land in the present-day Sabi Sand Reserve. It remained in the family. In the early 1990's, Fawcett's grandson, the current owner of Singita, undertook to focus on preserving his grandfather's legacy. Using 1930's aerial photographs, he undertook to maintain and restore the land to its original condition. An exclusive game lodge was built, offering unsurpassed luxury and wildlife experiences. In 1993, Ebony, the first Singita lodge, opened its doors. Following its success, Singita created additional game lodges in South Africa,Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

Gallery: Singita Game Reserves, Ebony Lodge, South Africa

Singita Ebony Lodge offers twelve suites located in charming, elegant and secluded thatched cottages. Each suite is equipped with its own en-suite bathroom and shower, outdoor shower, heated private swimming pool, double-sided fireplace, air-conditioning, private lounge, direct-dial telephones, internet access, and game-viewing deck. Rooms are decorated in Colonial-style with a mix of antiques and modern luxuries, providing a homey, lived-in feel. While relaxing or sipping a cocktail on the private deck, it's not uncommon to see elephant, buffalo and antelope grazing only meters away at any time of day.

Singita welcomes families and offers a reduced rate for children. Kids over the age of 10, sharing with two full-paying adults in a family suite, are accommodated at 50% of the daily rate. Children under the age of 10 can be accomodated if the two family suites or the lodge are booked on an exclusive use basis.

The daily rate is approximately $1,500 per person, based on a double occupancy. The rate includes twice-daily open Range Rover game drives with with professional guides and trackers, as well as all meals and all beverages, including spirits, liquers and premium wines (excluding champagne). Laundry and valet service is also included.

For rate information, visit the Singita website or email Singita at: reservations@singita.com.

Vote for the Luxury Family Summer Vacation destination that you think is the best of breed. The winner will be announced on September 1st.

Tags: awards-main, Ebony Lodge, luxist-awards, Sabi Sand Reserve, Safari, Singita, Singita Game Reserve, South Africa

Gordon Ramsay Loses Another Restaurant

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

More bad news for Gordon Ramsay, he's losing another restaurant. Bloomberg reports that the One & Only Cape Town hotel in South Africa has closed their Gordon Ramsay Maze restaurant. The restaurant opened with star-studded event last April that included Nelson Mandela. The restaurant is still open but doesn't have a new name.

There are no details on what happened. Bloomberg got only a basic email confirmation from the hotel and in an e-mailed statement Ramsay's company, Gordon Ramsay Holdings said that they were only informed of the decision to close Maze very recently. Meanwhile Ramsay has launched a third show in the U.S.: "Masterchef," a sort of American Idol for home cooks.

It seems that the Maze brand has taken some hits lately. Jason Atherton, who created the brand, quit Gordon Ramsay Holdings in April and his successor, James Durrant announced his resignation earlier this month. Maze Prague has already closed, leaving four outlets: London, New York, Doha and Melbourne.

Tags: gordon ramsay, maze restaurant, south africa

The Controversy Over World Cup "Lion Burgers"

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

The controversy over the $21 "lion burger" being offered at Il Vinaio in Mesa, Arizona has reached a fever pitch. The Italian-style restaurant was selling the burgers of lion meat mixed with ground beef as a celebration for the World Cup. But once news got out about the unusual fare the restaurant was besieged with angry emails and protests. The owner said that the lions were raised at a free-range farm in Illinois that is regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and that while lion meat is uncommon it is not illegal (turns out though that it's the FDA not the USDA that inspects lions bred for meat). Later investigations by the Chicago Tribune and other sources found that the source of the meat is Czimer's Game & Sea Foods an Illinois company that specializes in exotic and game meats including bear, camel and yes lion, selling African lion steaks for $19.95 a pound.

Richard Czimer, the company's owner, talked with CNNMoney.com and said that he gets the lion meat from a man who buys and sells animals for the skin and that the meat is essentially a byproduct. Czimer said he doesn't know where the other man gets the lion meat. Czimer doesn't have the best track record. In 2003, Chicago newspapers covered Czimer's conviction for selling meat from federally protected tigers and leopards. He had confessed to buying the carcasses of 16 tigers, four lions, two mountain lions and one liger that were skinned, butchered and sold as "lion meat." The African lion isn't a federally protected endangered species and does qualify as a game meat. Czimer's shop is officially registered with the FDA and has been inspected by state regulators.

Tags: czimers game and sea foods, exotic meat, Il Vinaio, lion burgers, south africa, world cup

Canelands Beach Club Open In South Africa

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

As the world looks toward South Africa while watching the World Cup, a few hotels have opened to showcase the many types of vacations available in this nation. South African hospitality brand Signature Life Hotels has opened their latest property, the Canelands Beach Club & Resort in the village of Salt Rock. The small property (just ten bedrooms) is a four-star resort with four suites that face the ocean directly. It has a restaurant with an ocean view and seating for 40. The hotel is right on the beach, you take a flag with you to your spot and when you want service you simply plant the flag upright and someone will come over. For more details check out their Facebook page.

[via Breaking Travel News]

Tags: african travel, canelands beach club, salt rock, south africa

Taj Cape Town Opens In South Africa

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

Your team just won the World Cup, and those who are still conscious are shuffling toward the exits and the airports. But not you – you flew all that way, and now you've got a reason to celebrate, so you're headed to the Cape Town, where brand new Taj Cape Town awaits.

Located in the historic St. George's Mall, even though it's brand new, the Taj occupies two rather old buildings: the 114-year-old Board of Executors and the adjacent, 78-year-old South African Reserve Bank. Seventeen stories were added to the buildings, however, to ensure that you don't lack views of the city and Table Mountain. There are 177 rooms in 11 layouts, all of the tower rooms have walk-out balconies and the Taj Club Floor rooms gain access to a private lounge with butlers.

Of course you'll need the top-floor, two-bedroom, split-level Presidential Suite with its own massage and steam rooms, kitchen, office, gym and deck. When you're not busy being presidential, you might make your way down to the Jiva Spa with its Ayurvedic treatments, followed up by yoga and meditation, and if you really need to get out, there are all those world class Cape Town beaches to enjoy. In fact, with all of that to make you feel good, the the Taj Cape Town might be even better for you if your team loses...

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Tags: africa, cape town, hotel opening, south africa, taj cape town, taj hotels

Lormarins 1200 Launch Leads £10M of Classics Through Mayfair

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

London's packed with exotic and classic automobiles, but the usual array was no match for the parade that drove through the city's Mayfair neighborhood the other day. Some £10 million worth of classic motors – including a 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza and a 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France – were led through the streets to the home of fashion icon Alfred Dunhill by none other than former world champion Jody Scheckter in a 1952 Jaguar C-Type, with the South African ambassador riding shotgun.

The event was held to announce the launch of a new classic rally in South Africa. Modeled on the iconic Mille Miglia in Italy, the Lormarins 1200 will be held for the first time this October around the country's Western Cape wine region, with some 40-50 classics anticipated to participate.

Gallery: Lormarins 1200 launch in London

Tags: alfred dunhill, classic, classic rally, dunhill, jody scheckter, london, lormarins, lormarins 1200, mayfair, rally, south africa, western cape

Cheer the U.S. Soccer Team with "Ya Mampela!" on Cox & King's World Cup Tours

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Sports

In a little land you might have heard of, called Africa, there's a country you might have heard of, called South Africa, that's hosting a little get-together you might have heard of, called the World Cup. And although you might not have heard of soccer, the subject of that little get-together, you've probably heard of David and Victoria Beckham and that's close enough. For America, anyway...

There's no better year than this year to get to know the actual sport in question, and luxury travel group Cox & Kings has put together a smattering of options for trekking from USA to SA. The Sable level is the top experience in the the Follow Team USA packages, from June 9-24, which takes you to all three of the team's group matches and the tourney's opening match, puts you to bed in high class digs and then takes you for a roar on the wild side with a 3-to-5 night safari. For $26,155 it is all yours.

The are two other more, shall we say, slightly cost-effective levels: Wild Dog for $25,520 and Tembo at $24,355. There are also Follow Your Team packages for Mexico and Brazil, and a basket of general packages of various lengths. For graduation with honors from World Cup school you'll need to stay to the final match – the Super Bowl at the end of the playoffs, as it were, where they actually hand over the World Cup – and for that you might need Wild Dog 6 at $27,895. No, even at the antipodes higher education isn't cheap, but when your university classes are soccer, safaris, splendor, and South Africa, there's a good chance it'll be money well spent..

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Tags: africa, cox and kings, soccer, south africa, world cup, world cup 2010

South Africa

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