Eco Friendly – Page 64

Kempinski Seychelles Resort

The Seychelles Islands are known for their incomparable beauty, with pristine sandy beaches and mesmerising scenery being the norm for this gem of the Indian Ocean. Kempinski is a beachfront paradise, nestled in a secluded bay at the foothills of a magnificent mountain range. The resort offers a private haven for romantics at heart, as well as an activity-packed family getaway. The resort is ideally situated for day trips and excursions yet offers much in the way of exclusivity and privacy for those looking to get off the tourist track. With restaurants that serve diverse flavours and capture the cultural mix of the Seychelles, the cuisine has just as much to explore as the island. Here at Kempinski couples, families and friends are invited to holiday in a 5-Star resort, catering for everyone and guaranteed to leave you with memories that will be hard to beat.

STORY Seychelles

Renowned for its azure oceans, sandy white beaches, and lush emerald greenery – expect nothing but undisturbed views, charming creole hospitality and a new height of indulgence at this elegant 5-star boutique resort, situated in the picturesque northern tip of Mahe. At STORY Seychelles the emphasis is on utter tranquillity. Stretch out on a lounger with a chilled drink from the poolside bar or unwind in the low lit and luxurious surrounds of Sesel Spa. Adventure awaits in the underwater paradise of Beau Vallon Beach plus a wealth of activities and excursions will also be available to you on you stay. The resort offers the perfect paradise haven for couples, families, and friends – STORY even provides a club for kids dedicated to encouraging little ones explore and have fun. At the STORY Seychelles resort you’ll create memories that will last a lifetime.

andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

Visiting this lodge will take guests to the heart of the Namib Desert; a 31,419 acre expanse which is the world’s oldest living desert. The tranquillity and serenity offered by one of Africa’s most compelling landscape pairs beautifully with the privacy of this property. There are just 12 guest suites available, making it all the more exclusive for anyone staying here. Each guest suite offers amenities such as air conditioning and a glass-encased rain shower in the en-suite. Even when indoors, you’ll feel at one with the nature here, as each suite boasts a retractable skylight for stargazing at the awe-inspiring expanse of the Namibian night sky, right from the comfort of your own bed. Activities such as dune walks, quad biking and helicopter rides are just a few ways that visitors can explore the natural landscape, admiring it from above or down below. The guest area, where walls become windows that fold away completely, boasts uninterrupted views of the desert that surrounds the property.

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is Rwanda’s ﬁrst ever community owned lodge. The 5-star lodge boasts a prime location, set on the edge of the Parc National des Volcanos in a lush green property of 11 hectares, enjoying breath-taking and dramatic views of the surrounding volcanoes. All guest cottages are discretely situated in the folds of the hills and amongst the verdant vegetation of the Sabyinyo property. Each beautifully appointed en-suite cottage, with its country-chic style and open log fires, is an ideal haven of warmth and luxury. The cottages host the perfect base from which to explore this unique and fascinating corner of Africa. The main lodge building is designed with guests in mind – with assorted seating areas in the main lounge, reception and an entertainment room providing intimate privacy, or the opportunity to meet other guests. The cuisine at the lodge is nothing short of delightful, both on the eyes and palate, matched with exceptional service and truly magical atmospheres.

Virunga Lodge

The incredible Virunga Lodge is a premier luxury gorilla lodge in Rwanda and one of the finest and most renowned lodges in all of Africa. Perched high on a ridge with stunning views of the Virunga Volcanoes, you can also absorb the Musanze valley to the west and Lake Bulera and Ruhondo to the east. These are the finest views in Africa, seen from rooms uniquely decorated in the Rwandese style. Fantastic food and exceptional personalised service by the carefully trained staff are the cherry on top of this beautiful lodge, where you are guaranteed to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Each of the ten luxurious bandas has a private terrace from which guests can watch the orange sunrise over the dramatic and varied landscape of mountains, volcanoes and lakes. Luxuriously appointed, the rooms are accented with vibrant Rwandese fabrics and stylish locally inspired furniture.

Singita Kwitonda Lodge

Home to breathtaking views of the Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura volcanoes and enclosed by high-altitude forests, Singita Kwitonda Lodge offers an experience unlike any of Singita’s other destinations. With exceptional natural beauty, eco-friendly luxury and transformative, purpose-driven experiences, the lodge was designed to complement this remarkable location, and the eight contemporary suites (as well as the private four-bedroom villa – Kataza House) are linked by volcanic rock pathways to the central lodge.
The interiors use local design and handcrafted details to adorn the carefully planned spaces. Layered textures and colours only enhance the quality of this tranquil haven and an experiential enclave leads to free-flowing indoor and outdoor areas. A convivial fire pit, interactive kitchen, bar-deli and wine cellar complete the picture in these magnificent rooms.

The Retreat by Heaven

Town & Country and The New York Times call The Retreat in Rwanda one of the top new hotels in the world in 2018. The American owners of Heaven Restaurant created The Retreat, a 12-room luxury boutique hotel located on a tree-lined street steps from Kigali City Center and 20 minutes from the airport. Due to great success in their first 2 years they are expanding! 8 new luxury pool villas and a new wine lounge are under construction and will be open by December 2020. The Retreat is Kigali’s first eco-friendly resort and features solar electricity, organic toiletries, locally-crafted furniture from a Tanzanian sustainable teak farm, outdoor showers, private terraces, a yoga and meditation room, spa, large heated saltwater swimming pool with jacuzzi and diving rocks, and an open-air fitness centre. Fusion Restaurant and its Swahili-inspired bar, located at The Retreat, offer delicious farm-to-table international cuisine.

Bisate Lodge

Bisate Lodge hosts dramatic views of the Bisoke and Karisimbi volcano peaks rising through the forests of nearby Volcanoes National Park. Exploring around Bisate includes community visits, birding, golden monkey tracking, helping reforest the area, Gorilla Guardian Village, the Twin Lakes of Ruhondo and Burera, as well as Dian Fossey’s burial site. Guests will stay in one of six opulent en-suite Forest Villas, warmed by a central fireplace and offering breath-taking views from the deck. Both the architecture and interiors are rooted in Rwandan cultural traditions. The vision of Bisate is to be a model of sustainable ecotourism in Rwanda. Its reforestation and rehabilitation projects have each guest partnering with us and contributing to biodiversity conservation and local community upliftment, making a far-reaching positive impact on an iconic endangered species: the mountain gorilla. A stay at Bisate Lodge will have you in wonderment, promising one of the most thrilling safari destinations in Africa.

Little Kulala

Located in the Kulala Wilderness Reserve on the dry Auab riverbed, Little Kulala is both luxurious and private. Situated within the awe-inspiring serenity of the desert, this luxury camp is incredibly remote and offers guests experiences unique to the area and its dense terrain. Guests will be able to admire the 27,000 hectares that surround them when staying here, with views from their private suite and rooftop deck. Highly focused on wilderness conservation, activities at the property highlight the biodiversity of the area, bringing guests up close and personal to a vast array of flora, fauna and wilderness creatures that call this reserve their home. Game drives shows guests the beauty of the area as does the hiking and cycling on offer. This will allow guests to discover the magnificent dunes of Sossusvlei, undisturbed as far as the eye can see. Quad biking is perfect for those thrill-seeking adventurers and the property itself offers its visitors the chance to unwind on site should they wish to do so. The library and spa are all accessible and each suite’s rooftop deck allows guests to sleep outside and stargaze. A trip here in the Namibian Desert truly is a magical experience.

Zarafa Camp

Zafara Camp is an intimate, authentic safari camp located within the Selinda Reserve in northern Botswana. The area is known for its famous lion pride and unrivalled numbers of elephant. The camp has four deluxe tented rooms, including private decking and plunge pool which are placed under shady, cooling ebony trees. The camp is the first and only Relais & Chateaux property in Botswana, and this is evident through elegant, luxury touches throughout; few camps rival the intimacy and luxuriousness. There is also a separate villa, the Dhow Suites, which consists of two connecting tents and a private main area which operates independently from the rest of Zafara Camp. Surrounded by the wilderness of Botswana, the camp offers unique and contrasting views from every angle. The diverse landscapes open up a world of wildlife from leopard, lion and cheetah to giraffes and hippos. Zafara strikes a chord of harmony, through the friendly local staff and the mesmerising waters of the lagoon.