Laura Burdett-Munns, Author at A Luxury Travel Blog : A Luxury Travel Blog

Top 5 places in Africa to see endangered animals

By Laura Burdett-Munns on May 21, 2020 in Africa, Kenya, Regions, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

Most animals in Africa are to some extent endangered, though the term usually refers to an animal that is in danger of extinction. The causes are mostly linked to mankind – poaching for food or the pet and “medicinal” trades, as well as loss of habitat due to climate change and competition for land. High

Memories of Kenya's private reserves

By Laura Burdett-Munns on Mar 17, 2020 in Africa, Kenya, Regions

In light of the current world climate, I’d like to start off by saying that I hope as you read this, you and your family are well. As the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to develop on a daily basis, there is an air of uncertainty casting a shadow over the entire notion of travel, at

Children riding horseback at Ant's Collection

Family riding holidays in Africa

By Laura Burdett-Munns on Feb 21, 2020 in Adventure Travel, Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Leisure Travel, Regions, South Africa, Speciality Travel

Exploring a national park by 4×4 is exhilarating, but doing it on horseback brings with it a whole new level of excitement. Without the growling of an engine you can approach much closer before starting to disturb the game. Horses are not noisy, or invasive. Wild animals are aware of the horses’ presence but completely

Madagascar - a birder's paradise

By Laura Burdett-Munns on Jan 22, 2020 in Africa, Leisure Travel, Madagascar, Regions, Speciality Travel

If you saw the DreamWorks film Madagascar, you could be forgiven for getting very confused about what sort of wildlife inhabits this vast, Indian Ocean island off the south-eastern coast of Africa. There are no penguins, and no escapees from Central Park Zoo. What you will find, however, is an extraordinary hotpot of biodiversity: 90%

Guests looking at rock art, Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

Ancient Africa

By Laura Burdett-Munns on Dec 09, 2019 in Africa, Attractions, Going Out, Regions, Tanzania

When I talk to people about what draws them to Africa, often time and again, they speak of the magnificent landscapes, the endless sky, and the rich wildlife that is without parallel anywhere else on earth. But when we press them further, conversation always turns to the people, the warm welcome and hospitality, the passion

Africa: the perfect honeymoon destination

By Laura Burdett-Munns on Nov 14, 2019 in Adventure Travel, Africa, Honeymoons, Leisure Travel, Rail Travel, Regions, South Africa, Speciality Travel, Tanzania, Zambia

Couples invariably spend months and months planning their big day, down to the smallest detail. But what of the honeymoon to follow? How you spend your first few days or weeks together is actually just as important as it is one of the bedrocks of your married life. Whether you are planning the honeymoon as

Guest trekking to see gorillas with guide, Gorilla Forest Camp

The ultimate safari: combining Kenya and Uganda

By Laura Burdett-Munns on Oct 16, 2019 in Adventure Travel, Africa, Kenya, Regions, Speciality Travel, Uganda

Ready to finally dive into planning that trip to Africa? On a continent of such scale, diversity and limitless possibility, it can be difficult to know where to start. If you’re the sort that loves to do everything, then taking advantage of a new flight link between Kenya’s Masai Mara and Uganda is an excellent

Africa's top 5 places to spot rhino

By Laura Burdett-Munns on Sep 19, 2019 in Accommodation, Africa, Botswana, Camping, Kenya, Namibia, Regions, Resorts, South Africa

The 21st September is World Rhino Day and to celebrate, I thought that sharing my knowledge of Africa’s best places to spot these magnificent, yet endangered creatures was a must. Not only did I want to highlight my favourite places to simply see them, but I wanted to showcase some of Africa’s finest conservation programmes,

Botswana: thoughts on the all-new Selinda Camp

By Laura Burdett-Munns on Aug 23, 2019 in Accommodation, Africa, Botswana, Camping, Hotels, Regions, Resorts

The Selinda Spillway is one of the most unspoilt and wildlife rich places in the Okavango Delta. Great Plains’ Selinda Camp has long been one of our favourite places to stay in Botswana, and it has now reopened after a complete rebuild. This is what you can expect from the new Selinda Camp. The location

See the lion, save the lion

By Laura Burdett-Munns on Jul 16, 2019 in Adventure Travel, Africa, Regions, South Africa, Speciality Travel, Tanzania

As the world prepares for Disney’s highly-anticipated, live-action remake of The Lion King, I can’t help but reflect on Africa’s most iconic species. The king of the jungle’s reign comes under greater threat with each passing year, yet this sad fact remains relatively overlooked. Just several decades ago, 450,000 lion ruled Africa’s savannahs; now the

Top tips for your first safari

By Laura Burdett-Munns on Jun 21, 2019 in Adventure Travel, Africa, Regions, Speciality Travel

If you’ve booked your first ever safari, or are in the early stages of planning it, the excitement will already be building. You’re probably dreaming of the landscapes, the animals and birds that you’ll see, and the life affirming experiences you’ll share with your guides and travelling companions. There are plenty of practical considerations during

Star beds of Africa

By Laura Burdett-Munns on May 16, 2019 in Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Regions, South Africa

Ask anyone who has been on safari in Africa what they remember about the landscapes, and there’s a high chance they will tell you about the seemingly endless African skies. By day you can look miles to the horizon, which is often shaped by hazy mountains, but come nightfall, the only place you want to

Birding in Zambia

By Laura Burdett-Munns on Apr 18, 2019 in Adventure Travel, Africa, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, Zambia

Not too long ago, a tale was recounted to me by someone who visited Zambia’s Kafue National Park. There they had heard the tale of a British birder with a life list that would rival the telephone directory in length. He did, however, have a few rare species left to see, and hoped to tick

Under the waves on World Wildlife Day

By Laura Burdett-Munns on Mar 03, 2019 in Adventure Travel, Africa, Leisure Travel, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Regions, Speciality Travel, Tanzania

The UN marks World Wildlife Day each year on 3 March. It is an opportunity to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants, and to encourage people around the globe to think about what they can do – big or small – to have a positive impact. This year the theme

Easter escapes in Africa

By Laura Burdett-Munns on Feb 17, 2019 in Africa, Attractions, Botswana, Going Out, Namibia, Regions, South Africa, Zimbabwe

In the dark, dreary months of February, nothing beats anticipating warmer days and having an adventure to look forward to. The Easter holidays beckon, and with them all manner of opportunities for exploring Africa with your family. The rains will be falling in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, so if it’s a safari you are looking

Africa’s most exciting new openings for 2019

By Laura Burdett-Munns on Jan 07, 2019 in Accommodation, Africa, Botswana, Hotels, Namibia, Regions, Resorts, Rwanda, South Africa, Zimbabwe

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say: Africa is the most exciting luxury destination in the world right now. The influx of investment in infrastructure, new flight routes, ground breaking conservation projects, and increased attention from the international media are putting the countries of East and Southern Africa in particular on

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