A Love Affair With Africa and Tatler Spa Guide 2011
Posted: Friday, November 19, 2010
by Nick Laing
http://www.steppestravel.co.uk
It is common knowledge that being on safari entails alot of dust and countless gamedrives. But on your next safari (because trust me, there will always be a next one), allow yourself to experience the exception to the rule that is the Makgakgadi Pans. Within a few hours following my arrival at Camp Kalahari, I was quad biking through the pans, with the obligatory kikoy wound around my head and with the caked earth of the vast pans on either side of me. It was the most exhilirating experience. The sense of freedom and space was immense and as I followed the dust trail ahead of me, there was something almost exploratory about the whole experience.
The following morning was spent by a privileged few hours in the company of one of the most iconic creatures of the Kalahari, the meerkat. And if that wasn't enough, the sunset was accompanied by a brown hyena and her two pups. It is impossible not to view this land as inhospitable and unforgiving, but dig just under the surface and you will find the most incredible treasure, especially if you know where to dig, which the Bushman trackers showed us on our morning walk.
If you want to revive your love affair with Africa or if you want to catch a glimpse of its soul, then this is the place to do it. You will leave with so much more than just dust on your boots.
Opening the Tatler Spa Guide 2011, I was please to see Lahuen Co deservedly had a mention. The review was written earlier this year by Christabelle Dilks after her trip to north Patagonia with Steppes Travel. Christabelle is the author of the fabulous footprint guide for Argentina and she spoke earlier at the Corinium Museum in Cirencester on our 'Undiscovered Argentina' evening.
Her review certainly captures the remote beauty of Lahuen Co:
"Deep in the remote Andes, where sparkling lakes, snowy mountains and virgin forest are everywhere, there's a secret spot where healing thermal waters bubble up from long-retired volcanoes, sending plumes of steam rising through the pampas grass. The ancient Mapuche people named it Lahuen Co: miraculous waters. They were such big fans they planted monkey-puzzle trees here to attract the latter-day travellers, but for years no one dipped a toe. Now a zen-like lodge marks the spot with admirably restrained style but unrestrained comforts: fine wines, wood stoves, and great cakes. Hike, kayak or submit to expert shiatsu massage, but the water spa is the star, The Japanese onsen sequence takes you through four indoor pools, from tepid to hot; then detonate your senses by strolling outside to plunge into cool natural pools in the wilderness of nature."
For more info visit http://www.steppestravel.co.uk.
This Article has been viewed 137 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.