Around the beginning of the last century—in 1906, to be exact—the 4’11” Ota Benga was featured in an infamous human exhibit at the Bronx Zoo’s Monkey House. Ota Benga, a Mbuti (Congolese pygmy) man from what was then known as the Congo Free State, stayed at the zoo for just a few months until the public outcry over his treatment at the zoo resulted in another home for him. However, Benga’s short life was marked with tragedy.
By now, you have seen reports on the news of once-thriving cityscapes and bustling urban areas reduced to stagnant wastelands as COVID-19 coronavirus infections spread. New York’s Time Square and Piccadilly Circus in London, two neighborhoods typically choked with throngs of people all day and every day, currently stand vacant. These images are not too dissimilar to the desolate views of Kolmanskop, a ghost town in southern Africa’s Namib Desert.
Asking if you have ever wanted to take in the soaring, natural sights of the African bush—from the safety of a treetop oasis, with stunning and precipitous views—would be a futile question. Because, of course, you would. Fortunately, the Ngala Treehouse accommodation is offering just such an opportunity.
Morocco is a country of vibrant sights and sounds. From its delectable cuisine to its colorful open-air markets, it appeals to each one of the five senses. In southwestern Morocco, nestled inside the Souss Valley, visitors are treated to one of the country’s most unique spectacles..
Standing watch over the street of its namesake, the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech is a grand homage to one of the greatest fashion designers the world has ever known. Born in 1936 in Algeria, Yves Saint Laurent got his first break in the fashion world by serving as the assistant to Christian Dior.
Drought and habitat destruction. Ivory, horn, and bushmeat poaching. Human-wildlife conflict. While these threats may not be everyday struggles in your life, they are an ongoing concern in Kenya. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) in Nairobi is doing something about it. In fact, they have been at it for more than 40 years as one of Africa’s oldest and most established wildlife charities, protecting elephants and rhinos from harm.
The Safari Collection’s “Giraffe Manor” is an exclusive boutique hotel just outside Nairobi that will transport you back to how Kenya looked in the 1930s. The ivy-covered, brick colonial-era mansion, modeled on a Scottish hunting lodge, is situated on 12 acres of private land in an indigenous forest that measures 140 acres.
The large-scale murals of Mohamed L’Ghacham amplify personal moments in a very public way, by taking seemingly ordinary activities and family photos and turning them into visual, relatable stories.
In South Africa, most people feel that experiencing nature is the ultimate goal and Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve, set in the Cederberg Mountains, has created beautiful living accommodations that truly reflect that purpose.
Some of the best kinds of travel experiences you can have with a family in tow are the ones that invoke a sense of adventure. While beach vacations may be perfect for some rest and recreation, sometimes a bit of adrenaline is needed to keep those kids busy (and worn out).
