• Victoria Falls
    Africa

    Victoria Falls

    11/19/2023 - By 

    Nothing can quite prepare you for the awe-inducing sight that is southern Africa’s mighty Victoria Falls. The waterfall, which is known as Mosi-oa-Tynua (‘the smoke that thunders’) in the local Sotho language, is a roaring, powerful spectacle and one of the great natural wonders of the world. It’s formed by the 1.7m-wide Zambezi River (below) as it cascades over a 300ft gorge, making it the largest waterfall in the world. It’s estimated that at the height of the rainy season, between February and May, some 500 million cubic metres of water tumble over the gorge every minute. Victoria Falls is…

  • Chobe National Park: Chobe Riverfront
    Africa

    Chobe National Park: Chobe Riverfront

    10/15/2023 - By 

    If you want to see elephants in the wild, look no further than Chobe National Park. The 11,700 sq km park in north-western Botswana is home to some 35,000 elephants, the highest concentration of the pachyderms in the world. The sprawling park was opened in 1968, making it Botswana’s first national park, and it has a diverse range of habitats. The area around the Chobe River is home to the park’s biggest concentration of animals. There, alongside the aforementioned elephants, you’ll find giraffes, vervet monkeys, lions, crocodiles, impala, kudu, zebra and more. The park is also home to more than…

  • Tsodilo Hills
    Africa

    Tsodilo Hills

    10/02/2023 - By 

    One of the most archaeologically significant and sacred sites in southern Africa, the captivating Tsodilo Hills are adorned by more than 4,500 rock paintings, painted by the San and Bantu peoples over thousands of years. Lying on the western edge of the Kalahari Desert, you can’t miss the hills, a series of four monumental rocks that dominate the otherwise flat, barren landscape. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, archaeologists estimate that Tsodilo has been occupied by humans for some 100,000 years and it’s long been revered by the people who live here. The San people believe it was the…

  • Vietnam travel guide
    Asia

    Vietnam travel guide

    07/31/2023 - By 

    From awe-inspiring scenery to ancient ruined complexes, traditional temples and stark reminders of the Vietnam War, there’s lots to experience in Vietnam. Add to the mix, an incredibly friendly people, rich culture and tasty food, and it’s no wonder the country has become such a popular destination with travellers in recent years. Everyone I know who’s visited Vietnam seems to have done the traditional north to south route through the country – starting in Hanoi and finishing in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s the same route I took when I visited the country. So if you’re thinking of visiting Vietnam…

  • Berkeley: Dr Jenner’s House and St Mary’s Church
    Uk

    Berkeley: Dr Jenner’s House and St Mary’s Church

    07/16/2023 - By 

    While I was at Berkeley Castle, I learned that Dr Jenner’s House was just a five minute walk away. So after looking around the castle, I walked over to the house, as I was keen to see where the ‘father of immunology’ had lived and worked. Dr Edward Jenner was born in Berkeley in 1749, the son of a local vicar, and after finishing his medical training in London, he returned to the Gloucestershire town. He bought his house, The Chantry, in 1785 and lived there with his wife Catherine and their family. In 1796, Dr Jenner cemented his place…

  • Berkeley Castle
    Uk

    Berkeley Castle

    07/06/2023 - By 

    As the site of one of the most infamous maybe-murders in English history, it’s safe to say I’d been dying to visit Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire for quite some time. Despite being only an hour’s drive from Cardiff, I had, for some inexplicable reason, never been before. So when I had a week off work in May, I was determined to finally put that right. Situated in the charming town of Berkeley, just a stone’s throw from the River Severn, the 12th century castle is one of the oldest buildings in England still inhabited by the same family. The castle…

  • Ho Chi Minh City: Part 2
    Asia

    Ho Chi Minh City: Part 2

    05/31/2023 - By 

    Just before lunch we headed to the Reunification Palace in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. Home to the president of South Vietnam in 1975 when the North’s tanks came rolling in, it’s stood in a virtual time warp ever since. To get to the palace, we walked through the large pale grey gates surrounding it and past an immaculate round lawn where we headed up a flight of steps to the main entrance. Inside, the palace is home to ceremonial spaces, a banqueting hall, meeting rooms, seating areas, a dining room, screening room and even an indoor rockery.…

  • London: The Wallace Collection
    Uk

    London: The Wallace Collection

    02/12/2023 - By 

    I first heard about The Wallace Collection years ago when I was writing a secret guide to Marylebone for a magazine I was working on at the time. As part of the feature, I was interviewing locals to find out their favourite spots in the area and one woman I talked to mentioned The Wallace Collection. Intrigued, I decided to check it out the following Saturday and discovered an utterly delightful collection of art, porcelain and furnishings inside a magnificent mansion. The Wallace Collection is a collection of European artworks, furniture and armoury amassed by the 4th Marquess of Hertford…

  • London walks: Belsize Park, Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park
    Uk

    London walks: Belsize Park, Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park

    02/05/2023 - By 

    When I lived in London, I used to try to get out for a long walk most weekends. One of my favourite walks was from Belsize Park to Marylebone or Regent’s Street in central London, via Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park. If I was feeling particularly energetic and had the time, I’d sometimes start the walk in Crouch End, making my way to Highgate Woods, through Highgate village and across Hampstead Heath to Belsize Park before continuing into central London. Short on time this trip and keen to pack in as much as I could, I decided to keep it…

  • London: Westminster, St James’s Park and Hieroglyphs at the British Museum
    Uk

    London: Westminster, St James’s Park and Hieroglyphs at the British Museum

    01/29/2023 - By 

    On my second day in London, I headed into town bright and early to start the day with a little touristing. My destination? Westminster. Situated on the banks of the River Thames in the heart of London, the historic district is home to a slew of the capital and the country’s most iconic landmarks, including the eponymous Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Inspired by the previous day’s visit to St Paul’s Cathedral, my first port of call was the magnificent Westminster Abbey. The abbey, which has played host to countless royal weddings, funerals and coronations, dates…