Issy reports from South Africa & Mozambique

After an extraordinary trip to South Africa and Mozambique, packed with stylish lodges, outstanding game viewing, awesome scenery and delicious food and wine, it’s very difficult to decide which bits are deserving of the brief mention here.

I particularly loved the warm hospitality and relaxed atmosphere at Marlin Lodge on Benguerra Island, just off the coast of southern Mozambique. I was only there for two nights, but immediately relaxed into the laid-back happy vibe. The waters off Benguerra are full of marine life from humpback whales (in season) to dolphins, and there always seemed to be a picturesque dhow sailing boat gliding past when I looked out to sea. Relaxing in your hammock enjoying a sundowner cocktail before candlelit dinner of crayfish and lobster on a white sandy beach that stretches for miles, you might never want to leave.

After the warm breezes and soft sounds of the Indian Ocean, I arrived in very different surroundings; the harsh but beautiful terrain of South Africa’s Tswalu Game Reserve. Its name meaning “new beginning”, and Tswalu is one of the most spiritual places I have been to, with an endless horizon and a sky so vast it’s almost hypnotic. The mesmerising Northern Cape Kalahari wilderness, with its red dunes, dramatic mountainous backdrop and grassy savannah reminded me of northern Kenya. Tswalu is the largest private game reserve in South Africa, comprising 100,000 acres and only two lodges with a total of 13 rooms. The luxury of remoteness make this area very special, with the added bonus that it’s home to the majestic Kalahari Lion with its thick black mane, stunning bird life, buffalo, black and white rhino and antelope.

The area is also malaria-free, so ideal for families, and those with older children can ride through the long grasses as the sun sets, experience bush dinners followed by sleep-outs on the dunes, track black rhino on foot, enjoy the landscape from a hot air balloon and learn about the lodge's dedication to conservation. All this under two hours flight from the bright lights of Johannesburg or Cape Town.

To follow in Issy's footsteps, or to hear more about her trip, call her on 020 7978 7333 or email isabel@originaltravel.co.uk