The Conscious Check In Edition 6 : Khensani River Lodge, Tengile MalaMala Collection
I pretty much always get excited at a new lodge opening but very few to the levels of this one! Now I KNOW we are not supposed to have favourites but Mala Mala has a special place in my heart. One of the most storied private reserves in South Africa, with a rich history, community […]
Gorilla Trek Gear Guide: Packing for Uganda and Rwanda
What the internet tells you… A quick search of “gorilla trekking packing list” online will return dozens of similar lists covering worse case scenarios across the seasons, so this is exactly how I packed ahead of my own trip last month after some last minute gaiter shopping. Many of this items came home unworn following […]
Why Package Holidays are essential in 2026 and beyond
The Package Holiday Isn’t Dead. There’s a reason why the Financial Guru’s keep saying “book a package” but I think some education is still needed on what a package actually is! I still believe, if you ask most people what a package holiday is, they’ll picture a Club 18-30 in Benidorm, or squinting at a […]
Conscious Check In Edition 5: Islas Secas, Panama
Floating twenty miles off Panama’s Pacific coast in the Gulf of Chiriquí, Islas Secas is an archipelago of fourteen volcanic islands. Thirteen of them remain entirely untouched. The fourteenth holds one of the most consciously designed retreats I have ever encountered. This is a place where solar panels power everything, where the marine life outnumbers […]
Tipping on Safari: A Personal Guide to Safari Etiquette
Let’s take the guesswork out of one of the most common safari questions “how much should I tip on safari?“ Whether you’re heading to South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania or Kenya, tipping is a meaningful way to recognise the people who make your safari so memorable. From the guide who shares your first lion sighting to […]
Unusual Destination Weddings and Elopements : Unconventional “I Do’s”
Valentine’s Day is just behind us and proposals are still sparkling in the air like confetti! If you’re one of the newly engaged (or just daydreaming about it) now is the perfect moment to imagine something different – a wedding that’s more about experience than expectation and more “personal” than “persons on the guestlist.” Lets […]
Erebero Hills, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
Concious Check-In Edition 5 Set on the Northern edge of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, an exciting new opeining is taking place this year for Asilia Africa. Erebero Hills occupies an elevated ridge overlooking one of Africa’s most ecologically dense and ancient landscapes. From Erebero Hills. Here, you gain a real perspective first, an opportunity to […]
Uganda : Luxury Experiential Travel in the Pearl of Africa
Tucked into the heart of East Africa, Uganda is landlocked yet suprisingly shaped by water. It is home to Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. From its northern edge flows the River Nile, beginning its epic journey to the Mediterranean at the very source, first traced here by early […]
Aqua Lares : Luxury Expedition Cruising with Aqua Expeditions
Concious Check-In Edition 4 Across the world’s oceans, a quiet revolution in small-ship exploration is taking place with Aqua Expeditions, superyachts converted into the moving luxury boutique hotels carrying you to some of the most remote and beautiful corners of the world. With circa 15 luxurious double suites per ship, world class chefs creating incredible […]
Why Small-Group Travel Is Surging in 2026: Connection, Community & Smarter Ways to Explore
Travel in 2026 is leaning more towards meaningful moments than box ticking. It involves going deeper rather than faster and travelling with purpose rather than pressure. At the centre of this shift sits a rising star: small-group travel. Between the big flag-leading coach tour and the ultra-private bespoke journey, small groups are capturing the hearts […]