Smart Travel Report

Luxury, even the word is silken, like rich chocolate on the tongue. Roll it around in your mouth, savour it, Luxury. It feels indulgent, as if saying it too much is a guilty pleasure and one only to be done, all alone in a candlelit room. If words had colour this one would be a deep eggplant purple. Luxury, something we all crave, and something that means different things to different people. Something that we can all taste at least once in our lives.

For some it involves trekking through scrub bush, being at one with nature, getting up close to the animals (hopefully downwind) and the thrill of knowing that at any moment they could come across something wild and distinctly animal. This would probably appeal to outdoorsy adventurous types. Or those who consider themselves outdoorsy adventurous types. Or those who have never been outdoorsy and adventurous in their entire sedentary lives but who now feel the need for an outdoorsy adventurous experience.

To have the heart of a lion is to be courageous and also something more, it suggests a hint of nobility or majesty with that courage. To be both brave and proud, to face your fears with your head held high and to give no sign that you are quaking in every muscle and will probably have to change your pants after the first unexpected sound. It does not mean that you have to be a good person. Richard the Lionheart, the inspiration behind all of this, was apparently a bit of a heel. He tried to overthrow his father, then revolted against his brother and pledged his undying allegiance to his father but of course he was a liar liar pants on fire. Because it was only a matter of time before he and daddy were at it again and he had in for the Jews, he was a total anti-Semite. He also decided that it would be a very good idea to go off to the Middle East and kill a lot Muslims in the name of Christianity and the crusades. But everyone remembers his military reputation and his gallantry and his chivalry. Steven Runciman says of him that, “he was a bad son, a bad husband and bad king, but a gallant and splendid soldier.” That’s being lionhearted.

The Native Americans believe that tracking animals is a sacred responsibility. They believe that it is a gift that enables you to enter the centre of the lives and homes of animals, and therefore you must treasure it and respect the animals by being non-intrusive. Should you get too close and disturb them, the results can be disastrous, especially for the young that may be abandoned. It is vital that you remember that you are visitor in their home and no more. In Africa the art of tracking is being lost as new generations lose interest in nature and instead choose technology and modern city living over outdoor activities. As a result special programmes have been developed to try and save the unique art of African tracking, so far with a moderate degree of success.

You know how your mother always tells you to wear clean under wear in case you’re in an accident, that’s kind of what travel insurance is like. You have to have it just in case because should something unfortunate happen (cross your fingers, turn in a circle three times to the left and spit on your right shoe for luck) you are really going to want to be covered for it.

The prospect of travelling abroad on holiday is an exciting one. We all look forward to a trip overseas, to experiencing new cultures, new food, new sights and talking to people loudly but slowly, while gesturing wildly as we try to find our way to the nearest public loo. But its not all fun and games, there are some serious aspects that have to be considered before we leave for that holiday of a lifetime. One of the most important questions is whether or not we should buy travel insurance and the answer to that is a resounding yes. To not buy travel insurance would be like a fire-fighter walking into a burning building without his or her fireproof overall, hat and oxygen, in other words, not well prepared. The question that naturally follows on the first is: what kind of travel insurance should I get? That answer is not as simple as the first and depends on where you’re going, what you will be doing and your general health.

Turkey is a very popular historically significant destination. It is frequented by archaeologists, history buff and classics students dying to see some Byzantine architecture out of text books and in real life. It is also a tremendously beautiful country, rich in art, culture and atmosphere and is therefore not lost on us regular folks either. Which is most fortunate seeing as how we have helped to make it one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations. In addition to being avid tourists, we are also turning into avid property buyers in Turkey. International property sales in Turkey are on the way up, so are property prices. So far the market is still affordable but it won’t stay that way forever.

Times were that every Sunday afternoon families used to crowd into the family car (note the singular) and go for a leisurely drive around town. It used to be an event, something to be looked forward to. It was not to be sneered at and wheedled out of. That was because cars were still a novelty and it was such bliss to ride in one, even if one was going at a sedate 30 km an hour and being rattled to death by non-existent shocks. One kept all one’s sneering for those who did not have cars and who were thus not able to enjoy the thrills of the Sunday afternoon drive. Poor peasants who had to walk on a Sunday! Those were the days of the family that drives together stays together.

If you’re considering getting married at some point in your life, and you don’t consider the institution of marriage to be archaic and outdated as many young people do, the problem of where to go on your honeymoon may be giving you sleepless nights. Goodness knows it’s an important decision. You need to find the right place to not come out of your room for 10 – 14 days. If the idea of a tropical beachside resort bores you and you get cold too easily to fancy skiing, you might want to consider a luxury safari in the Kruger Park. The emphasis is on luxury because the hosts at Tinga Private Game Lodge, the Lodge recommended for honeymooners, pulls out all the stops when it comes to ensuring your comfort and anticipating your every need.

The Wild Coast of South Africa lies along its east coast. It is largely in accessible and untamed, hence the wildness. This also means that it has retained most of its natural beauty and has been unspoilt by developers, which makes it a holidaymaker’s paradise. Part of its unspoilt, natural charm is that a lot of the roads are still gravel and full of potholes. It really is best to use a 4 x 4 to get by, although a regular car will suffice. If you don’t own a 4 x 4 though an option is to rent one for the duration of your holiday. That way you don’t have to risk your car getting stuck on muddy or rocky roads. It’s probably advisable to go for the insurance option on the rented 4 x 4, that way you won’t have to pay for any damage suffered on the roads.