We ADORE South Africa ! It really has to be one of the most spectacular countries on the planet, with dramatic scenery at every turn - add in fabulous wildlife, great cities, a lovely climate (rarely too hot, rarely too cold) and some of the best food & wine (we’re easily swayed!) anywhere, and it’s easy to see why South Africa is one of our favourite places! All South Africa trips should take in CapeTown at some point - talk about an incredible city! The setting is stunning, with Table Mountain as its backdrop, plus there’s loads to see and do. We love the hop-on hop-off buses that will take you to all of the main sights, including the beaches of Camps Bay and the seals of Hout Bay. Be sure to head down to the Cape Peninsula – dramatic scenery, incredible flora & fauna, and all just a short drive form the city. South Africa is perfect for a Fly-Drive holiday , or we can also arrange an Escorted Tour, or just a few days in a couple of locations with transfers inclu...

TOP 5 ROMANCE Add a little romance to your life with our top 5 romantic destinations. LIGHT A SKY LANTERN ON THE BEACH IN THAILAND Traditional sky lanterns are launched across Thailand for celebrations and to bring good luck, and there’s no better way to mark a special occasion than to launch your own lantern in to the night sky. Made out of rice paper and a bamboo frame, the lanterns can drift for miles in a breeze before gently returning to the ground once the candle has gone out. The most popular time to launch a sky lantern is during the Loi Krathong festival in November, but lanterns are available in most beach resorts year-round – our suggestion would be to head for Krabi , and watch your lantern rise above a backdrop of island and outcrops of Phang Nga Bay. HOT AIR BALLOON OVER THE MASAI MARA, KENYA A safari is a special travel experience, and a balloon ride over the plains of Africa is truly something else – a real ‘once in a lifetime’ experience when the roma...

An African safari may not be the kind of holiday that first springs to mind as a family-friendly option, but a safari can be the perfect trip for a family to share adventures and experiences of a lifetime. A safari is a holiday with a difference, for both adults and kids alike. Spending time in the national parks and game reserves of Africa is as much an adventure as a holiday, and one that is action-packed and exciting, fun and educational in equal measure. East Africa is one of the best areas for a family safari, with Kenya and Tanzania offering easily accessible game parks that are home to a huge variety of wildlife including the famed ‘Big 5’, plus family-friendly accommodation and good value for money too. Seeing animals in their natural environment is something that all kids will relish. Standing on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River in Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve watching a tower of giraffes on the opposite bank as they majestically stoop down to drink is a magical...

As the wedding season approaches, we take a look at some of their most popular destinations for honeymooners. If your idea of the ultimate romantic honeymoon is to be alone with just the love of your life, then look no further than the Maldives . Hundreds of tiny islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a stunningly beautiful destination where romance comes easily. Lazy days on the beach, beautiful sunsets and understated service are the order of the day here – forget sightseeing and partying! Resorts do vary quite considerably, and as you can’t really leave your island once you’re there its important to get the right one for you. Larger islands tend to offer a range of facilities and more of a village feel, ideal for those who like a little more activity, while some islands are little more than a dot on the horizon, perfect for a real get-away-from-it-all. From the moment you land at the airport, the beauty and romance of the Maldives really does take your breath a...

We love Kenya here at Escape Worldwide and Karen is a massive fan: 'I was lucky enough, again, to spend two nights on safari on the amazing Masai Mara in Kenya recently and every game drive you go on is a different experience, you always see something new, as even if it’s the same animal they are doing something different. This time we saw a leopard, one of the cats I have never seen so I was very excited! Usually people see them up a tree keeping out of the way, but this one was just wandering in an out of the trees and it was amazing. It wasn’t bothered by us sitting in the safari vehicle watching him – in fact, he was showing off a bit and quite enjoying himself! I had to remember to stop taking photos and just sit back and watch the show – quite difficult to be honest! Although we saw elephants, cheetah, giraffe and all sorts of other things, this was definitely the highlight of the trip, and for some of my fellow passengers with me it was their first time on saf...

We are asked a fair bit, I want to go on safari in Kenya, but don’t want to keep moving around? Well Karen has the answer: I did a safari in Kenya last year and what I did was to fly from Nairobi straight into the Masai Mara by light aircraft, I then spent 3 nights at a camp before flying back to Nairobi. I found this worked really well as the light aircraft was a FAB way of seeing the Masai Mara from the air and it only took about an hour and a half to get from Nairobi, Also it landed close to the camp so didn’t have to go too far to get to the camp, though on saying that the drive to the camp was amazing, littered with giraffe and zebra. Whilst at the camp I did a couple of game drives a day, which I have to say were simply amazing. I saw the big five plus tons of other animals. I was pretty amazed when we came across a herd of elephant; I counted 20 with a couple of babies, which were so sweat. There is some much to see on the Masai Mara and the local driver/guide, Dav...

Throughout December we're having a look back at some of our favourite trips from 2016 - just last month Darren visited Kenya and was blown away by the wildlife of this magical destination. But he found a lot more besides, with beautiful landscapes, fabulous beaches along the coast, superb places to stay and he even managed a lively night out in vibrant Nairobi!   On Safari in Kenya Over the last few weeks I've been completely enthralled by David Attenborough's 'Planet Earth II' series, and while I wouldn't class myself as a wildlife buff I get very excited on safari. In November I spent four nights on safari and four nights on the beach, which is the ideal mix for part-time Attenborough's like me! On this trip I flew by light aircraft from Nairobi to the Masai Mara - I've been to Kenya a few times before and on my last visit I had a 4x4 vehicle to take in three different areas of the country, starting in Samburu in the north of Kenya before headi...

South Africa is an amazing destination offering everything from wildlife, stunning scenery and amazing food and fine wines! We can offer plenty of holiday options and one of our favourite is combining vibrant Cape Town with the sheer beauty of the Garden Route and the thrill of safari in the Eastern Cape - one of the most popular South Africa fly-drive itineraries, taking in the best of the Rainbow Nation. SUGGESTED ITINERARY Day 1 - UK to Cape Town Fly from London to Cape Town, arriving next day. Days 2-4 - Cape Town On arrival you'll be transferred to to your chosen hotel, for a three night stay - we have a range to choose from, and your length of stay in Cape Town is flexible. Spend the next few days exploring Cape Town . Perhaps pre-book a Discover Cape Town City Tour (from £23 per person) - a great introduction to this spectacular city, the Cape Town City Tour provides the perfect opportunity to sample some of its attractions and get your bearings. We generally...

Off the radar for a while, the stunning beach destination of Mombasa , Kenya is back. The Kenya Coast has some really fantastic beaches and a good range of hotels. Historic Mombasa city is on an island, with plenty of interest while the beaches extend to the North and South of the city. The North Coast is the more developed of the two, with more facilities outside of the hotels, and more visitors - if you’re looking for activities, it’s ideal. The South Coast is less developed, and is perfect for a more relaxing holiday with Diani Beach regularly being voted the best beach in Africa - beaches here are wider and whiter, and hotels here tend to be a little more spacious. North of Mombasa, the beaches of Watamu and Malindi are an excellent place to unwind, with coral reefs and more of a village feel. It’s easy to do a short safari from Mombasa and popular one is the 2 night ‘Tsavo Explorer’ excursion which includes one night in TsavoEast National Park...

Kenya is such a magical place and the wildlife is simply breathe taking. Our  Cheetah Safari  is a traditional seven-night safari visiting Samburu, home to unique wildlife, followed by the Rift Valley Lakes where thousands of pink flamingoes often tint the horizon. The final destination is the Masai Mara where vast numbers of plains game and spectacular big cats abide. Everyone in the office has been on safari in Kenya and the experience is simply amazing. On Darren's last trip he even had a Cheetah jump on the top of his safari vehicle, using it as a look out post to find it's cubs some breakfast. The Cheetah Safari is a comprehensive safari, covering amazing areas including the breathe taking Masai Mara which is home to some of the worlds best wildlife, Cheetah, Lions, Elephants, Zebra and so much more.  DAY 1 SUNDAY HEATHROW - NAIR OBI Fly from Heathrow overnight to Nairobi. DAY 2 MONDAY ABERDARES On arrival transfer to the Safari Lounge, where you can ...

Africa is a real passion of ours - we’ve all been, and there’s nothing like being on the Masai Mara at sunrise, exploring the dunes of Namibia’s Sossusvlei or experiencing the Serengeti during the annual wildebeest migration. From Cape Town to Zanzibar , we’re hooked! A good safari will combine different areas to give you a variety of wildlife and landscapes. A driving safari is great  value and really opens up a country, while a flying safari makes easy work of long distances by light aircraft.  A safari in Kenya is like working your way through a guidebook of game, while the national parks of Tanzania are incredibly varied. Hot air ballooning is possible in some locations. It’s easy to follow most itineraries with a stay on the beach, with the likes of Mombasa and Zanzibar being perfect for a beach break with or without a safari! South Africa is one of our favourites, and lends itself perfectly to a fly-drive or escorted tour with its mix of history...

Stellenbosch is the only winelands town that has a University, and with the infusion of young student energy this ‘College’ atmosphere permeates throughout the town. This is visible in the many bistros, art galleries, Music venues, Theatres and Wine bars that make up the vibrant heart of the Old town. It is a unique place where international guests are able to experience the diverse culture and meet the many people from all aspects of society that make Africa the ‘Rainbow nation’. The wine Stellenbosch   is home to some of the   oldest and most famous wine estates in South Africa, in fact Stellenbosch is where South African wine making began! It’s home to the widest range of estates, with 148 wineries in total where they produce some of the world’s best wines. Kanonkop and Rust and Vrede among others are repeatedly recognized for their wines worldwide. The best way to visit the vineyards is on a tour where you can sample the wines along the way! The arts St...

"My favourite trip of last year was definitely a fly-drive I did in Namibia - what an incredible country! In the course of 10 days I covered 1800 miles, climbed the world's biggest sand dunes, drove around one of Africa's best national parks, drunk German-style lager on the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean and watched the sun set over the Kalahari Desert. My highlights were Etosha National Park , where you can drive yourself and get extremely close to lion, rhino, elephant and a host of other game; and the dunes at Sossusvlei, which is probably the single most spectacular place I've ever been to! This was my first trip to Namibia and it's somewhere I'd recommend to anyone with a sense of adventure - if you love spectacular scenery and incredible wildlife then it's for you, but if you're more of a nightlife and cities person then perhaps not. The one thing that really strikes you as you drive around Namibia is just how varied the countryside is - every few...

Karen looks back to 2013 at her favourite trip: “My favourite trip of last year was to South Africa - I'm the only person in the office who hadn't been before and I've heard such great things about it - and I wasn't disappointed! The South African Tourism Board invited me to go, and we took in two main areas - Cape Town & the Cape Peninsula area, and Durban along with nearby safari parks. Cape Town is such a fantastic city, and in such a dramatic setting - the first time you see Table Mountain it really takes your breath away! I'd been told that the weather at the top of Table Mountain can change quickly and you can't go up if the weather is bad, so we headed straight for the cable car as soon as we arrived, as it was sunny! The views are just incredible, across the city and the Atlantic Seaboard, plus along the Cape Peninsula too. I really liked the  V&A Waterfront  area of Cape Town - it has a lovely feel and some great shopping, plus you catch boats...

Please help us settle an office argument - whose is the best photo? Ever since we had some of our favourite photos enlarged to put on the wall of our Travel Lounge, there's been an ongoing argument in the office as to who's photo is best. Have a look at our favourite photos and let us know what you think: Karen at the Taj Mahal in India "This is the best photo because of its composition and artistry - plus because I took it! Getting the reflection right in the pool was tricky, but it worked a treat when a group of colorfully dressed local ladies walked in to shot, rather than the group of backpackers who'd just moved on! I love this photo so much I've had it enlarged and is now on the wall at home!! Let us know via our Facebook page   Mark on the Masai Mara in Kenya  "This photo is more about the experience than the photo itself, although getting a shot when the cheetah was bearing her teeth while the cubs were looking i...