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 ...

The countries of the Middle East offer a wealth of interest to the visitor, from the incredible history of Egypt to the modern metropolis of Dubai. With guaranteed sunshine, top quality hotels and short flight times, it’s no wonder this region is so popular. There’s nowhere quite like Egypt for accessible history, unique sights, amazing diving and guaranteed weather, and its all just a 5 hour flight away! While it’s seen its fair share of change in the last few years, once Egypt is back on its feet it will return to its place as one of the world’s best visitor destinations. A Nile cruise is a superb option for taking in a few thousand years of history in comfort, while the Pyramids and Sphinx should be on  anyone’s ‘must see’ list. Divers flock to the Red Sea and it’s easy to see why, plus there’s loads for non-divers too. Dubai has firmly established itself as one of the world’s leading destinations over the last few years, and offers an incredible range of lu...

The islands of the Indian Ocean are amongst the most beautiful in the world, and we’re huge fans of this region having visited most parts of it over the years. From the castaway beaches of the Maldives to the culture of India & Sri Lanka, this is a truly fascinating part of the world. Sri Lanka is a particular favourite of ours and we’ve all been several times - to our mind the best way to see this island is with your own private car & driver, to explore the interior before heading to the beach - or onwards to the Maldives . Sri Lanka is one of the friendliest destinations you’re likely to visit, with an incredible history and beautiful scenery. The nearby islands of the Maldives are just dots on the map, but their beauty really does take your breath away. Each island is individual so getting the right one is important - some have loads of facilities, some are total chill-out. Our favourites include stylish Velassaru, Kuramathi Island with is range of dining optio...

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...

Karen just got back from a superb trip to Thailand, taking in city, countryside and beach in a three-centre trip - Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Hua Hin. Today, back in the office, she's full of tales about riding elephants, learning Thai cookery, visiting floating markets and singing karaoke (there was quite a lot of Singha beer involved!) so we thought we'd bring you some of her highlights from her trip, plus details of how you can do the exact same trip too (the karaoke is optional!) Bangkok "My trip started in Bangkok, which is a place I've been to a few times before, but there's always so much to see and do - it would be hard for me to visit Thailand and not have at least a few days in Bangkok! I spent a full day exploring the city , travelling by skytrain, tuk tuk and boat to take in places that I hadn't been to before - the flower markets in Chinatown, the beautiful teak house of the famous silk entrepreneur Jim Thompson, and the fabulo...

Darren Escape Worldwide - Home of Long Haul Holidayshttp://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk

Our friends at Somak Holidays  have recently reported on the best 5 afternoon teas in Cape Town, South Africa: Afternoon teas inject a little lavishness into the routine of things. It’s a celebration of all things sweet, savory, bubbly and a chance to drink tea the ‘proper’ way. Cucumber sandwiches, warm scones, leaf teas, delicate éclairs, and miniature puds – they all have a place in my heart, but above all it’s the theatre of the afternoon tea that makes it such a special experience and one of utter pleasure. Cape Town’s colonial settlers brought with them the English tradition of the afternoon tea, and have since put their own twist on it, and today it’s a thriving tradition known to the locals as ‘high tea’. So lets raise our cup, saucer and pinky to Cape Town’s finest high tea haunts. Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel The  Mount Nelson Hotel  is one of the most famous places in the world to pour a cup or two, and it’s the place to do it in style. The hotel i...