Postcard from Susan Kittenplan
Susan Kittenplan and her husband, Scott, honeymooned in Africa. Here are highlights of their journey.
North Island, Seychelles
This resort didn’t just meet our expectations; it surpassed them by far—so tranquil and romantic. This island, a former coconut plantation, has been restored beautifully, and has reintroduced rare, indigenous birds, plants and animals (at least fifty enormous tortoises roam the property) The eleven villas are gorgeous and huge, with a plunge pool, a bathtub almost as big, a private valet, all only steps from the beach. The spa treatments are some of the best ever, and the view from the spa rooms is stunning. There is a beach on the other side of the island where you can have drinks at sunset as well as a private brai (barbeque). Privacy is a priority here; you can pull a rope across your villa entrance, or at other parts of the island, and no one will disturb you. Starting in May 2009, the resort will begin a renovation of its villas (not sure why, since they are already beautiful and spacious), and will reopen in October 2009 with even more amenities, including a private spa attendant for each residence. On-demand massages and facials sound really great. Contact: www.north-island.com.
Boulders Lodge at Singita Sabi Sand, South Africa
You’ve probably read a lot about the Singita safari properties in Africa, and all the hype is true—great food, attentive staff, gorgeous setting, terrific wine cellar, etc. If the “Big Five” is your thing, this is an excellent place to visit—we saw all of them almost every time we went out. However, Sabi Sand has much more to see (beautiful flora and fauna; breathtaking star-gazing). Because of its stellar reputation, you may see more Americans than at some of the other camps in southern Africa (we had at least four other couples from New York), but everyone was very friendly. Some advice: Get a private Land Rover, even if only for one outing; you will be able to get to animal sightings quicker as well as be able to tailor the drive to what interests you the most. See if you can request Alan Yeowart to be your guide (although all the guides are excellent, he is the head guide and runs the guide training for all of Singita). Alan is very knowledgeable, is a wildlife photographer who shares his photos with you, and so fun to be with; we really can’t say enough about him. Note: you can also hire him and certain other guides to travel with you to other Singita camps, which makes for better continuity and comfort. If you like wine, the wine cellar here is outstanding. Arrange a private wine-tasting dinner in the cellar with the excellent and entertaining sommelier. Contact: www.singita.com.
Wolwedans, Namibia
Namibia is a very special place to visit, with some of the most cosmic, spectacular landscapes in the world, and Wolwedans (yes, one of Brad and Angelina’s favored spots) is a great camp to have the Namibian experience. There aren’t a lot of animals, but it doesn’t matter, as the terrain and sunrises/sunsets are riveting. The lodge draws a very interesting mix of people from around the world (although you don’t have to see any of them if you don’t want to.) The luxury comes from the service by the young, enthusiastic staff as well as the delicious food and wines; the rooms are very attractive and comfortable (beds have great sheets and duvets, plus hot-water bottles tucked into bed for you), but not over-the-top. If you don’t mind flying in a small plane, definitely take the scenic two-and-a-half trip from the Windhoek airport down the breathtaking Skeleton Coast. In fact, the air is the best way to see the famous Soussevei sand dunes—don’t take the three hour drive to the dunes, especially in winter (it can be a cold, difficult journey). Wolewedans has one of the best gift shops we have ever seen. The floor is the red sand of the Namibian desert and the merchandise (fleeces, t-shirts, Namibian art) is well-worth bringing back home. Many of the cooks at the lodge comes from NICE, the Namibian Institute of Culinary Education, owned by the same family that owns the camp, and we had a chef who took great care of us and taught us how to say “I Love You” in his native Nama “click” language. Contact: www.wolwedans-namibia.com.
Editor’s Note: Read more suggestions on how to plan a honeymoon in Africa. Read a member’s opinion on Singita Grumeti versus Singita Boulders.
