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Fringed with pristine deserted beaches of pure white sand and surrounded by the sparkling Indian Ocean, Quilalea Island is a hidden gem. This 35 hectare island, set within a national park, offers the ultimate in seclusion and privacy.
Close to the magnificent stretches of beach you can reach some of the best coral reefs in the world that provide a habitat for an abundant array of marine life. Feeding and nesting grounds for the population of sea turtles, dugong, dolphins, sharks and whales can be found here.
It is the 'undiscovered' nature of this island’s beaches that makes it so special. Snorkel the island’s shores, kayak the mangroves or relax in a hammock beneath the giant baobabs on the island beaches. Quilalea is a tiny untouched paradise. Difficult to reach, this is the ultimate African beach retreat for pioneers looking for an offbeat getaway.
The only place to stay on the island is at the newly refurbished lodges at ‘Azura’, a luxury ‘eco’ boutique retreat which has all the facilities you need, while being a perfect beach hideaway.
The quaint city of Pemba is the access point with an international airport, for the Quirimbas Archipelago in Cabo Delgado Province, Northern Mozambique. From here you travel by light aircraft, helicopter or speedboat to the island.
www.azura-retreats.com
+27 (0)767 050599
The Biodiversity garden is a precious, new jewel in the botanical crown of the Cape Floral Kingdom, which is the smallest and hottest of biodiversity hotspots worldwide.
The Green Point Urban Park in Cape Town is oh-so-accessible, sandwiched between Signal Hill, the oldest lighthouse in South Africa, and the iconic football stadium of World Cup 2010 fame.
Set within this, the Biodiversity Garden celebrates all that is unique about the Cape and its flora, where wanderers are shown the interconnectedness of life and encouraged to 'Make a Difference'.
What’s not to love about this appeal? Perfect for a sunset amble or a morning wake up wander. Big enough to seriously stride around the large circular lawn area, pound the running paths, work out at the trim park or just meander along the wetland walk, among the more 300 local fynbos plant species.
Why the Biodiversity Garden works for me?
The garden is truly laid out ‘for all’ – ages, activities, levels of botanical interest as much as physical mobility …
The signs are crafted to casually inform, the storyboards are easy reads, the plants labels let everyone ‘get the picture’- effortlessly …
So much thought has gone into how the biodiversity message gets across – they ‘show’ things, and ‘tell’ stories, rather than facts …
Botanic biomes and endemic rarities are seamlessly woven into ‘demonstration gardens’, alongside responsible gardening practices …
Threats, like agriculture and alien invasive plants, are dealt with in bite size pieces, and drill down consequences …
Interconnectedness indeed!
www.capetownpartnership.co.za/green-point-urban-park-open-to-public/
Mango Bay is one of the rare genuine eco resorts in Vietnam and South East Asia. A recent long weekend there proved to me that the resort stays true to its ethos of being a "low-density resort with a passion for the environment".
My bungalow was built using reclaimed wood and other local materials such as rammed earth and thatch roof. And the waiter told us our seafood beach barbeque all came from either local fishermen or the resort's own garden. In a country obsessed with imported meat such as Japanese Kobe beef or Australian lamb, or exotic fish (shark fin is featured as a top delicacy in some restaurants we went to in Ha Noi), it is refreshing to see how this little French run resort sticks to their gun of providing locally sourced and ethical food.
Oh, and summer and autumn are considered low seasons here, so the prices are significantly reduced. Our big room only cost us USD90 per room for two adults for THREE nights. Even in a cheap country like Vietnam, it is still very cheap for a good island resort.
www.mangobayphuquoc.com
Ong lang Beach, Phu Quoc, Vietnam
+84 903 382 207
Bio Zahrada (meaning Bio or Eco Garden) is a shop and café with an emphasis on fresh and organic food, moments from Namesti Miru.
Enjoy brilliant fresh coffee in the non-smoking café (with small outside terrace) behind the shop. Different fresh soups and main meals are available daily (if you weren’t hungry when you arrived, the wonderful smells emanating from the kitchen will probably entice you) and a good range of cakes.
The shop sells a good range of organic produce including locally produced vegetables and organic meat.
Belgická 33, Praha 2
+420603752468
Nearest Metro – Namesti Miru
www.bio-zahrada.cz/en
Google map: bit.ly/l8qT81
Stumble Inn is a traveller's rest in Elmina in Ghana, with accommodation in rondavels, dormitories and a dedicated camping site. The camping site is right next to the beach: you can walk straight from your tent onto the beach, have an open air shower with water heated up by the sun, and grill your freshly bought fish from Elmina market on the camping BBQ. The fish market and Elmina castle (an old slave fort providing a grim reminder of the cruel history of the slave trade) are a 30 minute beach stroll away, if you walk in the opposite direction you can walk for hours on bounty-like beaches, now and then stumbling upon a local village. After returning from your beach strolls you can get wholesome fresh meals and a Ghanaian beer at the lodge's bar. A true African delight!
Elmina, Central region, Ghana
www.stumbleinnghana.com
+233541462733
Google map: bit.ly/mR7jgQ
We had booked a day trip online in the UK and paid a deposit with the total settled on the day. It cost £50 each but was worth every penny and genuinely does help sustain the charity. You can also walk into their office to book in Chiang Mai and organise a day trip or stay for longer as a volunteer which looked really tempting when you see the location and the accommodation. This is a great way of seeing Thailand’s elephants while learning more about their history and current conservation projects as opposed to seeing them begging in the street or hauling tourists around and doing tricks. The day trip was very well organised with structure but also allowed time to relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and incredible view of elephants wandering around the surrounding landscape. You are picked up from your hotel and the drive takes about 1h15 from Chiang Mai and you watch a video about the park en route. You get right up close to the elephants who all have names and stories. Visitors can feed them fruit then go into the river and wash them which turns into a big water fight! There are lots of opportunities for taking photos and the tour guides who really seem to care about the animals can answer any questions. The reality of the plight of some of Thailand’s elephants is made clear in an interesting if at times distressing documentary and the hope is that visitors will help spread the word. There is a fantastic fresh buffet lunch as well as free tea, coffee and water during the day and snacks in the afternoon. I would highly recommend the experience to anyone who loves elephants or wants to experience ecotourism at its best.
www.elephantnaturepark.org/
209/2 Sridornchai Road, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
+66(0)53 818754
Google map: bit.ly/h5pItu
A hidden gem of an island in the Caribbean, in a place you were least expecting it: Nicaragua.
If you're looking for an island paradise but don't have a huge budget or want to get away from the crowds, Little Corn is your answer. The island has no cars, no chain hotels, no swimming pools - all transport is by foot (or helped by a wheelbarrow), accommodation consists of eco-lodges ($20-50) and beach side cabanas ($15-50), and there's plenty of room on the beach as well.
The island has been saved from mass tourism due to its small size and limited fresh water resources, which restrains the number of hotels you can build on the island. The island's character is also shaped by the complete absence of night clubs (and the crowds that flock there), but the flipside is a uniquely relaxed and peaceful atmosphere - you'll feel like you're on another planet.
The island is a haven for divers and snorkellers in particular, with over twenty dive sites within 15mins by boat and two dive shops with three to four dives every day. The diving is also among the most affordable in the Caribbean with 'fun dives' costing $35 (and multiple dive discounts available).
You'll need a flash light to walk home at night, as there are few street lights as you walk home through the jungle (don't worry - the creature you're most likely come across there is a hermit crab!), but when you get there, the night sky seems limitless because of the lack of artificial light on the island.
To get there, fly to Managua and catch either the morning or afternoon flight with La Costena, the Nicaraguan airline, to Big Corn Island (flight prices are fixed - return costs $164), and catch a 45min water taxi ride from the municipal port to Little Corn ($6). It may sound complicated, but once you arrive on Little Corn, you won't want to leave.
Information on the islands: www.bigcornisland.com/
Wikipedia page for Little Corn Island:
wikitravel.org/en/Little_Corn_Island
Casa Iguana
www.casaiguana.net/
Ensuenos:
www.ensuenos-littlecornisland.com/
Little Corn Beach & Bungalow:
www.littlecornbb.com/
La Costena:
www.lacostena.com.ni/
Jiwa Damai in Bali is a wonderful retreat center in the middle of nature. It is an environmentally friendly ecolodge with a huge organic garden. They practice permaculture, water preservation and biological waste recycling.
They offer beautiful rooms, which are fairly cheap (50 Euro per night per room), a swimming pool with natural spring water, two meditation spots in the jungle and a huge open-air lounge and dining area.
It is very quiet and peaceful, the ideal place to relax. Meals are organic, prepared from their own organic produce. Staff are super friendly and helpful. Excursions and tours are offered.
Banjar Bindu - Mamabal - Badung 80352, Bali - Indonesia
www.jiwadamai.net
+62 (0)361-898 8384
A rigorous hike through rainforest, high woodland and dramatic coastline.
I walked this recently with my friend, a local called Damien who lives in Tanetane, near Portsmouth Dominica. He walked this trail back in the early 80's with many other locals and so we decided to revisit.
We set off from my cottage accommodation at Manicou River Eco Resort, Tanetane. We then walked up the Manicou River until we reached the main road and caught a bus (we were going to hitch a ride but the bus arrived within five minutes) to the trailhead in Pennville. We then walked through farmland and animals for a mile or so until we were truly alone. We never saw another soul until we finished the hike in Capuchin three hours later.
We walked along jungle tracks though very rough farmland with dramatic drops in impossible valleys. Damien told me how the farmers here have to walk to the main road with their loads on their backs and heads to sell in the markets. Many young people are abandoning these farms as the need for gadgets and Game boys mean they need to work in town to earn the bigger money.
We walked through huge bamboo forest and banana plantation. Damien pointed out the various crops and the names of the trees as we hiked our way above the island. Many places we saw the islands of Guadeloupe, Marie Galante and the Saints quite clearly. We were very high.
We came across ruins of old estate houses and an entire village (Delaford) that were abandoned to the jungle with Tarzan vines and huge plants over our heads. Some were 'Birds of Paradise' as big as a small house.
Most visitors don't know that this part of the island is every bit as rich and verdant as any other. This is green lush rainforest but just a few miles from Portsmouth center. The Caribbean side is known as being dry and featureless, but the coastline between Portsmouth and Capuchin is as stunning and dramatic as the Cote d’Azur.
The trail may be getting known now, but it is still a challenge and many times we had to hack our way through fallen bamboo with cutlass (machete). The lovely cooling winds really help though and sitting looking over a half mile deep valley with a cool bottle of water that you just filled from a mountain stream makes you feel a million miles from your desk back in wherever.
You do not need a guide as you can just follow the blue and yellow paint on the sides of rocks and trees. If you take any banana remember to leave a little change for the farmer to find to say “thanks”. Take a cutlass.
The entire trail was cut by hand as there are no roads to access this area. This was no mean feat and when you see the Reposoir Point a deep cut through volcanic rock you can really understand. The whole trail was originally a local route, which the school children of Delaford walked every day to attend school in Pennville. Imagine.
We sat and cooled our feet in lovely streams and listened to nothing, but the sound of running water and our own breathing. There was no aural trace of humans at all. Lovely.
Capuchin beckoned as we entered Degras Balata estate walking through lovely Balata trees and hearing the exotic birds above.
We looked over Cape Melville in Capuchin, which is a stomach churning drop to certain death and said "wow" a lot.
We then bumped into a couple of teachers from Ross Medical University (Portsmouth) and were then driven back to the resort which was nice.
All in all, this is an excellent hike and we were never more than 10 miles from Portsmouth center, but felt a million miles from it all. Go there now.
Manicou River Eco Resort: www.manicouriverresort.com
Everton Hall Estate
Tanetane, Portsmouth.
Commonwealth of Dominica
+ 1 767 616 8903.
Walk from Portsmouth (15 minutes) or take a bus.
This is a 9.5-acre luxury eco-resort that is 450 feet up a volcano overlooking the Caribbean Sea. 10 mins from the town of Portsmouth and 5 mins from the beach.
A fresh water river runs along one side that has amazing swim holes and mini waterfalls. You can walk all the way up the river to its source.
The London couple that own it have built the most incredibly stylish and elegant wooden houses from trees from the land. The best time to be there is at sunset when the glow hits the Red Cedar of the houses and set them on visual fire.
The 320 degree views from the decks take in Morne Aux Diables to the French Islands of Les Saintes and Guadeloupe. The furniture that has not been made on site is super chic Roche-Bobois. This resort is unspoiled with only one access road and foot paths through the layers of woodland, from sub-tropical to mini forest higher up.
The houses are cool and very spacious with full kitchens and private bathrooms. They have huge extra-king sized water beds that add to the nature experience.
They are just opened so have a really good cheap deal at the moment. The cheapest in the area and best value on the island.
The resort is off grid & uses filtered rainwater.
Everton Hall Estate
Tantane
Portsmouth
www.manicouriverresort.com
+1 767 616 8903
Google map: tinyurl.com/2wnpdmp
The Juatinga Eco-reserve is a wild, rainforest covered peninsular mid-way between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. It's easy to get to from Rio and has excellent hiking and sea kayaking.
www.paratyexplorer.com
Google map: tinyurl.com/3xfwo3l
It's a hotel based on natural, artisanal and handmade furnitures. The atmosphere in the hotel was really peaceful, with linen curtains and sheets, natural coconut fibers bed and wooden parquet flooring. The breakfast was amazing, full of organic products and very tasty.
28 rue de l'Arc de Triomphe, 75017 Paris
+33 1 40 55 03 57
www.hidden-hotel.com
Google map: bit.ly/lZHnvB
This is a fully vegetraian eco-camp which is only accessible down a rocky path via jeep. Set back into mountains lie around 11 small huts with basic Turkish facilities but stunning views of the surrounding countryside and the Turquoise Coast. All meals are made from locally sourced produce, most of which is grown on the site itself. On-site the owners have built a raised wooden platform which hosts early morning yoga and there lies a private cove just 15 minutes walk from the camp which hosts evening bbqs, providing the little needed entertainment.
www.yuvaholidays.com
tel.+44(0)1760755888
e-mail: holidays@vegiventures.com
Funky natural food market, cafe and restaurant in Greystones, Wicklow (just south of Dublin). Amazing good value vegetarian food and friendly vibe. Run by two enormously likeable and mad identical twin brothers who are totally committed to sustainability, organic, quality produce, brilliant food, positive thinking and good craic. It's in a gorgeous old seaside town that is a DART ride from Dublin City Centre too. Check out their website to see a film of them and their place.
Church Road, Greystones, County Wicklow, Ireland
www.thehappypear.ie
Google map: tinyurl.com/ybfcc9b
It is the only city in the world to straddle two continents, and the only one to have been a capital during two consecutive empires - Christian and Islamic.
Part of a small chain of genuinely eco-friendly boutique hotels, this doesn't stint on quality, from the toiletries to the bed linen and the sumptuous, cheese-tastic organic breakfasts.
hotelguldsmeden.com/axel/english/
Axel is one of three Guldsmeden hotels in Vestrobro, a 10-min walk west of Copenhagen's central station.
Helgolandsgade 11
DK-1653 København V
Phone: +45 33 31 32 66
Google map: tinyurl.com/yhc8eho
Probably the only floating tents in the world…?
Check out this new eco-lodge on Koh Andet Island up the Tatai River in the Cardamom Mountains. (half an hour from Koh Kong) Cambodia. Unique twelve tented floating villas amongst spectacular jungle mountain scenery. Floating swimming pool being built. Excellent food. Visit it before the rest of the world discovers it.
This must be one of the most authentic rain forest retreats that you’ll find. About a 1.5 hour drive from San Jose you have to get to Las Horquetas to pick up some wellies and wrap your bags in bin bags to protect them from what’s to come. The journey then begins. The lodge is 15km away, but to get to it is like a world away. The only way to get there (unless you rent a horse from a local) is to get taken up in the trailer pulled by a tractor. This takes about four hours along a very bumpy track that you even wonder whether the tractor will make it – at one point we had to get out while the tractor got pulled up a steep slope. This journey is not for the faint hearted and on the way back down we and our bags got completely soaked – but that was part of the fun. As it's so cut off you really need two days here at least. We stayed three but could easily have stayed longer.
The ride up gives you your first glimpse of pristine virgin rainforest with velvet and feathery leaves of various patterns and textures. The final few kilometres you can get out and walk up to the lodge and the guide points out frogs and snakes and identifies trees and flowers. The forest gets thicker and deeper and then you come to a grassed clearing where the wooden lodge of Rara Avis sits.
You really are in the middle of the rainforest here, completely cut off in a pristine green wilderness. The ethos of this place is to conserve the rainforest in a truly natural environment. There is no electricity, no mod cons, the rooms are basic but clean with hammocks on private balconies, there’s no need to lock the rooms and a convivial atmosphere is encouraged with communal eating in the main lodge building. The food is plentiful and there’s an honesty bar. When you’re not walking around the forest you watch in amazement at the hand sized butterflies and moths in the butterfly house, look at the orchids in the orchid house, swim in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall or play football, Guests Vs the Rara Avis team or just hang out chatting to guests whilst trying to photograph hummingbirds or bats at the feeders or just relax to the sounds of the forest in your hammock!
The naturalists are knowledgeable and friendly and the lodge is even used for biological research, with much more of an array of flora and fauna than we saw in any of the other rainforests we stayed at, including stained glass palms – only found at Rara Avis, walking palms, 250 year old mahogany tree, bromeliads, leafcutter and bullet ants, eyelash vipers, frogs smaller that a one pence piece, coati’s and loads of birds. There are walkways through the forest but again these aren’t like the cleared wide pathways in other rainforests reserves such as Monte Verde. They are natural and very muddy (hence the need for wellies) and on one walk our guide was having to hack his way through the forest with a machete – this was a truly magical and authentic rainforest experience and nothing compared at the other places we stayed at in Costa Rica.
It’s not for the faint hearted though – this is a truly wild experience where you feel at one with nature.
Rara Avis Rainforwst Lodge and Reserve
Las Horquetas de Sarapiquí
www.rara-avis.com/
info@rara-avis.com
Tel (+506) 2764- 1111
Google map: tinyurl.com/yc8srba
Situated in the NE of South Africa in Limpopo Province near the town of Hoedspruit, Pezulu Tree House Game Lodge can be described as an ecologically friendly escape from urban life in the heart of the African bush.
As the name suggests, seven raised tree house units accommodating up to 16 people have been built around local marula trees (the marula berry is used to make Amarula liqueur) providing excellent panoramas of unspoilt natural surroundings.
Consideration for nature has been paramount. Live tree branches pass through these minimal impact wood, reed and thatch structures which are equipped with modern luxuries including en-suite facilities and private balconies for views of the Drakensberg mountains and early morning wildlife.
Hot air Ballooning and game drives are available as is outdoor outdoor dining in a traditional boma, around an African camp fire. There is a rock swimming pool as well as treetop bar and this retreat is ideal for people wishing to experience Africa without compromising luxury.
The Blyde River Canyon as well as Kruger National Park are nearby as well as Moholoholo rehabilitation centre, an endangered species centre and the opportunity to see the big five.
Web: www.pezulu.co.za/
Info: pezlodge@mweb.co.za
Tel. +27 (0) 15 793 2724
Skype: pezulu.lodge
Address: Guernsey Road. Hoedspruit 1380 South Africa, South Africa
Google map: tinyurl.com/ydobp7g
This secluded eco-lodge is located in the heart of the Amazon Basin, a short boat ride down the Rio Tambopata river. It's an incredible place to go to get in touch with nature, with expert staff, they even cater for ecology academics. Each lodge has a completely open wall facing the dense tropical jungle. Great for spotting wildlife from the comfort of your hammock. For more energetic folk, there are plenty of activities Including a medicinal plant walk with the local Shaman. You can also pretend you're a native and take part in the spiritual Ayahuasca Ceremony. Truly a magical place to escape.
www.perunature.com/
+511 241 4880
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