Lewa is a large private conservancy in the north of Kenya. It was once a cattle ranch, then a black rhino conservancy and is now a more wide ranging (non-profit) wildlife conservancy which is also spreading the conservancy message to the communities surrounding the park. One of these communities is where the BBC's Mission Africa was filmed.

Lewa cannot compete with the Masai Mara in terms of wildlife but does have large numbers of black rhino and lots of other animals, including the cats. They also have huge numbers of birds.

The guides are fantastic and very committed and, because the park is large but has limited guests, the predators (in particular) are left to get on with their lives without 30 Land Rovers filled with people with huge cameras watching their every move.

We loved every minute of our time at Lewa and missed the silence and feeling of being alone in the landscape when we moved from there to the Masai Mara. I cannot recommend it enough.

Lewa's site is www.lewa.org which includes all the information you need.

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This is one of the hippest bars/restaurants in Amsterdam, with price tags to match. It is partly owned by the son of John de Mol (of Endemol and Big Brother fame) and is very popular with the type of Dutch person who features in the equivalent of Hello!. That said, the Chinese fusion food served in tiny portions in a dark and sexy interior is great, the margaritas alcoholic but delicious, the people watching, of course, fantastic and you can repair to the club downstairs when you have finished eating.

Don't go here for a romantic meal but do go to see the Dutch equivalent of Jodie Marsh and Rio Ferdinand at play.

A short walk from the Leideplein and the PC; Hoofdstraat at Hobbemastraat 2; tel: 020 616 6664; www.the-mansion.nl

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This excellent restaurant is in the middle of the red light district - an oasis of peace and tranquility in one of the busiest parts of Amsterdam. It's a fantastic place to go after wandering the canals of the red light district at night for an hour or so. The food is excellent and the service even better in a calm and chic environment. Inside you can eat upstairs or downstairs but, if you go in the summer, try and book a table outside on the lovely terrace.

Join the crowds of people milling along the wallen, this restaurant is down a tiny lane opposite the Casa Rosso - at the end of a dubious alley you suddenly find youself in a tiny, leafy square.
Ouderzids Achterburgwal 99; tel: 020 330 2257

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This cafe is attached to the modern museum and the architecture museum (Moderna Museet and Arkitekturmuseet respectively). It has reasonable food at OK prices, but the real reason to go is the fantastic view of Östermalm from the windows and the terrace. Go for sunset in the spring and see the light reflected from the windows of the smart hotels and apartment buildings opposite. Brunch at the weekends is also great.

Moderna Museet is 10 minutes away from Kungsträdgården, and 20 minutes from T-Centralen or Gamla Stan. Walk past Grand Hotel and Nationalmuseum on Blasieholmen, opposite the Royal Palace. After crossing the bridge to Skeppsholmen, continue up the hill. The entrance to Moderna Museet and Arkitekturmuseet is on the left-hand side

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The De Las Letras Hotel is a new boutique hotel on Gran Via in the centre of Madrid. At the time of writing, September 2005, it is not totally finished (gym still under construction etc). However, if you can live with this and facy staying in a room with a roof terrace and open air jacuzzi, this is the best value in Madrid as they have introductory rates.

11 Gran Via, 28013 Madrid www.designhotels.com or www.habitathoteles.com tel: +34 91 523 79 80

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