COSTA RICA
Pacuarde Lodge Visitors come for the adventure
and stay for the romance at Pacuare, located on 25,000 protected
acres of high biodiversity rain forest in the Talamanca
Mountains-home to jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, and sloths. Arrival is by
white-water raft on the lodge’s namesake river (for those who don’t want to get
wet, the overland alternative includes a combo of 4x4 vehicle, hand
pulled-cable river crossing, and a short hike). Once you are there, a different
kind of experience unfolds-think Swiss Family Robinsons meets jungle luxury.
Candlelight dinners accompanied by fine wines are the hallmark of the owners,
who are Costa Rican foodies. Afterward, sink into one of the big canopy beds,
serenaded by nature’s lullaby. 19 rooms; from $377, including full board and
rafting and/or ground transportation to and from the lodge.
DOME OF GLORY
IMMEDIATELY after touchdown
and armed with my camera, comfortable warm clothing and a pair of fresh eyes, I
went walking around in search of some of London’s most iconic buildings and
landmarks in town. Ticking off the boxes were The London Eye, Big Ben, Tower Bridged, The
National Gallery and of course the majestic St. Paul’s Cathedral.
With two hours
left before sunset and the weather playing to my advantage, this picture was definitely
a great way to end the day.
B 0 T
S W A N A
OSPREY
LAGOON, near the
source of Botswana’s mysteriously intermittent Savuti Channel (after a nearly
30-year hiatus, it began flowing again in 2008), forms part of the
wildlife-rich Linyanti ecosystem. It is also the veranda view for DumaTau’s
completely refurbished eco-camp. “In keeping with our
conservation-through-tourism ethos, DumaTau operates on solar energy, while
biogas from our organic kitchen waste helps supply the cooking fuel,” explains
Brett Wallington, sustainability coordinator at Wilderness Safaris. This is elephant country, and
herds thrive in the marshy habitat, providing plenty of intimate photo ops, in
open-sided Land Rovers, on foot, and by boat when the water’s flowing. 10 tents; from $868, including full board and daily
game-viewing activities.
Pacuarde Lodge Visitors come for the adventure
and stay for the romance at Pacuare, located on 25,000 protected
acres of high biodiversity rain forest in the Talamanca
Mountains-home to jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, and sloths. Arrival is by
white-water raft on the lodge’s namesake river (for those who don’t want to get
wet, the overland alternative includes a combo of 4x4 vehicle, hand
pulled-cable river crossing, and a short hike). Once you are there, a different
kind of experience unfolds-think Swiss Family Robinsons meets jungle luxury.
Candlelight dinners accompanied by fine wines are the hallmark of the owners,
who are Costa Rican foodies. Afterward, sink into one of the big canopy beds,
serenaded by nature’s lullaby. 19 rooms; from $377, including full board and
rafting and/or ground transportation to and from the lodge. 
