All of us surely love the thrill of exploring a new destination. Discovering amazing places and flavours is exciting. But let’s be honest; draining your money isn’t as thrilling. That’s where our guide comes in handy! We’re here to spill the beans on how you can have an unforgettable adventure in Zimbabwe without breaking that bank of yours.
So, buckle up as we tell you strategies to make the most of your trip while saving your hard-earned money. We’ll also let you know how to find London to Zimbabwe flights!
Ways to Save Money While Travelling to Zimbabwe
Picture this: a land of stunning landscapes, majestic wildlife, and vibrant cultures. Now, imagine enjoying all of this without worrying about your bank account. So, let’s see how to make it happen.
1) Do Camping
What’s better than being surrounded by Zimbabwe’s breathtaking nature? Doing so without the hefty price tag of luxury hotels! Camping is your golden ticket to an authentic experience. It also helps in saving a lot of money. Pack up a tent, roll out a sleeping bag, and let the symphony of crickets make you want to sleep. Zimbabwe’s national parks offer camping facilities that bring you closer to the heart of its wilderness without putting you at any safety risks.
2) Eat Local Food
Imagine treating your taste buds to the rich flavours of Zimbabwean cuisine without draining your funds. How? Well, by indulging in local street food and visiting small cafes. From skewered meats to maize-based dishes, you’ll fill your tummy and get a true taste of the culture. Bonus: Your wallet will also thank you for not spending all your money on tourist traps. So eating locally is the best way to have fun, socialise, and save money!
3) Book Activities In Advance
Preparation is something you must do when it comes to budget-friendly travel. Research and book your activities to get those sweet deals and discounts. Whether a heart-pounding safari adventure or an adventurous boat cruise, booking ahead can save you a bundle and ensure you get the most out of your experiences. Amazing, right?
4) Look For Free Activities In The Area
Guess what? Not all memorable experiences require burning your money. Many destinations in Zimbabwe offer free activities that are as enriching as they are enjoyable. Hike on a trail, visit local markets, or take a leisurely stroll through vibrant neighbourhoods. You can also look for museums that are free on a certain day.
These activities save you money and deepen your understanding of the local way of life.
5) Travel On Local Transport
Here’s a tip that might surprise you: opt for local transport! Sure, it might not be luxurious like a private cab, but it’s an amazing way to look for authentic experiences. Buses and shared taxis are cost-effective and provide opportunities to interact with locals. You can talk to them and live the life through their eyes!
6) Travel During Off-Peak Seasons
Timing can be your best friend when saving money on travel. Consider planning your Zimbabwean escapade during the off-peak seasons. Not only will you avoid the tourist crowds, but you’ll also find that accommodation, flights, and activities come with reduced price tags. There’s very little crowd in off-peak seasons, so the locals treat you like absolute kings and queens! It’s a win-win situation!
7) Book All Your Hotels On Points
Make the most of your loyalty points or travel rewards by booking your accommodations through them. This little hack can significantly cut down your lodging expenses, leaving you with more
spending power for the exciting parts of your journey. A lot of credit cards have a points option on them. Just look for yours in the app!
8) Check For Discounts Beforehand
Before going to Zimbabwe, go through the internet for deals, discounts, and special offers. Websites and even social media platforms can be goldmines for finding exclusive promotions that can stretch your travel guide budget. Use hashtags if you must!
Locate Flights to Zimbabwe From UK
Let’s talk about snagging affordable flights! If you’re departing from the UK, your first step is finding those irresistible flights to Zimbabwe.
Looking to jet off to the vibrant city of Harare from the bustling streets of London? Start your search by focusing on London to Harare flights. By narrowing your search, you can compare prices, flight durations, and available airlines. Remember, flexibility with travel dates can also lead you to some seriously wallet-friendly options.
Long Story Short
Zimbabwe is a land of wonders, and you can explore it without going overboard on your budget. From choosing camping over pricey hotels to savouring local delights and securing deals in advance, there are a lot of ways to save money on your trip.
You’ll return home with cherished memories and a still-intact bank account by being a savvy traveller and employing these smart strategies. So, embark on your Zimbabwean journey!
Get ready for your next holiday. Pack your travel backpack with essential items such as an old map and a compact camera. Each item was like a key for capturing special moments. Join us and share your travel experience.
Re-invented from its industrial roots as a 1920s grain Silo which towers over the historic V&A Waterfront, this design hotel has been labelled as Cape Town’s most luxurious since its opening. Instagram-worthy interiors, roll-top bathtubs, a roof-top pool and spectacular floor to ceiling geometric diamond windows billow out offering views of The Mother City’s harbour and cloud-clung Table Mountain. But is this Cape Town’s best hotel? We sent our girl Beth to check it out.
When this monolithic structure first opened in 1924, it was the tallest building in Sub-saharan Africa – towering over Table Bay, grain from here was exported throughout Europe. But today, this industrial shell has been re-imagined entirely, its stark silhouette now a work of architectural art, housing some of Africa’s most celebrated creative design.
Thoughtfully brought to life by Thomas Heatherwick of Heatherwick Studio, London, the historic building’s lower half is now home to the world’s largest collection of contemporary African art, the Zeitz MOCAA. We, however, are ushered into a grand double-height entrance to one side – a chamber of concrete and marble, where a sculptural chandelier by Haldane Martin hangs suspended and walls are brought to life by huge artworks, from Mohau Modisakeng’s Ditaola series to commissioned pieces by Jody Paulsen.
Swept up the elevator to the sixth-floor lobby – The Silo hotel is a hive of activity. We’re served a glass of champagne while we settle in Willaston’s bar to wait for our room. Drop wrought iron chandeliers are countered with comfortable touches like velvet teal sofas, creating an opulent yet lived-in aesthetic. In keeping with the world-class museum downstairs, the space is dotted with African art, from acclaimed Zimbabwean artist Kudzanai Chiurai to bold photography portraits by one of South Africa’s most influential photographers Pieter Hugo.
The interiors only serve to highlight the building’s astonishing architecture – with double-height diamond windows curving outwards all around the walls. There are 82 pillowed glass windows across the 6 floors of the hotel, each with a total of 56 panels of glass. Inspired by grain kernels, their geometric shape and diagonal steel lines seem to draw the views of Table mountain even closer. The whole result is quite simply, stunning. Intriguing – but not overwhelming, detailed, yet not overdone. As the creative force behind the hotel’s eclectic interiors, it’s easy to spot owner Liz Biden’s fashion background and eye for the unusual – something which runs throughout the property. Each of the 28 boutique rooms is unique but unmistakably decorated in her signature style – a colourful yet carefully orchestrated mix of everything from Asian antiques to French tables, punchy African art and patterned silk upholstery. If it were all in one room together it would look bizarre, but somehow it all just works.
We could have soaked in the scenery here all day, yet are quickly breezed away to our room despite our early arrival, all the way up on the 9th floor, to one of two ‘Royal Suites’. Entering room 905/906 we find two triple aspect bedrooms leading off from the main lounge, with a balcony and bifold doors that run the length of the room offering sweeping views out across the Atlantic ocean and Robben Island. At 132 square metres, it’s more than double the size of our London apartment.
Inside, pink mirrored cabinets, bold floral sofas, pastel rugs and drop chandeliers in every room create a lavish vibe, with a bottle of fizz on ice and cut-glass sweet jars and a coffee table overflowing with books and magazines.
Handpicked artworks chosen by Liz’s careful eye for the suite include Seated woman with a pearl necklace by Carla Kranendonk which complements the bright colour palette, as well as pieces by Zambian artist Sibley Mcadam and Kenyan Cyrus Kabiru.
To the right, the master bedroom is the last word in luxury – with two jewel-like geometric windows billowing out over the harbour below, ant-like tourists going about their business along the waterfront, tiny toy boats tracing in and out. The oversized bathroom is just as big, with early morning light spilling in through another diamond window onto a free-standing tub big enough for two. There are blinds if you’re feeling shy, but as the highest building on the waterfront, there are no neighbours to peek into your window.
The second bedroom offers the same spec with different views, this time of Table Mountain and the slope of Lions Head, which we’d climbed up earlier in the morning, the city snaking below the blanket of clouds creeping over the tabletop.
The suite is so special that we spend most of the day enjoying it. In a region that suffers so badly from drought, we make sure to only fill the bath up a few inches, but enough to enjoy the decanters filled with salts and bath oils.
Snack boxes in the cupboard come filled with goodies and Alice-in-wonderland-Esque ‘Eat me’ labels, while the whole mini-bar is included with your stay, and comes stocked with delicious wine from the hotel’s sister property La Residence in Franschhoek. Just two of the four properties which make up The Royal Portfolio – an ultra-stylish collection owned by the Biden family which also includes a Safari Lodge in Kruger and beachside Birkenhead House in Hermanus down the coast.
While the location on the waterfront is well placed for a wander around the V&A with its tourist-focused restaurants and shops, as well as the ferry out to Robben Island, for dinner we head downtown to Kloof Street for more of a buzzy local scene. Handily, the concierge gives us a lift right away, stopping in to chat with the staff at old Victorian Manor turned restaurant Kloof Street House to snag us the best table in the garden, despite having no reservation.
If the Royal Suite is a show-stopper during the day, the real magic happens when the sun goes down – when the glass-domed windows turn from pink to black and the Mother City’s lights start to twinkle. We fall asleep with the blinds wide open, waking up to the sunrise casting a crimson glow across the horizon.
Breakfast is served in the Granary down on the sixth floor and includes freshly-squeezed juice, and an actual carousel of a continental breakfast wheeled right up to your table to choose from, followed by an a la carte option and one of the tastiest eggs benny’s we’ve ever had the pleasure of eating.
The pièce de résistance is perhaps glass-sided rooftop pool, which we spend the next day lounging beside. The tallest building on the V&A Waterfront, the vantage point offers unrivalled views of the city, from Table Mountain right across to the Atlantic. It’s the ideal spot for some people watching with a glass of local Sauvignon or some snacks.
The Silo is so much more than somewhere to sleep, it’s an experience in art and architecture. Thanks to both its bold design and Liz Biden’s eye for quirky interiors, its rooms have the feeling of a carefully curated home, a treasure trove of worldly collectables designed to take you on a journey through contemporary African art. It’s a place of old meets new, where stark modernity meets plush opulence. The history of the old grain tower may have been one of oppression, but the reimagining of this building is now one of celebration, championing African art and home to what is in our opinion, Cape Town’s most iconic hotel.
For more information or to book The Silo Hotel visit www.theroyalportfolio.com/the-silo; Rooms start from R13,500 / ca. £680 incl. breakfast
Our girl Hannah Tan-Gillies checked into the most luxurious camp in Hwange, Wilderness Linkwasha where glamorous glamping tents meet five-star service – and of course plenty of wild animals.
At 34,000 hectares, Hwange National Park is one of the biggest national parks in Zimbabwe (and we’re told that it’s as big as the entire state of Massachusetts!). Here, you will find endless grasslands filled with some of the most incredible animals of the bush.
Wilderness Linkwasha is one of the more upscale camps Wilderness has to offer and boasts incredible luxury surroundings, five-star service and fabulous (air-conditioned) glamping tents that would rival even the bougiest five-star hotels. Wilderness Linkwasha sits at the heart of Hwange National Park, giving guests easy access to the African Big Five and a host of other animals.
Wilderness Linkwasha’s sprawling main camp is painted in chic greys, neutrals with plenty of vibrant Ndebele patterns that give the camp a distinctive Zimbabwean aesthetic. There is a small pool surrounded by Balinese day beds, and two stylish indoor dining areas, but dinner is best enjoyed under the stars. Guests can help themselves to anything they want at the bar, be that a glass of rose or even old-fashioned.
The tents are superb. Spacious, elegantly designed, air-conditioned and with incredible views of the bush, there is nothing quite like them throughout the whole of Hwange. Here, you will find a large king-sized four-poster bed, a lush sofa, and every other luxury amenity you could ever need or want.
Interestingly, Wilderness Linkwasha has a ‘hide’ right by the watering hole, which means that guests can get up close and personal to the animals having a drink. We were lucky enough to be able to see a family of elephants coming for a drink and a splash to cool off.
Days at the bush start at 5am with a guide knocking at your tent to get you ready for breakfast. A continental breakfast is served around a fire, and by 6am you’re off on your first game drive of the day. At 3pm Wilderness Linkwasha does a delightful high tea before guests prepare for their evening game drive.
In Hwange, you’ll be able to see the safari ‘Big Five’ which are elephants, lions, buffalos, wildebeest and hippos. Lucky for us – all Big Five were in abundance during our drives. We also saw plenty of kudus, impalas, zebras, and even an African wild cat in the main game drive area called the ‘golf course’ which offers plenty of visibility for animals far and wide.
Both Wilderness Little Makalolo and Wilderness Linkwasha have teamed up with the Scorpion Anti-Poaching unit to keep Hwange’s precious wildlife safe, in line with Wilderness commitment to environmental conservation and protection.
During our drives we saw plenty of elephants, two cheetah brothers (two of only 18 in the whole of Hwange), a leopard who had hidden his kill up a tree, and a whole pride of lions, just a few meters from the truck – safari truly is a magical experience and there is no better way to do it than with Wilderness.
Located on the Zambezi Valley on the southern side of the mighty Zambezi River is Wilderness Chikwenya, a brilliant, sustainable safari camp that feels part beach resort part camp.
You reach Wilderness Chikwenya via a small flight from Hwange, so don’t be surprised if you see elephants or baboons running along the small air strip upon landing (apparently, they thoroughly enjoy the fruit trees there).
Unlike Wilderness Little Makalolo and Wilderness Linkwasha, which are absolutely exposed to the roaring heat of the African sunshine, Wilderness Chikwenya enjoys a breezy riverside location between Mana Pools National Park and the Sapi and Zambezi Rivers, giving off relaxed beachy vibes. This also means that you will be able to see a whole suite of different animals that are more suited for life by the river. Expect to see plenty of elephants, hippos, crocodiles, water bucks and impalas – as well as an array of colourful birds, whose different calls you’ll learn to recognise during your stay at Chikwenya.
Most of the Chikwenya camp are shaded by large trees, which means that the temperature is slightly cooler at Chikwenya, which is a real treat since the tents have no air-conditioning. The tents are a sight to behold. Spacious, romantic and designed with a blend of coastal chic and African influences, they are light, bright and airy and perfect for ramping up the romance especially if you’re traveling on you honeymoon (we were). There is a four poster bed, an outdoor lounge and also a daybed and free-standing bath, perfect after a day out on the bush. There is an outdoor shower too – facing nothing but the mighty Zambezi and it is truly a liberating experience to shower there.
There is a convivial bar area, where guests are able to help themselves to all the delicious African wines and cocktails on offer throughout the day. Camp Manager Eddie is full of stories and told us about the female tribal leader, buried underneath a nearby baobab tree, whom the camp is named after. Wilderness Chikwenya also has a beautiful pool that overlooks the Mighty Zambezi River. Here, you can park yourself on a sun lounger in between game drives and work on your tan, while sipping on one of Chikwenya bartender Bob’s incredible Bob-garitas.
Instead of an afternoon game drive, go on a relaxing sunset cruise. These private cruises are wonderful and a great way to spot one of the numerous hippo pods cooling themselves by the river. Our guide Joshua had a wealth of knowledge of all the animal species in the Zambezi and also played some traditional Zambian tunes during our cruise, attracting the hippo pods nearby.
We had our final sundowner on the banks of the Zambezi, while enjoying an incredible cocktail feast made by Bob the bartender. We also enjoyed some delicious local Biltong, which quickly became our favourite snack during our game drives.
Chikwenya is a camp that is all about family, and we certainly felt like family from the moment we arrived. The staff even leave you hand written notes that say ‘Bush Regards from your Chikwenya family’ and we know that they truly mean it too.
So if you do ever plan to go on safari, there really is no better company than Wilderness. Wilderness is a safari company with a strong focus on conservation, understanding that without the magnificent animals and rich natural landscapes of the bush that there would be no such thing as safari. For Wilderness, conservation, sustainability and giving back to the communities in which it operates is part and parcel of business – and that is something that we can certainly get behind.
At 34,000 hectares, Hwange National Park is one of the biggest national parks in Zimbabwe (and we’re told that it’s as big as the entire state of Massachusetts!). Here, you will find endless grasslands filled with some of the most incredible animals of the bush.
Our girl Hannah Tan-Gillies checked into the original Hwange bush camp, Wilderness Little Makalolo, or as the camp managers like to call it ‘Little Mak’, for a wild adventure in the African bush.
Little Makalolo is smaller than other Wilderness camps in Zimbabwe like Wilderness Linkwasha and Wilderness Toka Leya and Wilderness Chikwenya. With only six tented suites, Little Mak offers a much more intimate bush experience, that is equal parts rustic and charm.
Unlike other luxury camps, Little Mak offers a much more convivial atmosphere, where guides, camp managers and guests can mingle over a roaring fire during chilly evenings in Hwange. Our camp manager liked to call this ‘The Bush TV’ as it’s where people come together to share tales from their game drives and the most exciting sightings of the day. When the staff discovered that we were there for our honeymoon, they went above and beyond and surprised us with a special cake, candle-lit dinner and song and dance number. So, while Little Mak may not have all the luxury amenities of other Wilderness Camps, it certainly makes up for it with the warmth and friendliness of everyone in camp.
There is a small pool overlooking a nearby watering hole, a cute bar and a few tables dotted throughout the two main public tents for dinner, lunch and breakfast. The tents are not air-conditioned though offer all the creature comforts you will need for your stay including an electric fan (a must), indoor and outdoor shower, and luxury linens and amenities.
Days at the bush start at 5am with a guide knocking at your tent to get you ready for breakfast. A continental breakfast is served around a fire, and by 6am you’re off on your first game drive of the day. In Hwange, you’ll be able to see the safari ‘Big Five’ which are elephants, lions, buffalos, wildebeest and hippos. Lucky for us – all Big Five were in abundance during our drives.
Our guide Lovemore was the best of the bunch, with a wealth of knowledge not just on the animals but also how to track them and the delicate balance of the ecosystem that maintains the bush. For example, Hwange has a disproportionately large elephant population, which is wreaking havoc on the food chain of other animals like giraffes and other herbivores in the area.
During our drives we saw two cheetah brothers, a leopard who had hidden his kill up a tree, and a whole pride of lions, just a few meters from the truck – safari truly is a magical experience and there is no better way to do it than with Wilderness.
ArtReach® in Leicester is about to launch a new project-based website specifically to promote UK and European talented artists under the age of 30.
The team at ArtReach® makes great art possible and accessible for all by connecting art with grass roots and diverse communities to forge creative engagement.
LIBERTY EU, the new art-based project brings together 12 cultural partners across 10 countries to showcase a pool of 750 young artists to young audiences across Europe.
The website Liberty-eu.com, which is part of LIBERTY EU will enable artists and cultural professionals to work together until the end of 2022, commissioning at least 75 new works. The work these artists create will be presented at free access events across Europe.
With everything that has been taking place across Europe recently including; Brexit, protests and rioting, the pandemic, plus vaccine issues ArtReach®, partners, and funders are pleased to announce that LIBERTY EU events will go ahead as planned, and relationships between the UK and its European partners have never been better across the arts world.
Artists
A couple of UK-based artists involved with LIBERTY EU include Parham Ghalamdar and Madla Rae, both in Manchester. Parham is a painter and researcher originally from Iran, and Mandla is a performance and spoken word artist originally from Zimbabwe.
Parham Ghalamdar (Situation Number One (2020) SHEBA ARTS Festival) Mandla Rae (Bursary-Artist-2020 credit-Joel+Chester+Fildes)
Lorna Fulton, Creative Director of ArtReach® said:
“ArtReach® is delighted that our successful track record of artistic leadership with European partners will be enhanced with the major project LIBERTY EU. It is brilliant for both the UK and Europe, especially as we’re fully supported by Creative Europe and Arts Council England. The new LIBERTY EU website will showcase all the raw talent in the field of art across Europe that we are craving to see right now in these tough times.”
Artists under the age of 30 come together across Europe in the name of art. If you are therefore interested in art in all its forms, the LIBERTY EU project will be highlighting six strands of art, including; Inside Out Performance, Processional Theatre, Liberty Art, Outdoor Digital Art, Educational Workshops, and Seminars.
To find out more information please visit LIBERTY EU
2021 is the year for more meaningful holidays and we’re looking to expand our horizon and try our hands at learning something new when booking our holidays this year.
From daring free-diving lessons to heartache healing programmes, we’ve curated some of the most enriching luxury wellness and learning breaks from around the world. Because after the drama of the last year, there’s nothing better than a holiday that can uplift and energise the soul.
Learn to Free dive at Alphonse Island
Alphonse Island, one of the gems of the Blue Safari Seychelles portfolio, is offering free-diving experiences that will excite even the most enthusiastic adventure seeker. The free diving experiences are taught by Zimbabwean Frediving record holder Christian Burger.
The two-day free diving course covers everything from dive theory to pool skills before students can explore the depths of the Indian Ocean. There’s plenty to explore above water in Alphonse Island too with its stunning natural surroundings, exceptional facilities and first-class staff.
Alphonse Island offers freediving package from two days to seven days starting from $368 (USD) (including theory and tuition). Accommodation in a Beach Suite on a full-board basis with inter-island return flights starts from $6860 per person based on two people sharing.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to sleep under the stars in the desert? Well, with luxury safari operator Desert & Delta, now you can enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience of sleeping out under the stars in the Salt Pans of Makgadikgadi, one of the world’s largest salt flats.
The experience is complimentary for guests staying three nights or more at Desert & Delta’s beautiful Leroo Le Tau lodge. If camping out isn’t your cup of tea, guests can choose to visit the wildlife rich Nxai Pans instead. For the ultimate luxury experience, guests can also journey to the pans via a ‘doorless’ helicopter, offering incredible views of Botswana’s unique desert landscape.
This ‘Sleep-Out Under the Stars’ experience is available from 15th August – 31st October 2021, and 15th July – 31st October 2022. While it is complimentary for guests staying three nights of more at the Leroo Le Tau Lodge, those looking for a more private experience can book a solo trip for a total of $750.For more information visit https://desertdelta.com/
Learn to build an Igloo at Hotel Le Coucou
The Hotel Le Coucou in Méribel has introduced a number of outdoor learning experiences to our elevate your next ski trip. Guests can learn to build an igloo or join a Snow Yoga or Snow boxing class, or even paraglide amongst the clouds.
Nature enthusiasts can also hike in the forest or explore the snowy landscapes with via snowshoe, snowmobile or even sled dog, proving that Méribel as more than just a ski destination. The five-star Hotel Le Coucou is part of the Maison Pariente group and has 55 suites and rooms, two private chalets and a boutique Tata Harper spa too. Perfect for a luxurious alpine experience, unlike anything else on Three Valleys.
Nightly rates at Hotel Le Coucou start from 460 Euros on a half board basis. For reservations and information email reservations@lecoucoumeribel.com. Please note that Hotel Le Coucou is only open for the ski season.
‘Heal your heartache’ at Chablé Yucatan and Chablé Maroma
There is no wellness break more enriching than one that heals the soul and Chablé Yucatan and Chablé Maroma’s bespoke ‘Heal your Heartache’ programme may be exactly what we need after all the drama of 2020.
The programme was designed to help guests rekindle an inner connection and increase their self-worth. It includes sunrise and sunset yoga in the jungle, a ‘Sound of the Sea’ massage ritual and a cleansing ‘Rain Goddess’ ritual which includes a body exfoliation (to scrub away all memories of your ex).
The experience concludes with the Temazcal ceremony which is an intense steam-house treatment that promises to reconnect guests with their inner spirit. Where do we sign up?
Rates at Chablé Yucatán start from $1,106 (approx. £790) per night for a Casita with private pool, including breakfast and taxes. Rates at Chablé Maroma start from $850 (approx. £608) per night for a Villa with a private pool, including breakfast and taxes. For more information visit https://chablehotels.com/
Master outdoor yoga at the Grand Hotel Kronenhof
The Grand Hotel Kronenhof, just six miles from St. Moritz, has installed outdoor spa platforms so you can master outdoor yoga amidst the beauty of Engadine Valley. The four wooden platforms, assembled on various levels on the hotel’s calm-inducing gardens, are the perfect socially-distance solution to learning Pilates, Yoga and Meditation. Not to mention they also offer incredible views of the glistening Val Roseg glacier and the breath-taking Staz forest too.
Grand Hotel Kronenhof summer rates start from CHF455 (approx. £390) for two people sharing a double room on a half-board basis. Alternatively, upgrade to a “Suite Summer Deal” from CHF599 (approx. £515) for two people sharing a Suite on a B&B basis. Book online at www.kronenhof.com or call +41 81 830 3030.
Almost every traveler knows about the benefits of coffee. This drink allows you to cheer up, get a boost of energy and a positive mood. That is why many travelers drink coffee to learn about the recipe differences and experience new flavoring intonations. But there are countries where you better not drink coffee. This is due to many nuances. Here is a list of countries where you should drink coffee exclusively in a hotel or expensive coffee houses.
Zimbabwe
At first glance, this may seem counterintuitive since this country is one of the largest African coffee exporters. But the problem is that all high-quality grains are exported. Local coffee shops are notorious for brewing low-quality coffee with husks. As a result, your drink will taste very bitter. Even a lot of milk, sugar, or syrups will not save this coffee.
This is not a country where you can enjoy a hot drink made with the best Colambian coffee beans. Of course, you can find good coffee at inexpensive hotels or coffee shops, but there are not very many places like this in Zimbabwe. Besides, this country has problems with drinking water, and local coffee shops do not always buy purified water for making drinks.
Mongolia
Not so long ago, Mongolia began to produce coffee, but this does not mean that travelers can choose any coffee house and not worry about quality. The fact is that tea is still considered the main drink in this country. Traditional recipes include adding butter, lamb fat, or horse milk. If you are visiting small towns, villages, or wilderness, you should avoid the local hot drinks.
For example, local reindeer herders add fat to coffee. This is not the best combination for a tourist. Your untrained stomach is unlikely to thank you. You should avoid coffee in Mongolia or only drink it in cafeterias. Then you will not be in for an unpleasant surprise.
Syria
Even though there are coffee factories and even plantations in Syria, you should not drink this drink in this country. The trip itself will be unsafe. But let’s abstract from military operations and concentrate on hot drinks. Most coffee factories are now temporarily suspended. Coffee imports are too small to cover the needs of the population. Even the best budget coffee makers are very rare for this country at the moment.
Those cafes and coffee houses that still work use barley, coffee husks, or those beans that have remained from the pre-war period. This greatly affects the quality of the hot drink. Even milk or sweets cannot drown out the bitter or too sour taste of the coffee. That is why you should buy beans in advance for your favorite drink and prepare it yourself using a coffee pot.
Somalia
If you decide to visit this country as a tourist, then you are already at great risk. But even if you are not afraid of local pirates and criminal gangs, you should still be careful with what you eat and drink. The fact is that Zimbabwe is experiencing serious problems with clean water. Even purified and bottled liquid may not meet international standards.
As a result, your coffee can be harmful to your body. Another problem is that tourists are cheated in cafes and coffee shops. You won’t get natural coffee here. Baristas use chicory and coffee peels.
The alcohol trick is also common here. Baristas offer you alcoholic coffee, arguing that it is something like a national drink. If you agree, then you will make a big mistake. Instead of high-quality alcohol, local cafeterias use alcohol. This helps to mask the bitter and burnt taste of the coffee beans.
Sri Lanka
This country is famous for its tea, which is grown on local plantations. Also, coffee production is established here. But local coffee shops are not the best place for tourists. The fact is that local coffee does not differ in its exquisite taste or aroma. Many baristas in the country use flavor enhancers to mask the poor quality of the beans.
Sri Lanka is also known for its original spice coffee recipe. But this is a very specific drink. You can burn your taste buds. Plus, spices are another way to disguise low-quality coffee beans. The fact is that there are no specialized storage facilities in this country, and coffee beans are quickly damp.
Conclusion
You should remember that many factors are affecting the quality of coffee in every country. That is why you should be wary of this drink and trust only a few branded coffee shops. This is especially true for the countries listed above. Sometimes it will be wiser to skip this drink for a while or bring some delicious coffee with you. Then you can prepare a cup of an aromatic drink at the hotel.
For those looking to escape the trappings of everyday life and sink into a stunning location that feels both secluded but, as a result of its wildlife, full of energy and excitement, then Kwetsani, located in the centre of the Jao Concession, Botswana, is the idyllic, life-changing break you’ve been searching for.
Kwetsani is a remote camp, and its sensational bucket-list location sets it miles above the rest. The camp sits in Jao Reserve, and you have access to both land and water activities, with guests able to submerge themselves in the mesmerising levels of the Okavango Delta by getting close to resident wildlife, as well as boating and enjoying mokoro rides on the waterways.
This exceptional place will see you whiling away the hours stargazing and learning about the southern night sky, to banking ‘me-time’ hours by relaxing in the privacy of one of the tents or areas by the pool. And, as you go about your day, wildlife will move freely through the camp, with each minute being one with the promise of taking your breath away.
Here at House of Coco, we couldn’t resist the temptation to hear more about the spellbinding camp which boasts just ten guest beds, but an abundance of memories that’ll entertain the mind forever. So, we caught up with Jao Reserve’s Cathy Kays, to learn more about what makes Kwetsani the coveted location that it is.
Kwetsani looks absolutely incredible –– when was it established?
We first built it in 1999 as a tree-house style camp with thatched guest rooms out of wood and canvas, and it is part of Wilderness Safaris’ portfolio of exclusive camps in the area.
Sixteen years later the thatch needed replacing and we decided that we wanted to create more space in the guest rooms, so we rebuilt it with specially designed tents overlooking the vast floodplain. We retained the tree-house style with the rooms elevated about 4 metres off the ground. I believe the greatest luxury is space and limitless views and spacious interiors create just the right blend of luxury while retaining a sense of bush camp authenticity.
What are some of the main highlights guests can expect from their stay?
Kwetsani’s location in a private concession in the Okavango Delta gives access to both land and water activities, presenting our guests with a wide array of activities. We offer guided day and night game drives which allow guests to get closer to the resident wildlife, as well as boating and mokoro rides on the waterways.
The area is well-known for exceptional birdlife, and in the evenings our guests can spend time stargazing with our guides and learning about the southern night sky. It’s also part of the experience simply to spend time in camp, relaxing in the privacy of one’s tent or in the main area by the pool. Wildlife moves freely through the camp, so sometimes exciting opportunities present themselves.
What advice would you give to someone heading out on their first safari?
Don’t rush the experience, be patient and let the natural wonder unfold around you while you let it all sink in. Take in the smells and the sounds and sit quietly to observe animal behaviour. Every creature has a role to play in the ecosystem, watch them and appreciate them too, they are often more interesting than lions which spend most of the day sleeping.
The décor found inside the camp is impeccable –– do the interiors match the landscape of the surrounding Okavango Delta would you say?
Thank you, I take that as a huge compliment since the interiors are my own design. To enhance the feeling of space and lightness the furnishings have a light colour palette of whites, creams and soft greys. I have used my own photographs in black and white, all taken around the camp, to highlight our wonderful wildlife and have sought out local artefacts to create authenticity whilst always making guest comfort a priority with comfortable furnishings.
What’s something you simply have to try when visiting?
A starry night bush dinner under the baobab tree.
The setting surrounding Kwetsani is incredibly romantic – is it somewhere a lot of people choose to propose?
We have had a few proposals over the years and often this is done spontaneously with some help elicited from the managers, who have a wealth of experience in making an occasion a life-changing memory.
For those who don’t know too much about the cuisine in Botswana, what can they expect?
We serve an international menu focusing on delicious light dishes, serving breakfast, brunch, tea and dinner with snacks in between. On our Monday cultural night, we prepare local specialities and on Friday nights we have an African barbeque floodplain dinner (weather permitting). We make use of seasonal fresh ingredients as far as possible such as locally-grown fresh vegetables and salads, free range Botswana beef, game farmed venison and Kariba tilapia.
We serve an international menu focusing on delicious light dishes, serving breakfast, brunch, tea and dinner with snacks in between. On our Monday cultural night, we prepare local specialities and on Friday nights we have an African barbeque floodplain dinner (weather permitting). We make use of seasonal fresh ingredients as far as possible such as locally-grown fresh vegetables and salads, free range Botswana beef, game farmed venison and Kariba tilapia.
Have you had any famous faces stay at your wonderful camp?
While we’ve hosted many wonderful celebrities at Kwetsani over the years, we pride ourselves on the exclusivity of being in such a remote location …including keeping their anonymity as much as possible so they can truly reconnect to the wilderness.
What’s been one of the most special moments you’ve had at Kwetsani?
Hosting guests who thought they would be roughing it sleeping in a tent, then watching their thrilled excitement as they discovered what their tented room was actually like. Answering their many eager questions and telling them stories about camp building and life in the bush.
Nikki and Leah are the fearless entrepreneurs and founders of bespoke, organic tampon subscription service, OHNE. Both under 30. Both organic converts, the two young women are going up against mainstream brands to drive much-needed change in the period industry helping to re-shape the way women shop for their period products.
The pioneering service not only allows you to choose your tampon size and amend delivery dates to suit your cycle, but they’re also working with The School Club Zambia to help underprivileged women to overcome period poverty. To date, they have helped more than 600 girls in their menstrual education and improved access to continued schooling.
#TeamCoco chatted with the female founders helping to champion healthy periods and giving young women around the world the knowledge they need to have complete autonomy over their menstrual health.
Nikki and Leah – what is your background and what inspired you to launch OHNE?
We honestly never imagined we’d go into business together but now we can’t imagine doing anything else. Leah previously founded and ran her own small business and Nikki has worked with NGO’s in Asia and Africa – both experiences have contributed hugely to the way we run OHNE and the vision we had for it before we started, but honestly, it’s been a totally new experience for us.
We’re both really inspired by the change that’s happening across many industries towards being more sustainable. We knew that organic tampons were a ‘thing’ but we just found them so hard to access and we didn’t really feel represented by any of the brands that we could find. When we first started to come up with the idea for OHNE – mostly in between rants about the mainstream period product industry and their apparent obsession with pink and purple swirly designs – we realized that despite the huge amounts of progress when it comes to tech and consumer-focused businesses, there was still a huge gap in the market when it came to businesses catering to women’s health, especially their reproductive and menstrual health. We thought it was about time that someone offered a completely bespoke solution to periods; one which catered to real women’s needs.
Was it difficult to do – how did you get the business off the ground?
We started working on OHNE about a year before we launched and spent the majority of that year conceptualising the brand, sourcing our products, and building the website. A huge part of launching OHNE was creating an ethical and socially responsible business so we spent a lot of time working through our supply chain to ensure that women could trust our products. Once this was all ready we had to raise money to launch the company… which took a lot longer than we thought it would! Pitching our tampon company to a room full of male investors definitely had its challenges. However, we found some really amazing, passionate investors at the beginning of this year.
OHNE’s big selling point is that it’s 100% ethically and socially responsible – tell us more about how/the brand’s mission and your incredible efforts to tackle period poverty both here in the UK and beyond?
A huge part of starting OHNE for us was creating an ethical and socially responsible business. For us, the community comes first. We want to create space both online and in real life for women and people with vaginas to talk freely about periods, menstrual cycles, and their bodies without the shame and stigma that is all too often attached to these topics. Periods are not taboo and treating them as though they are leaves a lot of people who have periods in the dark about how their bodies function and perpetuate period poverty because a lack of menstrual health education contributes to people not knowing how to safely manage their periods or missing school due to the stigma and embarrassment. This is a hugely prevalent problem in rural Zambia, which is where our NGO partner, School Club Zambia, works. They identified that one of the biggest reasons behind girls missing – or dropping out entirely – school, as they got older, was that there was no way for them to safely manage their periods. The stigma around bleeding was so big that they couldn’t ask for help and certainly didn’t feel they could risk bleeding through at school. So SCZ established their Girl’s Programme, which is the program OHNE customers support every month. In each school they work with they build new toilet blocks, hold menstrual education workshops (for the boys too, because ending the taboo is everyone’s responsibility) and teach girls how to make their own reusable sanitary pads out of local resources. Not only are these long-term, sustainable solutions to period poverty in these communities, they’re also equipping girls with skills they can use in their later working lives.
Working with SCZ is definitely one of the most rewarding things about what we’re doing – Nikki has first-hand experience working with SCZ and we really trust them to do the absolute best for the communities they’re working in at every stage of the programme.
Have you seen any major changes since you began your involvement with School Club Zambia?
Since the start of the program, more than 600 girls have been supported in their menstrual education and access to continued schooling – which is incredible. When you think about the fact that roughly half of the Zambian population is underage, schooling becomes even more crucial an investment – the risk of hundreds of girls not getting the education they deserve because of their totally natural biology is heartbreaking, not only for them but for the future of their communities.
One of their most jaw-dropping stats comes from one of the schools where they’ve implemented their Girl’s Programme. In 2018, every single girl at the Kariba South school passed her Grade 7 exams; where six years earlier, not a single girl had passed.
We’re really seeing the shift in equality and access to opportunities in rural areas, and we honestly couldn’t be happier to be supporting SCZ however we can. To learn more about what they do with the Girl’s Programme and beyond, check out their website.
What are the risks of using the sanitary products on the market today – what should women be mindful of?
Oof. There are a lot of risks associated with using mainstream tampons that contain chemical additives, are bleached, and made from cotton sprayed with pesticides, from BV to TSS. When you’re putting something in your body that contains harmful chemicals or toxins, you have to be mindful that, while it’s quite possible you never contract anything serious, there is a very real danger associated with the use of these products. Especially if you’re putting them in your vagina, which has the most absorbent, thin, and sensitive skin of anywhere in the body. We’ve got to be really careful about the products we’re getting all up close n’ personal with. We joke that if you wouldn’t put something in your mouth, you shouldn’t put it in your vagina, but we’re actually deadly serious about that. A 100% organic cotton tampon has never once been linked to a case of TSS.
Fortunately, there are a LOT of safe, organic, sustainable alternatives, from tampons to reusable pads and menstrual cups. These are better for your body and better for the environment too – just do your research before you buy and make sure you’re looking out for brands that aren’t just greenwashing (saying their product is organic when it contains only one organic ingredient in a list of ten, for example). OHNE is currently the only period product brand in the UK to be certified by both Soil Association and GOTs, a fact we’re really proud of. It was incredibly important to us to get these certifications as we wanted to be able to be hyper-transparency from the get-go.
You recently expanded to include CBD oils to help alleviate menstrual cramps – what are the benefits of using it instead of traditional paracetamol/ibuprofen?
We love CBD. It’s an all-natural alternative to traditional medications like paracetamol, which is great for those of us who are starting to turn away from synthetic products or who (like us) are just totally obsessed with all things organic!
NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen, have huge lists of side-effects which we’re not always willing to risk. Paracetamol is usually not classified as an NSAID because it only has minor anti-inflammatory effects – but this is where CBD can (yet again) shine. CBD can help to reduce inflammation, without any of the associated risks and side effects of NSAIDs or paracetamol and with the added bonus of being totally natural and plant-based.
We’d never shame anyone for the medication they chose to take. You can never really know what another person is experiencing or how their cramps affect them – and I’m sure you’ll catch the OHNE team popping the odd headache pill every now and then too! We just want to educate ourselves and our community a little more about the risks associated with these drugs and the fact that there are natural product alternatives available.
Part of what makes OHNE great is the branding itself – everything from its playful photography and beautiful packaging. Where did you start with this – did you work with an agency or did you always have a vision for it and kept the process in-house?
Thank you! No, we never used an agency for our initial branding concept – for the longest time, we were a two-woman team so we really had to do everything ourselves! We’re mood board pros so we just collected images from all over the internet, brands we liked in other industries, colour palettes we thought evoked the vibe we were going for… We were never trying to hide the fact that we’re a period product brand founded by two young women who don’t have a whole marketing team at our disposal. We didn’t want to look like a mainstream period product brand, so we gave ourselves the freedom to let our passions and the aesthetics we really liked ourselves develop organically. Even our iconic papaya shot is only the result of one of the models messing around at the lunch table and holding it between her legs suggestively – we were like this is genius, and sent her back in front of the camera, papaya in tow!
You recently received investment from Matches Fashion and LoveHoney – congrats! – any future plans to expand into a physical retail space in the near future?
Thanks! We’re so excited to have such amazing investors backing us – it really means a lot to us as a young brand to get these votes of confidence from people whose work we admire so much. We’re more interested in innovating in the online world at the moment; our initial mission was to rethink the way women experience their periods, so we’re very much interested in the many ways you can use technology to shake up an established industry. We’d never rule out anything though, and physical retail spaces can be incredibly creative outlets for community engagement too… so watch this space, I guess!
To those women who are looking to start their own business and perhaps don’t have the courage, what is your advice to them? Any tips to get started?
That if you want to make a name for yourself or shake up change in a specific industry, the most important thing is that you believe in your product/business/idea more than anything, because you’re going to have to fight for it! You face a lot of ups and downs, it takes a thick skin, and a commitment to carry on even when things get a bit tough. That’s not to sound fear-mongering, though, we really believe that any idea that’s got you excited enough to want to make a reality is 100% worth seeing through. And if you’re anything like us, once that idea has wriggled into your brain, nothing we could say would be able to put you off making it happen anyway!
What’s next for OHNE?
So. Much. We’re just hitting that place where we’re able to start really expanding our team, our product range, our community – everything! We’ve got big things planned – obviously we can’t spill all our secrets, but we’re really excited to see the tech side of OHNE really take off… we know we’re being cryptic, just keep your eyes peeled.
OHNE boxes cost £5.80 (naked tampons) or £6.80 (applicator tampons) for the number of tampons and the absorbency type you need. And, because they’ve always got your back, both the shipping costs and that pesky tampon tax is on them!
For more information, please visit their website www.ohne.co
