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Mauritius

Under a spreading mango tree, the One&Only Le Touessrok greets its guests. A small bridge curves over a koi pond to Le Touessrok’s grand foyer. Soothing white stucco walls are open towards the sea. One wall, hung with fine silk, is backlit to catch the full effect of silk swaying in a tropical breeze.

Read more . . . Le Touessrok, Mauritius

Morocco

In the long, low light of a desert evening, a greenish palo verde tree throws its leafless summer shadow onto the low rectangle of a gold wall. Next door, the shadow of a skinny-armed ocotillo adorns a curved copper-colored fence. Imagine the scene in the spring when the palo verde blooms gobs of bright yellow and the ocotillo sports tiny, shiny green leaves.

Read more . . . Riads au Maroc, Morocco

Morocco

Staying at Riad Laïla feels like being in the lovely old home of a Marrakechi acquaintance who was called out of town, but left their gracious staff to tend to my needs. In the quiet end of the medina, Riad Laïla is a marvelous introduction to Marrakech - sans the hustle and tussle of the central square, Djemaa El Fna. The small square nearby is full of friendly neighbors and fresh with the smell of the mint - seller’s bundles.

Read more . . . Riad Laila, Marrakech, Morocco

South Africa

Chitwa Chitwa Lodge is in Sabi Sand, a private game reserve with the reputation for being not only the best managed, but one of the best places in the world for seeing leopards and lions. For the animals, the Sabi Sand and the other half dozen or so private game reserves abutting Kruger National Park are just another part of their territory where they’re protected, but not fenced.

Read more . . . Chitwa Chitwa Game Lodge, Sabi Sand, South Africa

South Africa

Whizzing out of modern Durban, a cultural curry of urban Zulus and whites spiced with Indians, we head for the Eastern Cape, the land of Mandela’s birth. Xhosa villages of scrawny goats and mud huts with conical grass roofs scatter across the dry, scrubby veld. It feels like another century. The ratty, jiving central town of Umtata feels like another country, one with no trace of South Africa’s gold and diamond wealth.

Read more . . . Dreamcatcher, South Africa