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THE ULTIMATE DELTA x FALLS EXPERIENCE UNIFYING TWO OF AFRICA'S FINEST DESIGN LODGES

February 5thBotswana & Zimbabwe

Xigera Safari Lodge, Botswana and Matetsi Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe have announced a new partnership unifying Africa’s greatest design lodges. This new package will couple design and wilderness like never before, offering guests unrivalled access to two UNESCO World Heritage sites – the Okavango Delta in Botswana and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe – while staying in Africa’s most impeccable safari lodges.

Xigera Safari Lodge

This new seven-night package begins with three nights at Xigera Safari Lodge, opening in January 2021 in Botswana’s unspoilt wilderness. Xigera will be the biggest investment into a safari lodge of this size in Africa and a legacy project of the Tollman family – the renowned South African hoteliers behind the Red Carnation Hotel Collection. The lodge’s design has been conceptualised by Toni Tollman, Philip Fourie and Anton de Kock, who have collaborated with Southern Guild in a game-changing design partnership like never before. The first of its kind, Xigera will offer a ‘Living Gallery’ of bespoke works commissioned exclusively for the property by Africa’s hottest young artists including Adam Birch, Madoda Fani, Porky Hefer, Otto du Plessis, Stanislaw Trzebinski and many more. Quietly surprising touches will be everywhere; from human-sized woven nests resting on decks for guests to nestle in, to a totemic firepit sculpture by blacksmith artist Conrad Hicks, offering a contemporary take on the traditional boma setting.

Flying into the Moremi Game Reserve, guests will spend three nights at Xigera Safari Lodge in their beautiful suite. Each suite floats above the Delta’s waterways – a design move which mirrors the Pel’s Fishing Owl in flight. Exclusive to this package, guests will be treated to a life-changing sleep-out in a three-story steel baobab tree located 1km from the camp – a truly unforgettable experience which combines art and wilderness like never before. Morning, afternoon and evening game drives will be at guests’ leisure, while they can also explore the Delta’s waterways by traditional canoe, glass-bottom mokoro and motorboat – complete with ‘feet-in-the-water’ sundowners. Exclusive to this package, guests will be spoilt with a $100 credit per person to be used in the soul-stirring spa.

Matetsi Victoria Falls

From Xigera Safari Lodge, guests will enjoy a complimentary Mack Air flight from Moremi Game Reserve to Kasane. They will be warmly received by their Matetsi Victoria Falls tour and transfer guide, and assisted through to Zimbabwe and onwards to Matetsi Private Game Reserve – a short distance from the border.

Four nights at Matetsi Victoria Falls, located on the banks of the spectacular Zambezi River within its own 55,000-hectare private wildlife conservation area, will allow guests to discover the region with warm Zimbabwean hospitality, outstanding cuisine, unique river experiences, and incredible wildlife encounters. Family-owned and independently run, the expert team at Matetsi Victoria Falls, from world-class chefs to personal butlers, create exceptional guest experiences.

Acclaimed for its exquisite contemporary interiors showcasing local Zimbabwean design talent, Matetsi Victoria Falls has won a number of design awards and travel accolades for its immersive and contemporary African design. Architectural Designer, Kerry van Leenhoff, inspired by life on the Zambezi River, incorporates touchpoints such as hanging dug-out canoes, fish-trap inspired light-features, hand-woven screens and clay-pot down-lighters throughout the stylish living spaces – each inspired by the local culture and traditions of Zimbabwean village life. Artworks by young, emerging Zimbabwean artist, Helen Teede enkindle a real sense of place: murals on the walls hint at the flow of the river and the power of nature.

Exclusive to this package, guests will be treated to a $100 spa credit per person, and an incredible helicopter excursion from Matetsi Private Game Reserve, following the Zambezi River to the Victoria Falls. This spectacular flight gives guests the opportunity to see wildlife from the air, marvel at the Batoka Gorge and experience the renowned “Flight of the Angels.” On landing, guests will be met by their personal tour guide for the guided walking tour of the Falls followed by High Tea at the iconic Victoria Falls Hotel.

Back on property at Matetsi Private Game Reserve, guests will enjoy activities such as game drives, boat cruises, canoeing and walking safaris. Creating a unique combination experience of exclusive safari, tranquil river, creatively designed luxury & the spectacular Falls.

HOW: Rates for the Ultimate Falls x Delta package start from $10,975 / £8,426 per person for seven nights, including three nights at Xigera Safari Lodge and four nights at Matetsi Victoria Falls, complimentary flights between the properties with transfers, a helicopter ‘Flight of the Angels’, Victoria Falls walking tour with High Tea, a baobab sleepout at Xigera and a spa credit of $100 per person at both properties.

Rates for the condensed five-night package start from $7,605 / £5,840 per person, including two nights at Xigera Safari Lodge and three nights at Matetsi Victoria Falls, complimentary flights between the properties, transfers, a Victoria Falls walking tour with High Tea and a spa credit of $100 per person at both properties.

Both packages are available to book now, for travel from June 2020 onwards.

www.xigera.com / www.matetsivictoriafalls.com/

@xigerasafarilodge / @matetsivictoriafalls

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INTRODUCING EXPLORA JOURNEYS: LEADERS IN ULTRA-ELEGANT OCEAN TRAVEL

March 1st

INTRODUCING EXPLORA JOURNEYS: LEADERS IN ULTRA-ELEGANT OCEAN TRAVEL

EXPLORA JOURNEYS

A New Standard in Maritime Luxury

Explora

Explora Journeys is the privately owned luxury ocean travel brand of the MSC Group, defined by space and privacy. At the heart of the brand is the Ocean State of Mind – a philosophy shaped by time at sea, thoughtful design, and the freedom to choose how each day unfolds. Immersive itineraries pair celebrated destinations with lesser-travelled ports, allowing for deeper exploration and a more fluid style of travel.
Across the fleet, Explora Journeys delivers an all-oceanfront experience, with spacious suites, penthouses and residences conceived as refined homes at sea. Floor-to-ceiling windows, private terraces, and residential-style interiors create a strong sense of openness, while an abundance of space and privacy is a defining hallmark of the Explora Journeys experience, with more open-air deck space per guest. The ships also offer an industry-leading host-to-guest ratio, with almost one host per guest, supporting an unhurried onboard rhythm.

Culinary experiences span multiple dining environments, from elegant restaurants to relaxed all-day venues, complemented by a collection of bars and lounges designed for different moments throughout the day. Wellness is fully integrated into life on board through dedicated spa and fitness facilities, outdoor decks and a holistic programme that reflects the brand’s deep connection to the ocean. Service is intuitive and discreet, informed by Mediterranean sensibilities and Swiss hospitality standards.

The fleet currently comprises EXPLORA I, launched in July 2023, and EXPLORA II, launched in September 2024. Expansion continues with EXPLORA III launching in summer 2026, followed by EXPLORA IV and EXPLORA V in 2027 and EXPLORA VI in 2028.

The next chapter for the brand arrives with EXPLORA III, launching in July 2026. An ultra-elegant expression of ocean travel, that benefits from LNG-powered technology, EXPLORA III will introduce a standout Owner’s Residence designed by internationally acclaimed architect Patricia Urquiola, as well as new culinary concepts, enlarged spa and fitness facilities designed for a more immersive wellbeing experience, and elevated onboard retail, including Chopard’s first boutique at sea. EXPLORA III will sail an exclusive Mediterranean Prelude before heading to Northern Europe, Iceland, and Greenland later in 2026.

Perowne International celebrates expansion into Latin America with Mexico City Launch

February 27th

Perowne International celebrates expansion into Latin America with Mexico City Launch

Perowne International celebrates expansion into Latin America

Mexico City Launch

Mexico

Perowne International has officially expanded its global footprint into Latin America, marking the milestone with a series of launch events in Mexico City. The move follows a period of significant growth for the consultancy, strategically linking its flourishing Milan and Madrid operations with the rising influence of the Spanish-speaking luxury market.

INTRODUCING SANDFONTEIN, NAMIBIA’S HIDDEN WILDERNESS

February 12th

INTRODUCING SANDFONTEIN, NAMIBIA’S HIDDEN WILDERNESS

INTRODUCING SANDFONTEIN

NAMIBIA’S HIDDEN WILDERNESS

Namibia

Beyond the classic safari trail and set within 97,000 hectares of privately protected land in southern Namibia, Sandfontein is a vast wilderness reserve and exclusive-use lodge positioned along the Orange River, cutting through sweeps of mountains, basalt outcrops and desert plains.

 

This is a landscape with deep geological time and human history layered into its terrain. River terraces and volcanic rock formations speak to millennia of tectonic change, while archaeological traces reveal early hunter-gatherer communities who relied on the Orange River as a corridor for trade and survival. In the early 20th century, the area became a strategic site during the Nama-German conflicts and the opening stages of the First World War, with battlefields and graveyards still preserved within the reserve today.

 

Available exclusively for private use, Sandfontein Lodge accommodates up to 18 guests across five suites, each with private outdoor living spaces and star beds, alongside the remote Lost Poet Villa, perched on a hilltop with uninterrupted 360-degree views. Locally sourced materials were used throughout the eco-conscious construction of the lodge and villa, minimising environmental impact while blending with the surrounding landscape. With no neighbouring properties, minimal infrastructure and zero light pollution, Sandfontein is recognised by Quiet Parks International for its profound silence and dark skies, offering complete seclusion.

 

Days unfold with guided hikes tracking wildlife on foot – from oryx and springbok to ostrich and giraffe – or historical explorations that reveal stories etched into the terrain. Along the Orange River, time slows further: kayaking, fishing, or drifting quietly downstream offering a different perspective from the banks. Conservation shapes every experience; in recent years, Sandfontein has expanded its boundaries and reintroduced native species, allowing the wilderness and its wildlife to flourish. As daylight fades, the reserve’s silence deepens. Guests can camp beneath the stars or retire to the lodge’s iconic outdoor StarBeds, immersed in the desert’s stillness and vast, starlit skies.

 

This is African travel stripped back to its raw essence, where the luxury is space itself. No crowds, no neighbouring lodges, just access: to land, to history, and to a rare and enduring sense of place, with the freedom to move through it at an unhurried pace.

SIBBJÄNS ARRIVES ON GOTLAND, SWEDEN

February 2nd

SIBBJÄNS ARRIVES ON GOTLAND, SWEDEN

SIBBJÄNS ARRIVES ON GOTLAND, SWEDEN

A REGENERATIVE FARM STAY SHAPED BY SEASONS, FRIENDSHIP AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

Sweden

Sibbjäns began quietly, the combined dream of Jonas Nordlander and Sanna Rönn, who with close friends and many meaningful couples Pontus and Kina Zeidler share a life between Stockholm and Gotland. Over the past four years, they have steadily transformed this former horse farm into a regenerative stay that feels singular to anywhere else in Scandinavia.

After a soft opening in 2025 for friends and family, the farm stay now enters 2026 as its first full season, opening more intentionally to a like-minded global community drawn to nature, food, and thoughtful design.

 

A PLACE TO REST

 

22 individually designed rooms sit across the Hotel and ‘The Bunkhouse,’ each named after important women in the family and among their friends. Adorned with classic Scandi touches of sheepskin throws, limewashed walls, soft palettes, and contemporary art, the spaces are designed for comfort.

Buildings are framed by wildflowers and constructed using traditional methods, much of the work completed by hand, with local craftsmanship central to the process. Architect Maja Berg has been a key contributor, working alongside Erik Larsson, a Master of Gotlandic Craft Heritage, who built some of the original buildings himself and continues to pass on traditional building knowledge to the next generation.

THE KITCHEN FOLLOWS THE FARM

At the heart of Sibbjäns is a working farm home to hens, Mangalitza pigs, horses, and sheep, with agriculture guiding both the kitchen and the guest experience.

In the gardens, lead gardener and local Karin Winarve brings a quiet hand to what thrives here across meadows, vegetable beds, and fruit-growing plots. Produce is grown on-site and harvested seasonally, forming the backbone of a true farm-to-table approach—one that pauses entirely during the winter months when the land rests.

 

EXPERIENCES & ‘VIKING WELLNESS’

New for the 2026 season, wellbeing at Sibbjäns is restorative rather than prescriptive. Inspired by Nordic traditions and the physicality of outdoor life, the evolving wellness offering includes:

  • A hand-built yoga barn

  • A wood-fired sauna

  • An outdoor gym

  • Recreational spaces

  • The beginnings of what will become one of the world’s most beautiful tennis courts.

The surrounding landscape invites guests to engage with nature on its own terms, from cycling or horse riding across open farmland to kitesurfing along Gotland’s windswept coastline (widely regarded as one of the finest spots in Europe for the sport). This is ‘Viking wellness’ in spirit—elemental, grounding, and quietly transformative.

 

SWEDEN’S ‘SUNSHINE ISLAND’

Gotland is Sweden’s sunniest destination, known for its distinctive light, limestone landscapes, and strong ‘right to roam’ ethos. Open from Easter through to Christmas and closed entirely during the dark winter months, Sibbjäns follows the natural calendar rather than resisting it.

Reaching it is part of the journey:

  • A short flight from Stockholm to the island’s capital of Visby, followed by a drive across the island.

  • A ferry crossing that reinforces the sense of arrival somewhere distinct and deliberately unhurried.

  • For those preferring a more direct approach, arrival by helicopter is also possible.

At its core, Sibbjäns remains a place for friends old and new built slowly, grounded in nature, and designed to endure.
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