Where to go in the Western Cape of South Africa, Central Vietnam, and Florida

Special Features

This issue features some of the best experiences in Western Cape of South Africa, Central Vietnam, and Florida.

The latest issue of Travelife Magazine features where to go in the Western Cape, Central Vietnam, Finland and Brazil. The cover was shot at Bushman's Kloof in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa, one of the top wilderness destinations in Africa.
This cover was shot at Bushman’s Kloof in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa

I am writing this on the eve of a visit to Russia which includes a stay in Lake Baikal in Siberia, the deepest lake on earth. I don’t know much about this place but I chose it because of its location at the top of the world which in reality seems like the end of the world.

So I am headed to the Republic of Buryatia in Siberia there with great curiosity and a sense of adventure, and you will read more about it soon in Travelife Magazine.

At Rattrays Camp at the MalaMala Game Reserve in South Africa
At Rattrays Camp at the MalaMala Game Reserve in South Africa

SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN THE WORLD

Many of the destinations this issue were chosen by our columnists and contributors with the spirit of positive recklessness and desire to see amazing and beautiful places on our planet. Some of them are actually close to home.

Travelife Magazine columnist Igor Krasnov at the Azerai La Residence in historic Hue, Vietnam
Travelife Magazine columnist Igor Krasnov at the Azerai La Residence in historic Hue, Vietnam

Columnist Igor Krasnov wrote about Hoi An and Hue, two of the most historic and best-preserved cities in Vietnam. He recalls wandering around aimlessly, walking around Hoi An all day as it is truly a photographer’s delight.

In Hue, he visited the Imperial Palace of Hue and also the last home of the kings of the Nguyen Dynasty and saw the grandeur of their lives. 

At the Banyan Tree Lang Co, one of the best resorts in Central Vietnam
At the Banyan Tree Lang Co, one of the best resorts in Central Vietnam

In both cities, we also feature three of the best hotels in Central Vietnam visited by columnist Igor Krasnov: the Anantara in Hoi An, the Banyan Tree in Lang Co, and the Azerai La Residence in Hue.

LANTERN FESTIVAL IN TAIWAN

Meanwhile, Michelle Barrera jumped on a plane for Taipei and headed to a lantern festival in the south of Taiwan. Always ready for adventure, she arrived on the festival eve so that she was ready for the big days ahead.

Then she ended up in a charming bed-and-breakfast in the countryside of Taiwan, with flowers as a theme, drinking freshly brewed flower tea before breakfast. 

VISITING WESTERN CAPE

The top attractions of Western Cape in South Africa
The top attractions of Western Cape in South Africa

Heading further out, our Travelife Magazine editorial team traveled to the Western Cape of South Africa to tick off bucket list experiences.

Assistant Managing Editor Patricia Cendaña rode a Harley Davidson along Chapman’s Peak, one of the loveliest roads to speed on. Then she drove a quad bike up and down the hills around the wine city of Paarl.

STAYING AT BUSHMAN’S KLOOF IN SOUTH AFRICA

At Bushman's Kloof in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa, a Red Carnation Hotels property and a member of the Relais & Chateaux
At Bushman’s Kloof in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa,
a Red Carnation Hotels property and a member of the Relais & Chateaux

I also created a milestone by checking into Bushman’s Kloof, a Relais & Chateaux property and a member of the Red Carnation Hotels group. It is perhaps Africa’s top wilderness retreat for luxury travelers.

Bushman’s Kloof has been on my wishlist for years. So I finally booked a stay here and did the four-hour drive to the Cederberg Mountains from Cape Town. It’s an incredible drive, by the way.

Breakfast at Bushman's Kloof in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa, a Red Carnation Hotels property and a member of the Relais & Chateaux
Breakfast at Bushman’s Kloof in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa,
a Red Carnation Hotels property and a member of the Relais & Chateaux

The story of our stay at this refined luxury game reserve, so well-run and yet also so relaxed and natural, is our cover story for this issue of Travelife Magazine.

Cederberg House at Bushman's Kloof in Western Cape, South Africa
Cederberg House at Bushman’s Kloof in Western Cape, South Africa

Our stay was full of the incredible experiences including a picnic in a cave and a barbecue dinner lit by a hundred candles in an old shepherd’s cottage. 

MY HAPPY PLACE IN THE WESTERN CAPE

Holiday in St. Helena's Bay in the Western Cape of South Africa
Holiday in St. Helena’s Bay in the Western Cape of South Africa

However, one bucket list item didn’t make it to my Travelife. I’d hoped to book dinner at a restaurant along the Western Cape coast recently chosen the best restaurant in the world. Unfortunately, we could not get a table.

This turned out to be a blessing as instead we went home and created our own meal by picking mussels straight from the beach. The entire beach was brimming with seafood. Read about this little twist of gastronomic fate in my column on the last page of this issue. 

Wherever they go, Dondi Joseph, Michelle Barrera, Jerome Martin, Igor Krasnov and the other members of the Travelife team are always living a #Travelife.