Gordon says: Of all the safaris I've done, the Kalahari is my all time favourite because of the unique choice of terrains and diversity of wildlife to be seen. Plus, the opportunity to walk with elephants or take a canoe trip on the Okavango Delta are not to be missed!
Julie says: I love the walk along the promenade at Puerto del Carmen. Lots of lovely restaurants and bars and it's ideal for couples or families. Have a day out at Rancho Texas Park...it's a great place to see wild animals and birds, and has several pools with rides and slides for all ages!
Chris says: The TWA Hotel at JFK Airport is such a great option for a pre- or post-flight stopover! The original TWA terminal has been restored to its 1960s glory as a hotel with an incredible pool bar and observation deck overlooking the runways at JFK. There's also a museum with over 2000 exhibits documenting air travel in the mid-20th century and a Lockheed Starliner propliner which has been converted in to a cocktail bar!
Claire says: Cornwall is a great place for families and couples - my favourite place to visit is St.Ives and I love to stay at Gwel An Mor 5* Resort in Portreath.
Kids will love the Basecamp indoor play zone, Feadon Farm Wildlife Centre and the swimming pool with amazing views over the sea. Couples can chill out in their own hot tub, enjoy spa treatments or even take the beautiful forest walk down to Portreath beach.
It’s only a silverback – just one of the world’s largest living primates. He’s a few metres away, chomping on leaves. He looks content, but we hikers are beaming.
That’s why gorilla tracking is so sought after – it feels primal, standing this close to a creature that shares 95% of your DNA. We fall silent as he knuckle-walks along the forest floor. Our guides spot a mother and her babies, with only the click of cameras interrupting the spell cast over us.
It is magical, but with permits costing $600 ($700 from July 1), facts and expectations are paramount. About 150 permits are available daily, with no group exceeding eight people, so booking ahead is key.
“Clients set off from one of four trail heads, then trek to the gorilla families and spend an hour with them.”
There are two populations of mountain gorillas in the world: a 604-strong group in the Virunga mountains, across Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and about 400 in Bwindi. Clients set off from one of four trail heads, then trek to the gorilla families and spend an hour with them; more expensive habituation experiences give you more time.
It’s high-end ecotourism that funds conservation and guide training. Gorilla numbers are rising, and their status has changed from critically endangered to endangered, though guides, trackers and porters still earn very little.
There has been a human cost too: creating the national park meant relocating the forest-dwelling Batwa tribe or pygmies into villages. A few have been compensated but for many, it’s been a harsh adjustment to a very different lifestyle. Batwa cultural experiences provide an interesting and important perspective.
“Nothing’s guaranteed – one group spotted gorillas within 60 minutes, while we spent seven hours in the forest.”
Treks vary in difficulty, but it’s worth paying a porter – $15 to carry your daypack can be the difference between enjoyment and endurance. Hikers can also request less-challenging treks to easier-to-find gorilla groups. Trackers go out daily to monitor locations, but nothing’s guaranteed – one group spotted gorillas within 60 minutes, while we spent seven hours in the forest.
One word of advice for clients: take a few snaps for Instagram, then put the phone away and enjoy the thrill of being so close to one of man’s closest relatives.
Book it
The price of a gorillatracking permit rises to $700 on July 1, with habituation experiences from $1,500, plus a $40 park entrance fee. Operators such as Rainbow Tours, Somak, Abercrombie & Kent and Tucan Travel generally include permit fees with trekking experiences, We advise to book well in advance.