July

Madagascar is a large island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the east coast of Africa, where people have lived for over 2,000 years. It is the world’s fourth largest island, boasting 5,000 kilometres of coast and a current population of twenty-five million, split between 18 ethnic groups and a multiplicity of social sub-groups.

Malawi is a warm and welcoming country that offers visitors wonderful scenery, fascinating parks and some of the friendliest people in Africa.

After recovering from many years of civil war, Mozambique opened its doors to tourism and is fast becoming the hottest beach destination in Africa. With an enviable position between Tanzania in the north, Malawi and Zambia in the northwest and South Africa to the south, Mozambique has become the perfect compliment to any African safari.

Namibia is a country of startling contrasts that straddles two great deserts: the Namib (after which it is named) is the oldest desert on the planet, and its sea of red sand lies along the Atlantic coastline, while in the eastern interior lies the Kalahari, a vast and sparsely vegetated savannah that sprawls across the border into neighbouring countries.

A tiny, landlocked republic in Equatorial Africa, Rwanda lies on the eastern rim of the Albertine Rift and the watershed between Africa’s two largest river systems: the Nile and the Congo.

If you are planning to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, take a trip to São Tomé & Príncipe, Africa’s second-smallest country.

With highlights such as Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Zanzibar, Tanzania is, for many, the ultimate safari destination. With National Parks and game reserves covering some 33,660 sq kms or 28% of the country, Tanzania has more land devoted to wildlife than anywhere else in the world.

Zambia is mainly situated on a vast plateau 3,000m above sea level, and boasts the Zambezi, Kafue and Luangwa rivers – as well as one of the largest waterfalls in the world, the Victoria Falls, which it shares with neighbouring Zimbabwe.

Decorated with the words ‘Unity in Diversity’, Indonesia’s national emblem is representative of its 700 languages and 17,000 islands scattered over 5,000km of equatorial turquoise seas.

Malaysia is a destination full of surprises. A bustling melting pot of traditions and religions where Malays, Indians, Chinese and many other ethnic groups influence its rich and vibrant culture.

Far more than its celebrated idealistic beaches, Thailand is known as The Land of Smiles thanks to its warm people. This mythical nation accommodates a diverse assortment of ancient temples; buzzing, frenetic cities and its infamous cuisine.

Queenslanders will tell you that their state is the best of Australia all rolled into one – it is the home of some of the world’s most treasured natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient Daintree Rainforest. It boasts beautiful beaches, perfect islands and the razzle dazzle of the Gold Coast; there is the channel country, the savannah country, Cape York, the Great Dividing Range and the Gulf country. Queensland is larger than life!

Western Australia is full of sun, wide open space, and friendly people – it is a great place for a relaxing holiday and a great place to experience some rather special natural attractions.

At the geographical centre of the Australian continent the Desert Centre is home to Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the remarkable rock domes of nearby Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). Uluru rises out of the flat desert – a geological work of art, Uluru is riddled with caves, rivulets, strange wounds and gashes and is adorned with ancient Aboriginal rock paintings. To the west, the equally impressive, Kata Tjuta is a spectacular collection of 36 weathered red domes separated by narrow valleys and covering 35 square kilometres.  

New Zealand is a small country, similar in size to Great Britain or Japan and with a population of only four million, it’s also gloriously uncrowded.

Lying just south of the equator, 160km north of Australia, Papua New Guinea is part of a great arc of mountains stretching from Asia, through Indonesia and into the South Pacific. With a vibrant and colourful Papua New Guinea culture, more than 600 islands and 800 indigenous languages, PNG is made up of 4 regions with 20 provinces.The striking natural beauty and myriad complex cultures in Papua New Guinea offer some riveting and truly life-affirming experiences.

Most visitors to Peru will almost immediately find themselves drawn in to the story behind the Inca Empire. This enigmatic tribe has left on earth an imprint of how truly extraordinary the human race can be but left so many questions unanswered. It is no wonder that some of the world’s greatest adventurers who stumbled into Machu Picchu went on to dedicate the rest of their lives to researching questions unanswered.

It is almost impossible not to fall in love with the colour and culture of this vibrant country. This is the place to come when you need a reminder that it’s the simple things in life that make us truly happy. The gentle beat of samba music; fresh fish pulled straight from the ocean and onto your plate (eaten with your fingers); warm, white sand under bare feet on an abandoned beach – no fancy deckchairs just you and the crashing waves of the Atlantic.

There are few countries that can rival Costa Rica’s incredible efforts to preserve and protect its environment. It has always been a trailblazer for conservation and ecotourism and, as a result, the country is carpeted in some of the world’s most pristine tropical forests.

A visit to Ecuador delivers a punchy balance of Latin American culture, extraordinary wildlife and contrasting landscapes. 600 miles off the mainland, is the county’s star attraction – the Galapagos Islands. This pinprick in the Pacific Ocean is surly one of the world’s greatest wildlife hotspots and they should be on every nature-lover’s bucket list.  

Argentina is a country of extreme contrasts and a holiday here can combine snow-capped mountains tumbling into glacial waters with scorched deserts and tropical rainforest.