Our top five 70th birthday celebratory holidays
A grand celebration deserves a grand setting! Africa, with its captivating landscapes, deep-rooted cultures, and unparalleled luxury, stands as the quintessential destination for a truly memorable 70th birthday. Whether you envision peaceful indulgence, exhilarating activities, or a combination of both, our travel experts are armed with a treasure trove of safari ideas ready to spark your imagination.
1. Float over the Masai Mara in a hot air balloon, Kenya
View wildlife from the air
A hot air balloon over the Masai Mara provides a peaceful yet thrilling way to see the wildlife and breathtaking landscapes of this iconic safari destination. This gentle journey offers unparalleled aerial views of the escarpment and iconic wildlife, with elephant, lion, and giraffe dotting the vast African plains below. For your stay, consider House in the Wild, Offbeat Ndoto, or Kicheche Mara Camp. These luxury lodges combine comfort with a sense of wilderness, excellent safari guides and a personalised service.
Enjoy spectacular scenery from the comfort of the pool
Team your Masai Mara adventure with the spectacular Matthews Range. This vast, remote landscape, renowned for its distinctive wildlife, including the endangered Grevy’s zebra and the Somali ostrich, is deeply steeped in the age-old traditions of the Samburu people. A stay at Sarara Camp and Sarara Treehouses will delight with exclusive access to endless, breathtaking views and captivating natural beauty. We recommend a visit to the Reteti Elephant Orphanage, dedicated to caring for injured or orphaned elephants, giving you a good insight into the conservation efforts and the heartwarming interactions.
2. Top-class golf courses and fairways lined with coconut trees, Mauritius
Paradis Beachcomber on the Le Morne peninsula, Mauritius
Mauritius offers the best golf courses in the Indian Ocean. Immaculately maintained and with spectacular views from stunning locations, these greens are perfectly complemented by luxury accommodation. The idyllic white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a host of land and water based activities guarantee an exceptional holiday.
Constance Belle Mara Plage course
Constance Belle Mare Plage features two 18-hole championship courses on-site, and Paradis Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa offers an 18-hole course with a spectacular backdrop of Le Morne Mountain. After a round of golf, take advantage of one of the many water sports, unwind with a spa treatment, or sit back and enjoy the serene beach atmosphere. For a change of pace, hike volcanic trails for panoramic island and sea views, visit historic rum distilleries for tours and tastings, or discover the lush green tea plantations.
3. Echoes of the past and roars of the wild, KwaZulu-Natal
The site of the Battle of Isandlwana
From stunning mountain landscapes and historic battlefields, to abundant wildlife and beautiful coastline. KwaZulu-Natal is an astonishing area steeped in history, particularly the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer Wars. Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift, and Blood River offer poignant insights into these conflicts. Fugitives Drift is owned and run by the Rattray Family and has a lovely setting on a wooded hillside above the Buffalo River Gorge. As the son of David and Nicky Rattray, Douglas Rattray’s upbringing at Fugitives’ Drift instilled a profound knowledge of Zulu history and a keen interest in military affairs, especially the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. A qualified conservationist, Doug now passionately leads guests to the battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, continuing his family’s legacy of sharing these important stories.
Giraffe strolling through the heritage site
Beyond the history, the 5000-acre Natural Heritage Site is home to abundant wildlife and birdlife, including giraffe, zebra, kudu, hartebeest, wildebeest, and waterbuck. Guests can enjoy wildlife drives, guided walks, horse riding, and fly-fishing on the Buffalo River.
4. The ultimate in exclusivity and exploration, Namibia by air
Experience Namibia’s jaw dropping landscape from above
Rugged mountain ranges, immense dune fields and the wild Skeleton Coast. Namibia truly stands out as one of Africa’s most unique and captivating destinations, offering an incredible blend of vast, otherworldly landscapes, varied wildlife, and rich cultural experiences. A flying safari in Namibia is a breathtaking way to explore the country’s diverse landscapes from above and on the ground. These safaris typically involve small aircraft flights between remote, spectacular destinations, allowing you to maximise your time and experience the beauty of Namibia from unique perspectives. Highlights include flying over the haunting Skeleton Coast, with its shipwrecks, rolling dunes and seal colonies, to the salt pans and red dunes of the Namib Desert.
Onduli Ridge, Namibia
Francis has designed this 15-day safari that allows you to discover Namibia’s best locations and those far-flung places that are only accessible by air.
5. Quad biking, horse riding, meerkats and a starry sky sleep out, Botswana
Habituated meerkats of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans offer an exceptional African experience beyond the vehicle. Year-round, the terrain is ideal for exhilarating horse riding, electric fat bike rides and quad biking. Enjoy fascinating walks with Bushmen and sleep out under the sparkling Milky Way. The seasonally changing pans support diverse wildlife, including surprising flamingo breeding during wet periods and abundant birdlife in the green season. Wildlife viewing peaks then, with regular sightings of elephant, oryx, lion, and more. Habitual meerkats offer a year-round highlight.
An oasis of comfort at Jack’s Camp
Jack’s Camp is known for its highly knowledgeable guides, personal service, and excellent cuisine. It offers a sophisticated and adventurous safari experience that complements, rather than replicates, the more traditional wildlife viewing in areas like the Okavango Delta.
Adventures worth celebrating
Africa provides an unforgettable backdrop for milestone celebrations. Whether you’re floating above the Masai Mara in a hot air balloon, enjoying a leisurely round of golf in Mauritius, or exploring the deserts of Namibia by air, there is no shortage of extraordinary and memorable adventures. We’ll use our expertise to custom-design your perfect holiday and take pleasure in recommending the hidden gems that can turn your safari into a trip of a lifetime. By spending time in Africa, we can hand on heart say we offer you the best advice.
Samburu people in the Mathews Range, Kenya
What next?
Feeling inspired for your 70th birthday? Sign up to our free Insiders Guide to Africa. We would be delighted to help with planning your perfect safari holiday, whenever you want to travel. Our team of experts has travelled widely throughout Africa and the Indian Ocean and can offer expert advice. Do get in touch – chatting to people by phone or email is what we do best. We listen, we explain, we answer all sorts of questions even those you didn’t know to ask, and finally we make suggestions. If this is your first time to Africa or your twenty first, we have a team standing by to help make the planning easy and the journey the best ever. Please get in touch whatever stage you’re at.
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