TRIP NOTES

Letter from the Editor

The 100,000 hectares Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve close to Cape Town is home to more than 1,880 different plant species – and 77 of those are found nowhere else on Earth. To put this in perspective, the South American rainforest, the next richest biosphere, has just 420 species per 10,000 square kilometres, while the whole of the UK has only 22 endemic plant species.

While this floral kingdom has always enjoyed some form of protection, it was not so long ago also used for more sinister purposes. We recently visited this grand land area in a new Opel Grandland X to bring you the story of rockets, fynbos, and lightning bolts – and how this piece of paradise on Earth was regained.

We also sent contributor Julie Graham to the 58,000 hectares Sanbona Wildlife Reserve to experience the reintroduction of the rare White Lion to the landscape of the Klein Karoo. The name Sanbona represents the vision of the San people to restore harmony between man and nature and restore the interconnectedness of all living beings – and by offering these “sacred” animals a safe space to breed forms part of restoring this vision.

Staying with the conservation theme, Julie Graham and Charlotte Rogers did an epic road trip with a Jaguar F-pace through the remote areas of Limpopo and Mpumalanga to visit a multitude of exquisite lodges, including the impressive Fusion Boutique Hotel, The Outpost and Pel’s Post in the Pafuri, as well as the exclusive Shumbalala Game Lodge in the Thornybush Reserve.

Speaking of Jaguar, we also travelled overseas to take in the delights of the Algarve in Portugal, while discovering the electric personality of the new Jaguar I-pace on the twisting, undulating mountain roads interconnecting the coastal towns with their pristine beaches and breath-taking natural beauty, while Marcus Brewster enjoyed the clear Alpine air as he explored Geneva and its surrounds.

Meanwhile contributor Jim Freeman undertook a dog patrol – visiting the Anatolian Shepherd Guarding Dog project, run by Sanparks in conjunction with the Endangered Wildlife Trust near Uniondale in the Klein Karoo in, yes, you have guessed it, a Nissan Patrol. Oh, he also journeyed with a Subaru Outback to try and find the Never Never … and did an extended road trip with a Jeep and Harley-davidson to celebrate the fifth consecutive year of co-branding by these two iconic American brands.

And to complete the regaining of paradise, read our feature on the newly opened Zuri Zanzibar resort on the idyllic island off the coast of East Africa …

Happy travels and trips.