Dubai has come of age in the area of conservation. In a destination known for its mega-projects, a less well-known local fact is that the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve forms 5% of the emirate of Dubai. The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) is the UAE’s first national park. Carefully planned rehabilitation over the years has […]
Late summer in the desert is hot, very hot. So the luxury of my own private pool was something of a delight – it seemed rather surreal to be up to my shoulders in water yet overlooking the shimmering sands of the Arabian Desert. But this is what Al Maha is all about – a […]
No visit to and operating with an ethos of conservation, environmental awareness and community upliftment. This desert safari was unlike most others… no convoys of vehicles, no dune bashing and no belly dancing. What you get with Platinum Heritage is authentic, staying true to Emirati culture – even down to the mode of transportation! After […]
Drinking coffee is integral to Arabic traditions of hospitality, and there is no better place to discover this than at the Coffee Museum in Dubai’s Al Fahidi Historical District. The museum, the largest of its kind in the Middle East, is the brainchild of ‘coffee’nista’ (is there such a word?) Khalid Al Mulla, of coffee […]
A great way to start a visit to Dubai is at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) located in the historic Al Fahidi District in Bur Dubai. An easy walk from the Al Fahidi Metro Station and down Al Mankhool Road – the variety of shops and businesses giving a glimpse into everyday […]
Dubai offers a number of shopping options, from glitzy shopping malls to the traditional souks, both offering merchandise from around the world to be carefully considered (or haggled over) and bought. The Souks however are wonderfully colourful, a tad noisy and extremely fascinating. We had great fun exploring the Textile Souk, which is on the […]
Hidden within the narrow streets of the historic Al Fahidi district is the wonderfully quirky XVA Gallery Art Hotel & Café. We just happened upon this gem while wandering the alleyways – little did we know that Condé Nast Traveler had featured XVA as the no.1 place “not to miss in Dubai”! Neither did we […]
I use the term ancient rather loosely, as Dubai was only founded around the 1800s – it was once however a region inhabited by Bedouins who made a living fishing, searching for pearls and herding sheep and goats. Where ancient dhows transported livestock and merchandise across the creek, where camels were used as transport and […]
Responsible Traveller Edition 3 – 2020
Welcome to another edition of Responsible Traveller. What a year 2020 has been! In addition to the impact on our personal lives,especially from a health and livelihood perspective, it has been exceptionally challenging to those in the travel industry. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost jobs and businesses as well […]
Responsible Traveller Edition 2 – 2020
Welcome to another edition of Responsible Traveller. It is with much pleasure that I write this… travel is at last beginning to open up and soon we’ll be travelling again. Keeping in mind all the safety precautions and regulations that are expected of us, remembering to #BeTravelWise In this edition we explore beach and bush – […]
Responsible Traveller Edition 1 – 2020
Welcome to another edition of Responsible Traveller. In this edition we get off the beaten track and show that great experiences can be had without contributing to over-tourism at iconic, popular sites and destinations. Experience the wonderful city of Bangkok differently – as the locals do… take commuter trains, buses and water taxis, walk side […]
Responsible Traveller Edition 2 – 2019
Welcome to another edition of Responsible Traveller – in this edition we celebrate the heroes of Conservation… From those conserving our marine species and focusing our attention onmarine pollution like Dyer Island Conservation Trust’s storm water drain project in Gansbaai and their fishing line bin recycling initiative. To those fighting the fight against rhino poaching […]
Responsible Traveller Edition 1 – 2019
Welcome to another edition of Responsible Traveller. In this edition we celebrate those that ‘Make a Difference’… from the winners of the African Responsible Tourism Awards (ARTA) 2019 heldat WTM Africa in April, to the tourism industry’s commitment to greening and sustainability at Africa’s Tourism Indaba. With the ARTA 2019 finalists and winners being from […]
