Hibiscus Island Residence: An Island Paradise Home in Miami Beach, Florida

Read article : Hibiscus Island Residence: An Island Paradise Home in Miami Beach, Florida

Would you love to live near the water edges of Miami, Florida? Of course you would say yes! What you would get once there is not just an island paradise experience, but, an island luxury living in a high-end tropical environment in a secluded, exclusive and a gated community in Hibiscus Island, Miami Beach, Florida. A waterfront house with a great indoor and outdoor living so suited for Miami’s year round tropical climate, from a long summer, abundant rainfall, and a mild, dry winter. Surely, this island property that we will feature today is a masterpiece to the designer and a priced-possession to the homeowner.

This modern house design was made possible by Architect Ralph Choeff of the Choeff Levy Fischman Architecture + Design, built by Bosch Construction. A house with a modern architectural design and a high-end tropical environment. Considering that this house is nested in a private island community in Miami Beach, Florida, the quality of living here is of great pride and price. Let us know more of this luxury island paradise living through this Hibiscus modern waterfront residence.

Location: Hibiscus Island Community, Miami Beach, Florida

Designer: Choeff Levy Fischman Architecture + Design

Style: Modern Tropical

Number of Level: Two-storey

Unique feature: A waterfront residence with a tropical architectural design and great massive indoor and outdoor living.

Similar House: A Stunning White Modern Home on a Greek Island

This is an astounding front view of this Hibiscus Residence. A two-level water-front house located in the water edges of Miami Beach, Florida. Ipe wood, natural stones and water features are the tropical elements commonly used in this house.

To the right of the house is the garage guarded in steel railings. Palm trees were placed to achieve a tropical tone in this modern architecture.

A simple wooden door opens the house to its indoor spaces and a lit up entryway warmly welcomes guests to the house. Also, stone steps leading towards the door travel over a Koi pond, one of the house’s tropical touch. Ornamental plants and palm trees surround the area.

This rectangular swimming pool is one of the great outdoor space in this house. Its underwater light effect reflects the water element of the pool. Lounging seats were in place to give comfier and a relaxing pool experience. Surely, your swimming pool experience here will be different from a sandy beaches bath along Miami Beach.

Read Also: Lovely Contemporary Home on Di Lido Island in Miami

Towards the end of the swimming pool is a covered entertaining area with a sunken lounge and an outdoor kitchen. During night time, it’s best to enjoy the view of the city light while lounging with family and friends in this classy and modern outdoor space.

From this photo, the glass panel set as the boundary from the outdoor space to the indoor space of the house. Its interior is a combination of wood and glass accent. Plants placed inside the house add a tropical aura to the space.

In the living room, continuity of accent and design is achieved. Light brown wall and floor tiling compliment the white ceiling of the space.

The modern kitchen design was achieved through a light wood cabinetry and white top design. An island is placed to accommodate five setters. Above the island are three pendant lights that give off simplicity and beauty to the kitchen.

One of the house great indoor space is this media room with a bar beside it. This space is best for a lazy afternoon. Large white couch, pillows, and chairs were added to accentuate the room. The bar on its side will surely add flavor to your high-end experience.

Contrasting colors of black and white made the living room more classy. Glass sliding doors can be opened completely for an uninterrupted view of downtown Miami. Below it is the rectangular type swimming pool.

Safety in style. Light wood stairs with glass railings lead to the upper floor of the house. The materials used for the stairs look great together. One will not question the strength of the glass material and the wood reflects its tropical touch. Modern and tropical.

Another great indoor space in this house is this chic and luxurious master bedroom. A small sitting area and working area had been incorporated into this room so that one can lounge and work at the same time. A glass surround wall is placed for an interrupted view of the downtown Miami. Onward is a balcony which is great for some open yet private moments. And, the space is in great combination with its white ceiling with hidden lights, white wall, and light brown floor tiling.

This is one of the many bedrooms available in the upper space of the house. A wall of cabinetry surrounds the room good for plenty of storage. The bed, its linens, the lampshade, tables and the floor carpet is in consonance with the theme of the whole space.

The master bathroom is placed next to the master bedroom. The space looks great and perfect for its dual sink vanity, a shower with a floor-to-ceiling glass surround, white freestanding bathtub, with views on the palm trees through the large glass windows. Its white ceiling provides a wider space, while the hidden lighting from it emit warm glow on the wood wall and the floor.

Truly, this house is a masterpiece project of the architect and at the same time a prized possession to the house owners. This may be of a very great market value, yet, undoubtedly, the island paradise living it may offer is priceless. This is just another achievement to the Choeff Levy Fischman Architecture + Design for this Hibiscus Island Residence. It is a fact that Miami’s cost of living is really priced high, thus, a home owner resident of Miami will be very much willing to sacrifice cost for luxury, comfort, modern, and tropical island living experience this Hibiscus Island residence can offer.

Dubai's 10 most decadent restaurants

Read article : Dubai's 10 most decadent restaurants

(CNN) —In the glimmering Middle Eastern city of Dubai, where luxury is good and over-the-top opulence is even better, there's no shortage of fancy restaurants.

Some are more decadent than others. Here are our top 10 stops on Dubai's fine dining circuit.

Be prepared for exquisite dishes by Michelin-starred chefs, with price tags to match.

1. Billionaire Mansion Dubai

The view from a table at Billionaire Mansion Dubai, the newly opened venue owned by Italian F1 boss Flavio Briatore, is a bit like going on safari.

Long-legged women roam in packs while men peacock in name-brand clothing.

And absolutely everything -- from the white-suit-black-tie staff to the tree growing in the middle of the restaurant -- is meant to catch the eye.

Located downtown in the Taj Dubai, this swanky spot doesn't really pick up until after 9 p.m. when the brief performances -- like silk ribbon dancing or sultry jazz singing -- start.

The menu is split into Japanese and Italian. Dishes (like a tuna tartare with white truffle sauce or salt-crusted baked sea bass) are larger and less fussy than you would expect.

As the evening moves on, diners should be prepared for sparkler-equipped dancers or bull-masked hoverboard-riding staff to wind between tables.

Just like on safari, the more exotic animals come out at night.

Credit card max-out:125 grams of Beluga Volzhenka Caviar ($640).

Worth the splurge: The wasabi prawns with mango and golden passion fruit salsa. This lightly battered dish is salty, sweet, crunchy and, with five large prawns, just the right size ($40).

2. Cavalli Club Dubai

Cavilli Club Dubai: Zebra stripes and Italian food.

Chandeliers made of Swarovski crystals hang from the ceiling of this purple-lit late-night venue where a large screen projects fashion shows on the wall.

It's not subtle -- but given that it's done in collaboration with over-the-top designer Roberto Cavalli, that's no real surprise.

Even the elevators are lined with zebra print fabric walls and the gold women's bathroom is dotted with private back-lit makeup mirrors.

While Cavalli Club is definitely a party destination, it still offers a solid four-course Italian dinner.

Mains, like meaty monkfish tail poached in squid ink or Mediterranean sea bass wrapped in zucchini, are visually gorgeous if a little under-seasoned.

By 11 p.m. the DJ's music will be pumping.

Credit card max-out: 850g of Wagyu grade 9+ New York steak ($681).

Worth the splurge: A dish of red prawns carpaccio with celery, cheese and watermelon soaked with Aperol spritz ($41).

3. Social by Heinz Beck

Heinz Beck, the chef behind Rome's three-Michelin-starred restaurant La Pergola, has brought his unconventional brand of Italian cuisine to Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah.

With pristine wooden floors, retro photos and glass-fronted kitchen, the decor of Social by Heinz Beck is classic luxury with a modern twist -- a mantra that also extends to the menu.

Expect to find Italian staples such as tiramisu and carbonara turned completely on their heads.

The interior goes for a European high society feel.

There's more of a typical Dubai vibe, from the terrace which offers a vista over the resort's grounds and the sci-fi Marina skyline across the water.

Credit card max-out:The indulgent five-course tasting menu paired with wines from around the world ($226 per person).

Worth the splurge:The Heinz Beck signature, Fagottelli Carbonara. Delicately soft pasta parcels filled with hot pools of buttery sauce ($23).

4. Pierchic

Pierchic: Over-water ostentation.

Corner tables on the terrace enjoy uninterrupted views of the "seven-star" sparkling Burj Al Arab Jumeirah.

The food here is fancy and elaborate -- and has the price tag to match.

Oysters, caviar and lobster, topped with flourishes like truffle and foie gras, dominate the Mediterranean menu.

Portions are pleasantly large.

A rich starter of Alaskan king crab topped with caviar and saffron-infused hollandaise could easily be a main, while an elegant main of Chilean sea bass with smoked sweet potato could serve two.

Credit card max-out:50 grams of Beluga Imperial Caviar ($776), whole line-caught sea bass ($245), or a seafood tower with oysters, lobsters, prawns, crab, salmon and more ($245).

Worth the splurge: The venue's smoky sweet potato. Served alongside a dish of Chilean sea bass, it's rich, sweet, caramelized and incredibly decadent ($68 for complete dish).

5. Nobu Dubai

Ask Dubai locals for a great Japanese restaurant, they'll mention one of the holy three: Okku, Zuma or Nobu.

All are equally impressive, but Nobu, located in Dubai's castle-shaped Atlantis hotel on the city's man-made Palm Island, wins by location alone.

This chain restaurant (one of 33 around the world) is well-established for fantastic food.

Absent are traditional sleek and minimalist Japanese-style interiors.

Everything in this popular dining spot is decorated in mesh screens and curved wooden beams, creating the feeling of being caught in a giant fishing net with a hugely sexy twist.

Food is a rich take on Japanese fusion with Arabic touches, ranging from a spicy salmon miso taco to a creamy cheesecake with yuzu sorbet.

Credit card max-out: The Grade A9 Australian Wagyu Beef ($223) is incredible. Diners can choose from a range of styles but "anticucho" is highly recommended.

Worth the splurge:Nobu is famed for its Black Cod Miso ($60); while this will never disappoint, the lighter lobster quinoa ceviche salad ($53) is fantastic.

6. At.mosphere Burj Khalifa

At.mosphere Burj Khalifa: Super slick, super views.

It's hard to miss the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower, during any Dubai visit.

While most folks head up to the viewing platform (from $35) for amazing views of Dubai from the sky, a more luxurious option is to book a dinner at At.mosphere.

This fine-dining restaurant is as super slick and expensive as you might expect.

Tables by the floor-to-ceiling windows offer urban sunsets while a multi-course tasting menu lays on the decadence.

There's wasabi roots from Japan, Australian Wagyu beef, lobster and more, all offered alongside suggested wine pairings.

Credit card max-out: The seven-course experience tasting menu with wine pairing will set you back a steep $436 per person.

Worth the splurge:A hand-cut beef tartare served with caviar is deliciously rich (part of a tasting menu at $185 per person).

7. Enigma

Theatrics and incredible food star at Enigma, a newly opened venue in the luxurious Palazzo Versace Dubai which is creating a real buzz.

Chefs change every four months, bringing with them set menus that are revealed on the night.

First there was Quique Dacosta (whose Spanish restaurant has three Michelin stars) whipping up smoking truffle creations.

Until June 20, 2016 it's Bjorn Frantzen (famed for the fine-dining Restaurant Frantzen, which was awarded two Michelin stars after only two years of operation) with a 12-course Nordic-inspired tasting menu.

Dishes are elaborate, decadent and incredibly creative.

Meals can take upwards of three hours.

For extra indulgence, cocktails can be grabbed on the column-lined terrace while the sun sets over the Dubai Creek.

"It's essentially a pop-up in a five-star deluxe hotel with chefs changing four times a year," says Samantha Wood, founder of restaurant review website foodiva.net.

Credit card max-out: The "full story" 12-course tasting menu costs $231 at weekends.

Worth the splurge: The beautifully presented scallop in its own shell served with dried roe on a bed of a fir tree (not priced individually).

8. La Cantine du Faubourg

La Cantine du Faubourg: Inviting cafe vibe.

Popular with Dubai's in-the-know crowd, this French restaurant is one of those places where folks go to see and be seen.

Billowy white fabric and high ceilings create an inviting cafe vibe.

In cooler months, the venue's terrace is packed with high-heeled well-groomed fashionistas.

Like Le Petite Maison, another posh cafe beloved by locals, Cantine features French cuisine done well.

Dishes include smoked salmon blinis with caviar and buttery sea bass served on a bed of black quinoa.

Optional supplements of seared foie gras ($16 for 30gr), black truffle ($19 for 2gr) or caviar ($20 for 5gr) allow for customizable amounts of decadence.

Credit card max-out: Enjoy 250gr of Imperial caviar ($1,361) or order the 500gr chateaubriand steak ($133).

Worth the splurge: "Les coquilletes de mon enfance," an elaborate mac 'n' cheese dish with truffles and gruyere ($25).

9. Al Muntaha

Al Muntaha: Skyline dining.

Like the Burj Khalifa, the ostentatious "seven star" Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is one of those properties that defines the Dubai skyline.

While the reservation-only venue's launched a few new offerings lately (including an outdoor terrace beachfront restaurant and Gold on 27, an incredibly decadent bar with foie gras-infused whiskey cocktails), its staple for luxury dining is Al Muntaha.

This contemporary European venue sits 200 meters above sea level, providing amazing views of the Arabian Gulf alongside deliberately fancy food.

The atmosphere is subdued, all clinking silverware and sophisticated diners. A new summer menu, launching mid-June, features dishes like Alaskan king crab served with lemon and caviar, or roasted veal fillet with foie gras.

Credit card max-out (and worth the splurge):The menu is currently under renovation, but expect to pay several hundred dollars per person.

10. Qbara

Arabic food is given a modern twist in Dubai's homegrown Qbara restaurant.

Located beside Raffles Hotel near the Dubai Creek, this funky venue is intimate in reds and golds, draped in shadows and subtly sexy.

A cool DJ and rotating artwork projections add to the buzzing vibe enjoyed by an Emirati and expat crowd.

Food spans everything from salads to small hot dishes, but the thing uniting it all is the edgy take on traditional Middle Eastern cuisine.

There's scallops seared with sumac (a tangy lemony spice) served with pomegranate onions or lobster kibbeh (a fried wheat parcel stuffed with flavored meat) with avocado labneh (a soft cheese).

Dates, pine nuts, hummus and more dot the expansive menu.

"If you have one night only in Dubai, then this restaurant is a must -- and ultimately my favorite restaurant in this emirate," says Samantha Wood.

Credit card max-out:Out-pricing even the tasting menu ($136 per person) is the hefty mixed grill. This star of Arabic cuisine features pure-bred Angus sirloin, tiger prawns, Syrian lamb kofta, grilled lamb cutlets and more ($204).

Worth the splurge: The decadent dessert made with iced nougat, baked kunafa pastry and gently flavored orange cream (part of a tasting menu for $136 per person, or on its own for $14).

Danae Mercer is a freelance travel journalist who lived in Dubai for over two years.

Architect creates feng shui paradise perched above Pittwater

Read article : Architect creates feng shui paradise perched above Pittwater

Walking along the bridge that extends from the street to the oversize front doors of this impressive Pittwater pile gives you just enough time to draw breath for a grand exhale upon entry.

Even the most jaded of visitors would have to be wowed by the magnificent scope of the Pittwater views that are captured via glass windows and doors on a grand scale.

Facing north over Careel Bay towards Palm Beach’s Snapperman Reserve and beyond to Lion Island and Gosford, the property is only two doors east of Stokes Point, home to Finisterre, the area’s most expensive waterfront property.

Even the most jaded of visitors would have to be wowed by the magnificent Pittwater views at 6 Cabarita Road, Avalon Beach. Photo: Supplied

Architect Rosalie Stollery used feng shui principles when designing this waterfront residence in a bid to create a home where you feel relaxed, balanced and at peace, but with this kind of gobsmacking vista to process, the blood pressure can only go up.

Beyond the first encounter it’s easy to imagine living in a cocoon of contentment in a house where every room gazes over water.

Inspiration for the design came from the site itself, where water laps over sandstone shelves and against the sandstone sea wallArchitect Rosalie Stollery

“Inspiration for the design came from the site itself, where water laps over sandstone shelves and against the sandstone sea wall,” says Stollery in her project review.

Peter Williams Constructions took several years to complete." />The painstakingly detailed build by Peter Williams Constructions took several years to complete. Photo: Supplied

“These elements have been borrowed and extended into the house, where water and sandstone are the two main elements. Ponds encircle the house, a huge wet-edge pool appears to flow into Pittwater and sandstone is used in a podium upon which the house sits.”

The painstakingly detailed build by Peter Williams Constructions took several years and was completed in 2010, and it’s a testament to both Stollery’s timeless design and the build quality that the home presents as beautifully as a brand-new property.

Inside, the finishes reveal the owners’ interest in textured design. You’ll find silk panels on the walls of the main bedroom, a different choice of feature tiles in each of the bathrooms, Louis Poulson light fittings and linen curtains framing the large expanses of glass.

The residence faces north over Careel Bay towards Palm Beach’s Snapperman Reserve. Photo: Supplied

New Guinea rosewood has been used extensively and the striking, single-stringer staircase showcases reclaimed timber from the Bundaberg Rum refinery.

The main living and dining zones each feature inlaid silk and wool rugs made in Nepal, one a scaled reflection of Careel Bay. The kitchen has Brazilian granite benchtops and a combination of Miele and Gaggenau appliances. A media room is fitted with a home cinema and there’s an integrated surround system right through the house, plus a Control4 smart-home system.

There’s a large rumpus with kitchenette on the lower level, plus an adjoining multi-purpose room that could be used as a home gym, sewing room or study. Each of the four bedrooms on this level opens to the pool and garden.

The impressive outlook can be appreciated from a number of vantage points in the home. Photo: Supplied

The 22-metre lap pool was lined in black mosaic tiles so it would merge with, rather than float above, Pittwater.

There are plenty of outdoor areas to choose from across three levels of accommodation and at low tide you can enjoy your own sandy beach with a backdrop of native gardens.

“Without a doubt this is the best, absolute deep-waterfront estate currently available on Pittwater,” says agent Lachlan Elder of LJ Hooker Mona Vale, who is selling the home for $15 million. “Commanding unobstructed north-easterly views across the expansive waterways complemented by a stunning architectural masterpiece with heart and soul.”

There are plenty of outdoor areas to choose from across three levels of accommodation. Photo: Supplied

This feature is part of a Domain Deluxe package

Boating paradise

The current owners of 6 Cabarita Road have kept a 20.3-metre boat here.
Photo: Supplied

Partaking in, and observing activities on Pittwater is the home’s greatest asset. Boats come and go, seaplanes deliver diners to Jonah’s, cement barges putter to Scotland Island, sailors race around the point.

Apart from birdsong, this non-intrusive ripple-riding rhythm is the only thing to break the silence. It is, in fact, ridiculously quiet when Domain makes a late morning visit, and it’s tempting to remove shoes and lower voices so as not to disturb the serenity.

Fittingly, the inclinator that runs from the carport to the waterfront doesn’t whine and grind but instead emits only a gentle hum.

Alight on the lawn by the boatshed and discover a boatie’s paradise. The boatshed has a kitchenette but is otherwise still employed to house watercraft, rather than used as an additional living space.

The wharf juts out to a deepwater, floating pontoon with power and water and while not currently in use, the original slip rails have been retained should you need them.

The current owners have kept a 20.3-metre boat here and enjoyed countless hours on Pittwater.

There’s little doubt the new owners will be tempted to follow suit.

See more photos of 6 Cabarita Road, Avalon Beach here. You can alsodownload the Domain app to see what’s for sale on the Sydney market. 

Why Zimbabwe should be your next holiday destination

Read article : Why Zimbabwe should be your next holiday destination

Source: Why Zimbabwe should be your next holiday destination – telegraph.co.uk  13 December 2016

Last month, after years of discussion and a £120 million loan from China, Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls International Airport was finally opened by President Robert Mugabe.

There are no direct flights from the UK as yet, but with a runway capable of handling the world’s largest planes, plus 28 aircraft docking bays which could triple the capacity of the old airport to 1.5 million passengers a year, it looks set to usher in a new era of tourism for Zimbabwe.

When I landed there from Johannesburg a few weeks before the official opening, there was already a buzz in the air – particularly at the Victoria Falls Hotel, where the patio restaurant was full of diners in celebratory mood.

One official told me that between 3,000 and 5,000 visitors are arriving by foot each day on the Zimbabwe side of the falls (which straddle the border with Zambia), a clear sign that the country is back on the tourism map. The number of arrivals should increase dramatically now that the airport is complete.

What can visitors expect? On the one hand, “Zim” is spectacular, a place the BBC’s former Africa correspondent Michael Buerk called “the most beautiful country on the continent”. It has impressive natural features: mighty rivers (the Zambezi and Limpopo), game-filled plains (at Mana Pools), a lake half the size of Belgium (Kariba), a national park the size of Wales (Hwange) and boulder-strewn hills adorned with ancient San art (Matobo).

But it is also a country that has seen horrific genocide, its people brutally suppressed by politicians who have tried to quash democracy, destroying a once-thriving agricultural economy and creating hunger, homelessness and 80 per cent unemployment.

Despite all this, Zimbabweans are positive people, their motto being “We’ll make a plan”. Now that Robert Mugabe is 93, their plan – of a country without him – is gaining momentum. Tourism will be a big part of that.

I have been back to Zimbabwe every year for the past three decades, to visit the country of my birth. On my latest trip, I was amazed by the number of old friends returning to tourism as a way of making a living.

Over two weeks, every camp I stayed in was full of international guests, enjoying an experience every bit as enriching as in any other southern African country – and substantially cheaper than neighbouring Botswana or Zambia.

For those who want to see more of the country, new internal flights on the low-cost FastJet airline, together with private aviation companies, make this possible. I combined flying and driving around the country’s three biggest tourist destinations – Victoria Falls, Hwange and Lake Kariba. Here is my guide to the highlights.

The Explorations Company (01367 850566; explorations company.com) is offering a 12-night trip to Zimbabwe, with three nights at Zambezi Sands, four at Little Makalolo and The Hide, and three at Changa Safari Camp, from £4,790 per person, including flight, transfers, full board and most activities.

Victoria Falls

Why go?

One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, this is the world’s greatest mass of falling water. Some 5,633ft wide and 343ft tall, the falls are as impressive today as when David Livingstone wrote that “scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”.

On the Zimbabwean side there are far more viewpoints (16) than in Zambia, including one above the thundering Devil’s Cataract and four facing Main Falls, where at peak season more than 27 million cubic feet of water fall per minute, drenching onlookers.

Because Victoria Falls has been a hub of tourism for decades, there are lots of activities on offer, from bungee jumping, abseiling and white-water rafting to diving with crocodiles. For the less adventurous, there are craft-shopping trips and sunset cruises.

While first-timers might prefer to stay in the town – at the relaxed Ilala Lodge (ilalalodge.com), the glamorous colonial Victoria Falls Hotel (victoriafallshotel.co) or the family-friendly Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (africaalbidatourism.com), new camps have been built just a 45-minute drive out of town – a welcome option for those who prefer to get away from it all after they have seen the falls.

The place to stay

Zambezi Sands, a bush camp on a remote stretch of the Zambezi river, was created by conservationist Mark Butcher. He has been protecting Zimbabwe’s wilderness for decades, both as a national parks ranger and through his community-based Imvelo Safaris group (imvelosafarilodges.com), to which Zambezi Sands belongs.

Butcher knows the falls area intimately and can arrange almost any activity, from fly-fishing for tigerfish to photographing lunar rainbows over the falls at night.

On this tranquil bend in the river, hippos snort and luminous blue kingfishers swoop. In the surrounding Zambezi National Park, plentiful wildlife roams. Days can be spent on game drives (mainly for elephant), walking through forests of Jackalberry and palm, fishing or canoeing with naturalists or affable camp managers.

This elegant, contemporary camp operates like a friendly boutique hotel. Its eight enormous Bedouin tents are on timber decks, with a plunge pool, outdoor shower, living area and bathroom with roll-top bath.

The big communal living room has colonial-style furnishings, the wide deck outside features a firepit (a cosy spot for stargazing) and the outdoor dining tables are in the daytime shaded by big cream umbrellas. The food is fresh, inventive and presented with pride by 27-year-old chef Frankie Banda.

Best of the rest

For real luxury, Matetsi River Lodge (andbeyond.com) offers the best of all worlds: big elegant rooms, a wine cellar and spa, as well as water activities and game viewing.

The 13 new tents at the Victoria Falls River Lodge (victoriafallsriverlodge.com) are airy and contemporary, with private plunge pools – but views are of the outskirts of Livingstone in Zambia, so the camp doesn’t feel remote.

The Elephant Camp (theelephantcamp.com) is highly recommended, but it is in the bush rather than on the river.

Hwange National Park

Why go?

This game park is not just huge – 5,625 square miles, about nine times the size of Greater London – but also boasts a wider variety of wildlife than anywhere else in Africa. As well as an estimated 50,000 elephants, in herds as large as 400, it is home to more than 100 species of mammal and 400 types of bird – a biodiversity to match that of the Kruger National Park in South Africa or South Luangwa in Zambia, but with fewer people, camps and cars.

What game you see depends on the area. In the hillier north-west (near Sinamatela, Nahimba and Camp Hwange), wild dogs are common. In the centre, near Main Camp, lions are frequently spotted, including prides that have perfected the art of elephant hunting. In the south-east, grassy vleis attract a staggering range of game.

Over four days in the central area, staying at three camps, I saw elephants, lions, a cheetah with three cubs, big herds of buffalo and giraffe, as well as relatively rare sable, eland and roan, and birds ranging from a giant verrose owl, with its distinctive pink eyelids, to the tiniest golden shaft-tailed whydah, trailing long glossy feathers to attract a mate.

The place to stay

Of three camps recently refurbished by Wilderness Safaris (wilderness-safaris.com), the smallest – Little Makalolo – has the most charm. (The others are Davidson’s, with a stylish new thatched lounge and pool, and the totally rebuilt Linkwasha, which has swanky new tents with sliding glass doors.)

Sleeping just 12, Little Makalolo is contemporary in style, with six mesh-walled tents containing shabby-chic furnishing. It feels more like a friendly little bush home than a luxury camp, and is set beside a watering hole where so many wild animals congregate that at night you are accompanied to your tent by an armed ranger.

Tents feature deep copper basins, outdoor showers open to the stars, comfortable beds with crisp white linen, and strong reading lights (a rare but much-appreciated extra).

Best of the rest

The Hide (thehide.com), a homely thatched camp built by the Preston family in 1992, is set on a private two-square-mile concession on the park’s edge. Its 10 thatched A-frame rooms are well laid out, with shaded verandas, practical shelving and, in the honeymoon suites, outdoor baths and double showers.

Head guide Nicholas Gaunje has worked for the family for 13 years, and imparts knowledge with sensitivity and dry humour, whether on a walking safari, a sleep-out in the Dove’s Nest treehouse, or a night drive (allowed on the concession).

He remembers the days when rhinos were frequently spotted in the area. “We haven’t seen any for about three years,” he says. “If it continues like this, the Earth won’t have any left.”

Lake Kariba

Why go?

This is one of the biggest man-made lakes in the world, like an inland sea covering an area roughly the size of Wales. When it was created in 1958 to generate hydroelectricity, more than 1,700 animals were rescued by conservationists from the rising waters and relocated to the adjacent Matusadona National Park.

Today the 540-square-mile park teems with wildlife and has just three places to stay within it: Rhino Safari Camp (rhinosafaricamp.com) in the north, a haunt of fishermen; Spurwing Island (spurwingisland.com), a favourite with families; and Changa Safari Camp, a smart new camp on a peninsula in the east.

Lake Kariba is a place where there is little to do but take in the big skies, the spectacular escarpment that stretches all the way to the Rift Valley, large expanses of water and the rich diversity of wildlife on its shores.

Activities revolve around water: watching birds, elephants, buffaloes and sometimes lions from a small speedboat; taking an atmospheric sunset cruise; kayaking (while looking out for hippos and 14ft-long crocodiles more than a century old) and fishing for bass, catfish and prized tigerfish.

The place to stay

Changa Safari Camp (changasafaricamp.com) is located  on the shores of Matusadona National Park. Owners Kevin Higgins and Angus Preston are keen conservationists intent on eradicating poaching, which is prevalent here. This they hope to achieve through their new NGO, the Matusadona Anti-Poaching Project (MAPP), and by attracting tourists back to enjoy Zimbabwean wildlife.

The camp – 23 miles from the main Kariba harbour – can be reached in 40 minutes by Avoca Transfers’ 16-seater speedboat, or in 20 minutes by plane to Fothergill Island. Whichever option you take, the journey there is an adventure in itself; we saw elephants before we had even reached the camp.

Like the Hide, Changa has been designed by people who understand what makes a safari pleasurable. The eight tents – two of which can accommodate a family of four – are large and well spaced out, with shaded verandas, comfy living spaces and bedrooms enclosed by big mesh windows which keep out bugs without cutting off the views.

There are several places in which to socialise, too: a bar shaped like a boat for sundowner G&Ts; a plunge pool surrounded by shaded bandas; a living area with a library and squashy sofas; and a dining space where the chef creates delicious buffets, from Cape pickled fish and Neapolitan meatballs to inventive salads and fresh fruit platters, all served with South African wines.

Most guests spend their time either out on the water, G&T in hand, or walking on the shores with an armed guide, seeing elephants, buffaloes and occasionally lions.

Best of the rest

Hire a houseboat. Arguably the most glamorous is the Matusadona (mv-matusadona.com), sleeping up to six.