Elite Insider - July 23, 2014
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Elite is now in Africa! We are thrilled to introduce the four newest members of the Elite portfolio. All are stand-outs, providing guests with luxury accommodations, superior hospitality, and access to the most sought-after experiences in their destinations. Enjoy this all-Africa edition of Insider and learn more about what makes each of these hotels truly special.
Warmest regards,
The Schwabs
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A Royal African Experience In Zambia
A thrilling helicopter ride over Victoria Falls. A relaxing cruise down the Zambezi River on the African Queen. Both are part of the unforgettable Royal African Experience at the Royal Livingstone Hotel, just a short stroll from the world-famous falls. The package also includes two nights' accommodations, daily breakfast and water taxi transport from the airport to the hotel, where guests are welcomed with a hand massage. Add a half-day fishing trip and you've got the Royal River Package. Both are valid through Nov. 30. |
The Joy of Jazz Comes to Stylish Sandton
Jazz greats Dianne Reeves, Delfeayo Marsalis and South Africa's own Sibongile Khumalo and Jonas Gwangwaby are all part of the line-up this September when the ever-growing Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival inhabits its new, larger digs at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. Jazz lovers staying at The Maslow, just minutes from the action, can take advantage of a Joy of Jazz Weekend package that includes overnight accommodations, breakfast for two, and complimentary shuttle every 15 minutes to Sandton City. Valid Sept. 24-28.
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Palace of the Lost City - Sun City, South Africa
The flagship hotel of the world-famous Sun City resort. Palace of the Lost City rises high above a magical, jungle-inspired landscape dotted with waterfalls and flowing streams. Palace guests enjoy access to all the attractions of Sun City, from high-rolling fun at the Sun City Casino to championship golf and the Valley of Waves water park. Those who seek an only-in-Africa adventure can soar above the neighboring Pilanesberg Game Reserve in a thrilling hot-air balloon ride, or book an elephant-back safari at a private game park for a closer view of the South Africa's bushveld. For more details, click here.
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The Table Bay Hotel - Cape Town, South Africa
Opened by Nelson Mandela himself, the Table Bay Hotel boasts an enviable location on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. From its expansive windows, guests enjoy views of the bay, the ocean beyond, and majestic Table Mountain. Step out for a stroll of the wharf to shop and explore, or set off for the Cape Winelands for vineyard tours and tastings. Table Bay Hotel's famous breakfast buffet provides the fuel guests need for a day on Cape Town's beautiful beaches or visiting its myriad cultural sites, including Robben Island where Mandela was once imprisoned, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn more about the hotel here.
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The Maslow - Johannesburg, South Africa
Offering a perfect balance of business and recreation, this sleek new urban hotel is just a few short blocks from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Gautrain Station, Nelson Mandela Square, and the posh shops of Sandton City. The Maslow's executive suites and family apartments are stylish, and work-savvy, and its uncapped WiFi is the fastest in Sandton. When its time to wind down, the hotel's Africology Spa delivers with exclusive treatments based on local botanicals, from Ghana shea to African potato. Enjoy cocktails poolside or at the Lacuna Bar, a hot gathering spot for locals and guests alike. Read more here.
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The Royal Livingstone - Livingstone, Zambia
When Dr. David Livingstone arrived in this corner of Africa in 1855, he was so taken that he wrote "scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight." Today, his namesake hotel, just steps from Victoria Falls on the banks of the Zambezi River, delivers once-in-a-lifetime experiences: Guests can take breakfast al fresco as zebras and giraffes graze nearby, dine aboard the steam locomotive Royal Livingstone Express, explore the spectacular falls, traverse the Zambezi by river boat or raft, test their mettle on a gorge swing, and get up close and personal with magnificent creatures on safari. Learn more here.
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On the Road with Greg and Jeannie
 That's Greg, out for a stroll with a cheetah -- just one of many once-in-a-lifetime experiences he enjoyed during his trip this spring to Africa. Our intrepid traveler encountered the cheetah during his stay at The Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, where he fed and rode elephants and walked among giraffes grazing just outside his room. Other highlights included a helicopter ride over Victoria Falls, listening to the roar of the falls while dining under the stars by the Zambezi River, and savoring cocktails at sunset while riding down the river on the African Queen. Greg's stay at The Maslow in Johannesburg was punctuated by a visit to Soweto, home to the late Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, and shopping in the famously chic Sandton City shopping centre just minutes from the hotel. Great cocktails at The Maslow's stylish Lacuna Bar were another highlight. In Cape Town, The Table Bay Hotel was Greg's home base for adventures that ranged from exploring the shops, restaurants and entertainment of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront to an excursion into wine country for a day of tastings. Greg highly recommends trying the authentic African flavors at Camissa, the hotel's new brasserie, as well as its buffet breakfast -- a sumptuous spread with more than 250 items served in The Atlantic, with its spectacular view of Table Mountain. Dining was a high point of Greg's stay at The Palace of the Lost City, from its famous Crystal Court breakfast buffet to a poolside lunch under the warm African sun to cocktails on the roof of the hotel tower, overlooking the entire Sun City resort and Pilanesberg National Park. Greg capped off his African tour with a safari, where he spotted elephants, rhinos and giraffes, among other native wildlife. |
 Check out Cape Town food and wine commentator Michael Olivier's blog for a great culinary overview of The Table Bay Hotel, complete with chef interviews, here. Meanwhile, the Jet Set Redhead covers her recent adventures at Victoria Falls and The Royal Livingstone Hotel in this July 9 blog post. (We particularly like her photo of a poolside encounter between a hotel guest and resident zebra!) |
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