Nosy Be, often called the “Perfume Island” due to its fragrant ylang-ylang trees, is Madagascar’s largest and most popular tourist destination. Situated off the northwest coast of Madagascar, this tropical paradise boasts powdery white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and lush inland rainforests, making it an idyllic escape for beach lovers, nature enthusiasts, and adventure seekers alike. Nosy Be is renowned for its stunning marine life.
Lagos sits on the southern edge of Portugal’s Algarve where a lively old port town meets wide Atlantic skies. Just a short stroll from the heart of town, the coast drops away into a spectacle at Ponta da Piedade, where golden sandstone cliffs rise out of the Atlantic and have been shaped into stacks, natural arches and grottoes over millennia. At the top, the Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse watches over this dramatic shoreline and offers a great backdrop for photos as the sun sets into the ocean.
Opatija, located on Croatia’s Kvarner Bay, has been drawing visitors since the 19th century, when Austro-Hungarian aristocrats built grand villas along its Adriatic shoreline. Today, many of those same buildings still stand with some restored as luxury hotels and others preserved as cultural landmarks. The town’s most recognizable structure, Villa Angiolina, opened in 1844 and marked the start of Opatija’s rise as a fashionable seaside resort.
Bergamo, in northern Italy’s Lombardy region, is a city of striking contrasts, divided into the historic upper town and the modern lower town. The upper town, perched on a hill and encircled by Venetian walls, offers cobblestone streets, medieval architecture, and panoramic views over the surrounding plains and the distant Alps.
Vienna has a long memory. Once the capital of the Habsburg Empire, the city still carries signs of its imperial past in its palaces, concert halls, and wide boulevards. Visitors can walk through the Hofburg complex, where emperors once ruled, or tour the opulent rooms of Schönbrunn Palace, which features 1,441 rooms and a maze in its gardens. But Vienna’s many historic buildings now house contemporary art museums, cafés, and institutions that reflect the city’s modern identity.
Moremi Wildlife Reserve, nestled in the heart of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, is a premier destination for those seeking an extraordinary safari experience. This pristine reserve, established in 1963, offers a rich tapestry of landscapes including lush floodplains, verdant woodlands, and expansive lagoons. Its diverse ecosystems make it one of Africa's most sought-after wildlife viewing locations. The reserve is renowned for its high concentration of game, including elephants, lions, leopards, and rare wild dogs. A visit here promises an immersive adventure, with opportunities for both traditional game drives and exhilarating mokoro (dugout canoe) safaris.
Moremi's unique terrain creates a dynamic environment for wildlife. The seasonal floodwaters from the Okavango Delta turn the area into a rich mosaic of wetlands and savannahs, attracting a plethora of bird species, including the colorful lilac-breasted roller and the majestic fish eagle. This varied habitat supports a thriving population of animals and makes for spectacular game viewing year-round. The reserve's commitment to conservation and sustainable tourism ensures that visitors experience its beauty in a manner that preserves its ecological integrity.
A fun fact about Moremi is that it was one of the first protected areas in Africa to be managed by a local community. Named after the Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela Chief Moremi III, the reserve embodies the deep connection between the local people and their natural environment.