AtHomeWithGloriaHunnifordOctober2016 - 164

▲ T R AV E L Go on safari The desire to see the 'big five' game beasts in their natural habitat is on many a bucket list. There are plenty of amazing destinations from Kenya to Botswana offering great safari breaks to see buffalo, elephants, leopards, lions and rhinos, but the expansive savannahs and woodlands of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania are among the best. It's home to incredible wildlife spectacles, not least the famous wildebeest migration, which takes place annually from July to November, when up to two million animals are on the move. Whatever your destination, be sure to research the best season to visit, depending on which creatures you are keenest to see. Think about what kind of trip you want - a bespoke, private tour with luxury accommodation, or something more at one with nature? This is one trip where forward planning will pay off. www.amaniafrika.com Visit Iguazu Falls Why visit one magnificent waterfall when you can see nearly 300 in one location? On the border of Brazil and Argentina, Iguazu Falls consist of 275 awe-inpsiring individual drops, stretching in width for 1.7 miles. Their height varies between 60 and 82 metres, making them taller than Niagara Falls and twice as wide. A large proportion of the water is thrust down the fall known as the Devil's Throat, a U-shaped chasm 82 metres high, 150 metres wide and 700 metres long. Special walkways allow visitors to get close to the natural beauty and power of the cascading waters. It's best to visit in spring and autumn - summer is very hot and humid, while the water level drops considerably in the winter. www.andbeyond.com 164 | NOVEMBER 2016 Tour the Taj Mahal Ride on the Simplon-OrientExpress to Venice Board this iconic locomotive to travel to a magical city. From the lovingly restored vintage carriages and liveried stewards to fabulous food and wine, each moment is sure to be treasured. There are several European city destinations on offer, but the most traditional is Venice. Board the Belmond British Pullman train at London Victoria and enjoy brunch served with a Bellini cocktail as you travel through the Kent countryside, before switching to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express once across the Channel. You'll be served a four-course dinner, prepared by skilled French chefs, then can sip a cocktail in the bar before retiring to your cabin, which will be transformed into a cosy bedroom. You will arrive in Venice late in the following afternoon. www.belmond.com Possibly the most beautiful structure ever, the Taj Mahal attracts more than seven million people every year. It's a monument to the great love between the emperor Shah Jahan and his queen, Mumtaz Mahal, who died after giving birth to their 14th child. Grief-stricken Shah Jahan hired the empire's best architects, builders and craftsmen to design this vision in white marble to honour her memory. Set in a symmetrical Persian-style garden with lawns and waterways divided by wide paths, the Taj Mahal is decorated with precious and semi-precious stones from all over Asia. The mausoleum is flanked by two identical buildings - a mosque and an assembly hall - and a museum houses plans for the original building. There's also Diana's bench, where everyone wants to take a selfie. Avoid the entrance queues by visiting on a tour. www.titantravel.co.uk http://www.amaniafrika.com http://www.andbeyond.com http://www.titantravel.co.uk http://www.belmond.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AtHomeWithGloriaHunnifordOctober2016