COURTESY OF BOBBI BROWN; CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES; DEAGOSTINI/GETTY IMAGES; COURTESY OF BOBBI BROWNTRAVEL + LEISURE / MARCH 2016
Day 6
We jumped on a plane to
Bostwana where we checked-in
to the Mashatu Game Reserve,
a remote luxury camp built
around a waterhole where
elephant herds hang out. I was
incredibly excited to arrive as I
had been told that this location
was great for animal sighting
thanks to impressive local
conservation eff orts. Mashatu
provides occasional refuge to
more than 500 elephants and is
also home to hundreds of bird
species, cheetahs, and lions.
We enjoyed our lunch outdoors
and then took a guided game
walk where we saw giraff es,
cheetahs, and many more
animals. That evening, we
relaxed at the hotel and played
board games.Day 7
It was an adventurous day. We
set out early and mountain
biked along elephant paths, it
was nerve wrecking. Then, after
a leisurely breakfast of organic
eggs and fresh local fruits, it
was time to relax by the pool.
Early in the evening, a Range
Rover took us into the wild
to look for more animals. We
were guided to the perfect place
to watch the sun set that we
enjoyed over delicious cocktails
and snacks in the middle of the
bush. I felt like a character from
the movie Out of Africa.Day 8 and 9
We spent a couple of days at
Mpumalanga, which means
‘place where the sun rises’ and
drove a couple of hours beforearriving at our hotel—Cybele
Forest Lodge & Health Spa. It
is a beautiful farmhouse set
amidst a lush forest and banana
plantations. We enjoyed walks
by a waterfall, did a guided
walk to see animals, enjoy the
facilities of the spa, visit the
local artist community, shop for
local crafts, and so much more.Day 10 and 11
We arrived at the Londolozi
Private Game Reserve in the
afternoon. I didn’t know then
but it turned out to be my
favourite part of the trip. The
hotel is on an immense reserve
that is privately owned and
has animals that are literally
at your doorstep sometimes.
The staff was warm and
attentive, the rooms were
beautifully designed, and the
food was simply amazing. But
above all, what I loved most
about Londolozi was that it
has a strong commitment to
conservation and gives back
to the community. The hotel
staff predominantly includes
local villagers who lead many
grassroots education initiatives
with the Good Work Foundation
and follow a digitally-powered
education model. We had a
chance to witness Londolozi’s
involvement in the community,
visiting emerging schools, and
community gardens where we
got to spend time with locals.
One day, a few members of the
staff invited us into their homes
where we learned about the local
culture and rituals and how
education helps empower them.Day 12
After lunch, we started the
long journey back to New York.
On the way back, we looked
at our photos and shared our
favourite experiences. Back in
offi ce, I couldn’t wait to share
all the inspiration pieces—the
camoufl age jackets, the star-
studded skies, the animals,
the local food, etc—that made
the trip so awe-inspiring.
These items helped inspire the
Sterling Nights Collection that
launched recently.A hearty
breakfast at
Londolozi
Private Game
Reserve; a herd
of elephants at
Mashatu Game
Reserve,
Bostwana; view
from Londolozi
Private Game
Reserve; a safari
experience in
the bush.