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Top 5 Beach Clubs

Grand Africa
South Africa

Any bar that has a giant, shiny disco ball as part of its decor means partying business. And disco balls are just the beginning. Cape Town’s Grand Africa also boasts an enormous red lounge in the shape of some very luscious-looking lips, two huge lion statues and a floating love heart. Despite the audacious styling choices, the interiors are inviting and relaxing, complementing the wooden boardwalks that sit atop marshmallow soft sand and fairy-tale–style day beds. The incredible Table Mountain makes up the backdrop while the Atlantic Ocean glistens out ahead. A wide-ranging menu – we recommend any of the seafood dishes – keeps the energy levels up for the DJ sets, which kick off at about 4pm during summer, while the cocktail menu keeps the party going. As things heat up and the nights cool down, this playful, and a little bit cheeky, Cape Town beach club is the place to be.
grandafrica.com

By the water or in the restaurant at Scorpios on Mykonos? You choose.
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Scorpios
Greece

Forget everything you know about the Mykonos party scene, at Scorpios there’s no doof-doof music, no sweaty, gyrating bodies and definitely no overpriced alco-pops. Ideally situated on the sun-kissed southern tip of the island overlooking Paraga Beach, Scorpios is designed to represent a contemporary interpretation of the ancient Greek agora (a gathering place for people to come together to socialise and collaborate). The rustic space, much of it open air, is littered with wooden cabanas, whitewashed walls, knitted hammocks and a quirky assortment of straw baskets, rugs and light fittings. There’s even a boutique bazaar, which stocks a carefully curated selection of products by local artisans – ensuring you can party in the hottest slip dress, should you forget yours. You’ll need to arrive early if you want to secure one of the highly sought-after cabanas by the water – the ideal spot to treat yourself to a Mediterranean feast from the 200-seat restaurant. The setting sun signals a change in tempo, and before you know it you’re kicking up your heels at the chicest party in Mykonos.
scorpiosmykonos.com

Shift the party to the sand at Colo Tulum in Mexico.
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Coco Tulum Beach Club
Mexico

All-white everything is the theme of Coco Tulum’s beach club and, we gotta say, this stylish hotel-turned-bar is one of the prettier venues in Mexico’s crowded Yucatán Peninsula. With the crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea lapping at the white sand beach, it’s hard for Coco Tulum to look bad, but the team behind the design has really taken things to the next level. It’s still a little bit unpolished but that just adds to its charm, alongside a sense of sophistication and cool confidence. Think hammocks, bean bags and deck chairs, rows of hanging fairy lights, and an impressive range of signature cocktails. Plus, recognising a good thing, Coco Tulum has added to the number of its signature over-water swings, meaning there are more seats than they’ve ever had before. The mood is chilled-out here, and the music reflects that, so don’t expect hardcore trance parties that rage into the night. That said, Coco Tulum knows how to throw a pretty epic Sunday sesh, and it’s known to get quite lively so best not to lock in plans for the next morning, just in case.
cocotulum.com

Trust one of the boroughs to serve up not-your-average beach club at Rockaway Beach.
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Rockaway Beach Surf Club
USA

Yellow sand, salty water and summer beach vibes don’t exactly spring to mind when we think of New York City, but The Ramones were on to something when they decided to “hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach”. Set on the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, this arty-vibe beach is growing in popularity, which makes a nibble and drinks at the Rockaway Beach Surf Club even more appealing. What started as a place for surfers to store their boards is now a beach club with a difference. Rockaway Beach Surf Club embraces the destination’s chilled-out urban beach vibe. Guests, many of whom are locals, are welcomed by the phrase “Live. Surf. Die”, and the club hosts a number of cultural and art events at its on-site gallery. Chow down on some tacos while sipping a fresh watermelon juice or a delicious cocktail or two. It might not be quite the luxury poolside hangout you’d except of the term “beach club” but we’d be happy hitching the next ride to this NYC hangout.
rockawaybeachsurfclub.com

Sun safe and seated by the ocean at Spain’s Aiyanna.
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Aiyanna
Spain

With a reputation as the hottest party island in the world, you expect a certain level of unruliness when it comes to clubs in Ibiza. Tucked away on the sandy shores of Cala Nova, Aiyanna is a breath of fresh air. It’s significantly quieter than the party hot spots of Ibiza Town, Playa d’en Bossa and San Antonio, and refuels drained souls with morning yoga and an on-site Airstream caravan serving fresh cold-pressed juices. There’s a boho-meets-luxury aesthetic happening here, with natural colours and earthy textures dominating the landscape and creating some seriously zen vibes. But it’s fun too, with bright Guatemalan parasols adding vibrant pops of colour, oversized bean bags scattered throughout and strings of sparkling sequins cascading from the roof. Evening live music performances generally get the party started, and when night falls, Aiyanna really comes to life. Best of all, there’s not a hint of exclusivity here. Foregoing a VIP zone, Aiyanna is access all areas, and that’s just how we like it.
aiyannaibiza.com

Settle in at the Living Room

Bringing the concept of urban jungle to a whole other level, Living Room is situated at the heart of Johannesburg’s built-up and bohemian Maboneng Precinct, yet it offers a nourishing pop of greenery. Relaxing in a hammock chair, surrounded by potted ferns, vases of flowers and vertical gardens, this inner-city oasis will make you feel a million miles from the hubbub five floors below. But if you’re looking to take things more up-tempo, stop by for their famous Sunday soirees – just remember to book a table.

Either way, be sure to try one of the cheekily named cocktails – the Minty Magic Unicorn is supposedly a new classic – perhaps paired with some tapas, while admiring the stellar views of the city.

Mercury rising in Zanzibar

Not many may know this, but the famous musician and Queen front man, Freddie Mercury, was actually born Farouk Bulsara to Parsi parents. While he spent years studying in Bombay, it was in Stone Town, Zanzibar that this showman spent most of his childhood. In Shangani, where Mercury was born and later returned before leaving to London at the age of 18, the Bulsara family home still stands, now labelled ‘Mercury House’. It’s not open to the public, but Zanzibar Gallery, also where Mercury once lived, sells a bunch of souvenirs and no doubt a Freddie Mercury t-shirt or two in this Freddie-obsessed town.

Visitors to the Tanzanian archipelago can also visit the Zoroastrian temple where the Bulsara family once worshipped. A number of tours offer the chance to trace his footsteps along Shangani’s streets, connecting you to the life of Freddie before he was Freddie. Plus, no visit is complete without a stop at the gimmicky-named Mercury Restaurant.

In search of Sudan

You possibly don’t know a whole lot about Sudan, but this is a country blessed with an extraordinary history and culture. Did you know, for instance, it has three times the number of pyramids found in Egypt?

A new history-focussed tour by Arcadia Expeditions – Sudan: The Three Niles – digs deep into this extraordinary and enigmatic country and explores its rich archeological sites and fascinating antiquity.

Lead by acclaimed historian, filmmaker and photojournalist David Adams, the expedition delves deep into the story of the Three Niles and the incredible cultures that grew around them.

History and culture buffs will be frothing as David explores the ancient course of the Yellow Nile, the Napatean fortress of Ghala Abu Hamed, and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites of Meroe and Jebel Barkal.

You’ll witness Sufi whirling dervishes, attend a Nubian wrestling match and get a behind-the-scenes tour of the National Museum.

Once all the artefacts have been studied, there’s downtime on Sudan’s rarely visited Red Sea coast aboard an Italian-owned schooner, where the days are spent exploring remote islands and pristine reefs.

Rustic charm at Escape 3 Points

If ramshackle beach bars are your thing, then Escape 3 Points is paradise. Sitting pretty at the southernmost tip of Ghana, the bar offers a chill zone on a secluded sweep of silica that’s flanked by two rivers that flow to the sea and bordered by mango trees and coconut palms. With chairs and tables assembled from driftwood, recycled green bottles forming a couple of makeshift walls and nothing but sand below your soles, the feel is so exceptionally rustic that you might think the establishment coined the term.

The fruit and spices grown in Escape’s very own organic garden infuse its homemade akpeteshie, a Ghanaian moonshine made by distilling palm wine or sugar cane. Though for the less adventurous the regular gamut of cocktails, wine and beer are all on offer. With a drink in hand, relax in the comfort of your own wooden throne as the sun sinks over the Atlantic. The solar-powered speakers will provide the perfect soundtrack to your own slice of paradise.

Follow the wine trail

Quaff the finest wines on a cycling adventure through the motley landscape of South Africa’s wine regions as you peddle past desert dunes, forested mountains and sapphire waters. The circular route, beginning in Cape Town, will see you ride along tarmac roads – with a couple of climbs thrown in – to the famed Boschendal Winery and sampling a drop or two from one of the 29 cellars located at Rosenview Winery in Stellenbosch.

Other highlights include standing on Cape Agulhas, South Africa’s southernmost point; sinking local beers at the Birkenhead brewery; spotting southern right whales in Hermanus; and cycling one of South Africa’s most jaw-dropping circuits, the Cape Argus route. In the evenings, kick back in your comfortable lodge and toast to a day well spent.

Top 5 Desert Experiences

If you want to head to the desert on a horse that’s probably got a name, try Namibia.
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Giddy up
Namibia

Saddle up on this horseback adventure that traverses what might well be the world’s oldest desert, the Namib in Southern Africa. This 10-night crusade across challenging terrain requires four to eight hours of riding each day, so only experienced horsefolks need apply. Your route begins near the settlement of Solitaire, crosses the Naukluft Mountains then continues towards the Namib Desert. It can be rough going and, at times, you’ll need to dismount to cover tricky territory. Of course, none of that will matter once you’re galloping, wind whipping your hair, past a tower of giraffes or a herd of springboks. By the time you reach the dunes of coastal Swakopmund, you’ll have clocked in almost 300 kilometres of riding, camping under the stars in between. If you’re up to the demands, there’s little chance this horseback desert voyage will disappoint. In hindsight maybe even your glutes will thank you.
inthesaddle.com

It’s not hot but it is desolate, and this is the coolest way to explore Antarctica.
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Desert of a different kind
Antarctica

What do you get when you swap sand for snow and dunes for glaciers? A white desert. That’s right, deserts aren’t strictly characterised by hot, hostile conditions and sand as far as the eye can see. With an icy, largely uninhabitable landscape devoid of vegetation, Antarctica qualifies too. Which is why we couldn’t have a list of awesome yet desolate experiences and not include White Desert, a once-in-a-lifetime Antarctic journey. The voyage begins in Cape Town, where you board the private White Desert jet bound for the exclusive six-pod Whichaway Camp, your base for the duration of your stay in Antarctica. While the pods look more like a settlement on Mars than luxury lodgings, inside you’ll find plush throws, timber furnishings and rich textures. The expeditions, which range from a one-day, fly-in fly-out tour to an incredible eight-day trip, give you the opportunity to venture where very few humans get the chance to tread. We’re talking getting up close and personal with a 6,000-strong emperor penguin colony, wandering through glowing neon blue ice caves or travelling to the lowest point on earth, the South Pole.
white-desert.com

Absolute luxury exists in the Southern Utah desert at Amangiri.
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Desert indulgence
USA

Protected from the harsh elements of the Southern Utah desert by nothing more than a rocky, rugged escarpment, luxury hotel Amangiri appears like a too-beautiful-to-be-real mirage. Minimalist lines and neutral tones allow the luxe digs to blend into their age-wearied backdrop, while concrete walls, timber fittings and blackened steel elements serve to enhance the features of the natural surroundings. Private pools, courtyards or rooftop terraces adjoin each of the 34 suites, further ensuring the desert landscape remains the focal point for visitors. If you do manage to tear yourself away from the stunning vistas, adventure awaits in the form of dawn hot-air balloon rides, rock climbing and horseback riding. Navajo guides are also on hand to share stories, traditions and ritual dances. Amangiri’s open-plan kitchen, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise the ever-changing outlook, is the ideal dining location, the views matched only by the impeccable quality of the food. Your tummy will rumble at the sight of traditional southwestern dishes served with a modern twist. It may look like an mirage, but we’re sure glad this desert oasis is real.
aman.com

In the UAE, find the most unusually positioned wave you will ever surf.
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Ride the wave
UAE

What’s the last thing you’d expect to see tucked away in the far-flung sand banks of the United Arab Emirates? We’re guessing you didn’t just say the world’s largest surf pool, but that’s exactly what you’ll find at Wadi Adventure, a world-class water-based adventure park on the outskirts of the palm-fringed city of Al Ain. At 150 metres in length, with a maximum depth of 2.4 metres and the capacity to generate three-metre-high waves every 90 seconds, this surf pool is one super impressive man-made accomplishment. Considering Kelly Slater, a legend of the surfing industry, has taken to the Wadi Adventure waves, you know this place is legit. While the chance to hang 10 in the middle of the desert is as good as any reason to visit, Wadi Adventure is also home to the world’s longest man-made white-water channels. The complex has hosted the Middle East’s World Rafting Championships and serves as an elite training ground for the UAE National Rafting team as well as other kayaking professionals. Forget the water slides and kiddie pools of Wet’n’Wild, this is one seriously soaked experience in the desert.
wadiadventure.ae

Fast and the Furious
USA

It’s hard to believe the biggest thrills in Las Vegas happen about 30 minutes from the famous Strip. And, no, we’re not talking about a hedonistic pool party or an all-night club. This is dirty, dusty and easily the biggest injection of adrenaline you’ll have in years. Strap yourself into a dune buggy and hit the bumpy tracks of the Mojave Desert with the guys from Vegas Off Road Tours. This is definitely no ‘stay in line and follow at slow speed’ experience. Far from it, actually. An instructor in full denim overalls and looking a bit like Jeff Lebowski offers up a few instructions before thrill-seekers hit the accelerator: “Don’t go too hard on the corners. Some dude died out here last week. Not with us… But watch your turns. Oh, and keep up.” With that he’ll shoot through in a cloud of Mojave dust. During the following two hours of insanity there are times when you’ll be sure all four wheels leave the ground, as well as moments when you – whether you’re driving or reluctantly filling the passenger seat – will find yourself screaming from a combination of fear and exhilaration. The trip ends with local craft beers and a barbecue lunch at the Pioneer Hotel. Viva Las Vegas indeed!
vegasoffroadtours.com

The perfect hideaway at Collines de Niassam

A treehouse like no other. The most captivating suites at this unusual beach resort are wrapped in the limbs of baobab trees. Each has two storeys where you can shelter from the sun while staring out towards the salt flats and waterways that eventually become the Atlantic Ocean. Those who prefer to keep their feet on terra firma can choose a cabin surrounded by bright bougainvillea or one on stilts over the water.

Visit a local village, kayak through the mangroves or watch flocks of pelicans from your sanctuary, but be sure to return when hunger strikes – meals are prepared by French chefs who exploit the abundance of local produce. The resort is four hours south of Dakar, Senegal’s capital, but worth the trip to see a different side of this former French colony.

Safari in your stride

Take a walk on the wild side in Zambia. Your adventure begins at Victoria Falls, where 540 million litres of water thunder over a precipice each minute. Next, try your luck at glimpsing another of Africa’s wonders, the white rhino, while hiking upriver past zebras and giraffes in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. After catching a flight a thousand kilometres to the north-east, you’ll meet with an expert guide who will lead you through South Luangwa National Park on foot.

Your next five days will be spent tracking elephants, giraffes, hippos and lions through some of the most pristine land on the continent under their watchful eye. Dust and heat might become the norm, but nights will be spent in luxury. And as you watch wildlife wander by your canvas tent at Tena Tena Camp (the name translates to ‘temporary home’), you’ll wish you were a permanent fixture.

Walk the land of the Big Five.

Move Mountains in Africa

Most people associate Uganda with wildlife safaris, not summiting peaks. But a trek through the Rwenzori Mountains to the crest of Margherita Peak offers both. Take your first steps through montane forest, where you’ll spot chimpanzees and, if you’re lucky, L’Hoest’s monkeys, distinguished by their characteristic white beards. Then feel the burn as you begin the steep ascent; first, along a winding path deep into thickets of bamboo, and again through Namusangi Valley to sheer cliffs and thundering falls.

When you reach Bamwanjara Pass, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic vistas of glacial lakes below and snowy peaks above, and perhaps a sighting of the endemic scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird. Then, under the cover of darkness, boost yourself up frost-free rocks before making the final scramble to the summit of Margherita Peak and its jaw-dropping views.

Everyone else is on safari, so you’ll have this unique slice of Uganda all to yourself.

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region: Africa