MalaMala Makeover

2017 marks ninety years since MalaMala, probably South Africa’s most iconic Private “Big 5” Game Reserve, came into existence. With this important milestone comes what the owners are calling the “re-imagination” of MalaMala Main Camp and Sable Camp.

They were the first private game reserve to completely ban hunting and focus solely on luxury photographic safaris, providing a blueprint for others to follow – and are still, today, the largest tract of private “Big 5” private reserve at 33,000 acres. The land is now owned by the local N’Wandlahmari Community with an the operating company, MalaMala Game Reserve Pty Ltd.

Wedged between the famous Kruger National Park (12 miles of MalaMala’s eastern boundary are unfenced to allow for the natural movement of game) and the Sabi Sands Wildtuin to the west. The life-giving Sand River runs the length of the reserve drawing vast numbers of wildlife to it guaranteeing unrivalled game viewing – with all 3 camps right on the riverfront! 

They also have no access roads to the east of the river and allow no other vehicles traversing rights so you will never see a “queue to view” in MalaMala.

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Secret Campsite publishes ‘escapee's’ handbook

THE GROWING network of #SecretCampsites, described as the ‘antidote to glamping’, has published an ‘escapee's’ handbook which instructs suburban and city dwellers on how to evade the pressures and stresses of modern, tech-driven life and cope with mobile phone withdrawal symptoms. 

Revealed by The Guardian as one of the top ten camp sites in the country, the original Secret Campsite – hidden near Lewes in the Sussex countryside – provides campers with the opportunity to get back to nature and relax in the great outdoors.

Subtitled 'In pursuit of Nothing Much', the 26 page manual has diagrams, illustrations, and colour photographs. The witty prose has tips on foraging for edible plants, making wild herbal tea, getting a good night's sleep under canvas, and essential campfire gastronomy. 

Embarking on nature trails, campers at The Secret Campsite guests regularly encounter slow worms, green woodpeckers, barn owls, grass snakes and adders, elephant hawk moths, pipistelle bats, fallow deer, and marsh frogs.

The handbook explains how campers can re-tune their senses to the sights, sounds, and smells of the natural environment, and to spot the abundant wildlife in woodlands and fields.

‘There's a place in the market for glamping, but it's not one we cater for,’ says Tim Bullen, an agriculture graduate who set up the environmentally-friendly Secret Campsite business in 2012. ‘Many glampers rented luxurious yurts and lavish log cabins because it was the trendy thing to do or because they cut their holiday costs during the economic downturn. We appeal to real campers who want be outdoors to fully experience the natural environment and eschew the modern comforts of home for a while.’

The escapee's handbook costs £5, of which £1 is donated to the Sussex Wildlife Trust. 

Mr Bullen is currently recruiting farmers and landowners who want to host their own Secret Campsite.

www.thesecretcampsite.co.uk

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Picture Credit: www.thesecretcampsite.co.uk

Europe under canvas

PITCHUP.COM flags up European holiday destinations for the perfect holiday under canvas:

Croatia: #Camping Village Poljana is the place for a stress-free holiday. On the island of Lošinj in unspoilt surroundings, guests can explore the beauty of the archipelago and enjoy views of the island by hiking, mountain biking, or sailing. The campsite has a full range of facilities including restaurant, café-bar, children’s playground, entertainment, and different sports. Pitches start from £13.31 a night for two. 

www.pitchup.com/campsites/croatia/kvarner/primorje-gorski-kotar/mali-losinj/camping-village-poljana

France: Camping Les Ecureuils is in La Bernerie en Retz on Brittany’s Atlantic coast. Facilities include a heated pool, Jacuzzi, paddling pool, waterslide and sun deck, and an entertainment team organizes activities for children. For grown- ups there’s Zumba, power yoga, aquagym, and bootcamp. For evening entertainment, there’s live concerts, bingo, and themed disco and karaoke nights. Pitches start at £11.51 a night for two. 

www.pitchup.com/campsites/france/pays-de-la-loire/loire-atlantique/la-bernerie-en-retz/camping-les-ecureuils

Spain: Camping La Garrofa is on a sheltered corner of the beach in La Garrofa, a few miles from Almería. There are spacious pitches supplied with optional electric hook-up, plus a bar and restaurant. Pitchup.com offers pitches from £13.67 a night for two.

www.pitchup.com/campsites/spain/andalucia/almeria/almeria/camping-la-garrofa 

Italy: Campeggio Mare Blu is a few steps from a white sand beach and has playground, ping pong tables, pétanque court, free WiFi, a swimming pool, and a large solarium. For a taste of Italy, meals are served at the pizzeria-restaurant. £19.42 per night for two. 

www.pitchup.com/campsites/italy/marche/pesaro-urbino/fano/campeggio-mare-blu

Portugal: Camping Valverde is near nature reserve, Praia da Luz, and Lagos. The site has large marked out pitches, most of them under the shade of trees. Amenities include a swimming pool, a multi-sport field, tennis courts, free WiFi, a playground, six shower blocks, a mini market, a self-service and takeaway restaurant, a snack bar, and convenience store. From £18.27 a night for two. 

www.pitchup.com/campsites/portugal/faro/lagos/lagos/camping-valverde

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16779445@N00/965925955">Valzurio-9</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/46746703@N02/13679565414">Lake Hauea Campsite, New Zealand</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Fun week for the folks

BROADSTAIRS FOLK WEEK (August 7-14) has more than 500 events, including concerts, workshops, dances, parades, a craft fair, a children's festival, and Morris dancers in venues ranging from the 600-seat concert marquee in the town's park to the sailing club on the seafront.

Highlights include Cajun dances and the opportunity to English clog dancing.

The #festival campsite is close to the town centre of town, where there will be a panic Circus on-site.

Festival tickets are on sale now.

www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk

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Picture Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/65882683@N03/14679132173">Sandwich Folk & Ale Festival 2014</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license),http://www.flickr.com/photos/59262395@N00/673921554">Ron</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Take dad camping – and fishing – for a Father’s Day treat

WITH #Father’sDay (June 21 in the UK) in mind, Pitchup.com has flagged up campsites – in Cornwall, Norfolk and Lancashire – that offer fishing and other activities for family fun.

Siblyback Lake Campsite is by the tors and moors of Bodmin and offers water- and land-based activities for all ages and abilities. Facilities include:

Windsurfs, Rowing boats, Kayaks, Sailing dinghies, A high ropes course, Archery, Water-zorbing balls for children and Fly and trout fishing.

Tent pitches start from £14 a night with plenty of availability over Father’s Day weekend.

www.pitchup.com/campsites/England/South_West/Cornwall/Liskeard/siblyback-lake-campsite

Narborough Fisheries is a private 26-acre site in West Norfolk, with chalk stream water from the River Nar running through five fishing lakes … two trout, one specimen carp, general mixed coarse, and a newly-created match and coarse lake with more than 9,000 fish. Pitches for caravans and motorhomes start from £15 ar night.

www.pitchup.com/campsites/England/East_Anglia/Norfolk/narborough/narborough-fisheries

Wyreside Lakes Fishery in Bowland Fells, Lancashire, combines woods, wildlife, and the River Wyre. There are fishing opportunities in a number of lakes, plus facilities including a games room, an outdoor playground, clubhouse with evening entertainment, and woodland adventures for mini-campers. There are provisions for the disabled, and baby-changing facilities. Tent pitches start from £12.50 a night.

www.pitchup.com/campsites/England/North_West/Lancashire/Lancaster/wyreside-lakes-fisher

Wild Camping in Cornwall is in the heart of the Land's End Peninsula. Visitors can learn crafts or enjoy activities – organized by qualified staff – including bushcraft, green woodworking, traditional archery, herbalism, and paper making. Tent pitches start from £15 a night.

www.pitchup.com/campsites/England/South_West/Cornwall/Penzance/wild-camping-in-cornwall

www.pitchup.com

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37727465@N03/7814932340">Cut Bank Campground</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/56981926@N00/3076053945">IMG_6108</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/93199639@N05/13898626909">Lone fisherman</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/58798467@N04/8471620667">Fogo</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Intent on a good time?

WITH the appetite for camping continuing to grow well beyond the UK, the publishers of Cool Camping have updated their European edition.

The new edition of Cool Camping Europe, to be published on May 28, features 100 of the best camping and glamping sites across 12 countries in Europe, from Portugal to Slovenia.



The guide features traditional tent and campervan camping alongside a mix of glamping options including the best yurts, tipis, safari tents, and domes throughout Europe.

Cool Camping: Europe (2nd edition), Punk Publishing, £18.95.

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Picture Credit: Glamping-Kirwee Wagonstay by Samuel ETIENNE - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons