Taking the scenic route to Souimanga Lodge in the Sine Saloum Delta, Senegal
A journey taking the scenic route to Souimanga Lodge exploring the Sine Saloum Delta in Senegal.
La Fête du Poisson: Traditional Net Fishing in Rodrigues Island
So remote that it’s often left off the map, Ile Rodrigues in the Indian Ocean has little in common with its glamorous big sister, Mauritius. ‘Sleepy’ and ‘laid-back’ are appropriate adjectives to describe this little island, except for...
What you should know about swimming with dolphins
While on holiday in Egypt in 2013, when I heard that you could swim with dolphins in Sharm el Sheikh I leapt at the chance. This was a long-held dream of mine and I was over the moon. It was a spur of the moment decision that I now regret. I’ve since researched...
The best places in the world to go white-water rafting
Where are the best places in the world for white-water rafting for both beginners and more experienced rafters?
Top 12 things to do in The Gambia on a budget
This wonderful West African country is a fascinating place to explore with golden sandy beaches, year-round hot weather, a colourful culture and friendly English speaking locals. I’ve been visiting regularly for over ten years and I’ve found there is no end of interesting things to do in The Gambia, even if you have a tight budget.
Mandina Lodges, the perfect start to our West African honeymoon
Join us as we discover barefoot luxury in a floating river lodge on a tributary of the River Gambia, the perfect start to a multicentre honeymoon in West Africa.
Easy octopus salad recipe from the island of Rodrigues
In a remote corner of the Indian Ocean, the little island of Rodrigues lies in a shallow lagoon created by the coral reef that completely surrounds it. Seafood is plentiful, including Octopus cyanea, which hides in the nooks of the reef and rocks in the turquoise...
Rodrigues Island: Getting off the beaten track in Mauritius
As we come in to land I can see white horses crashing against the coral reef encompassing a small cluster of islands. This is Rodrigues, the off the beaten path Mauritius. Don’t be fooled by its small size, there are plenty of things to see and do in Rodrigues, a little-known gem sparkling in the Indian Ocean.
Spicy chicken ‘pepe’ soup recipe from West Africa
This traditional spicy chicken soup from The Gambia, is known as a cure-all and, amongst other things, is said to cure the common cold. The Gambians like their food spicy so be warned, pepe soup packs quite a punch!
Get off the beaten path and unwind in The Gambia
As a gentle sea breeze brushes my face, I arch my back in the cat pose. Moving from one yoga hold to another, I unwind and the stresses of life slip away.
Saving the marine turtles of West Africa | Interview with a poacher
Speaking to Landing, a former turtle poacher, I began to understand why people hunted the turtles, despite their dwindling numbers and it being illegal.
The Songs of the Baka in the Rainforest of Eden
As I made my way through the lush greenery of giant ferns and towering palm trees I could hear the sweet sound of Baka songs floating through the air. Interlocking, polyphonic rhythms and melodies woven together. Songs that prepared the tribe and the animals of...
BLOOD LIONS – Call to ban trophy hunting of captive lions
Blood Lions is a hard hitting documentary that blows the lid on canned hunting – the shooting of lions that are bred in captivity, hand-reared and then shot by trophy hunters in a fenced reserve giving the lion no hope of escape.
A Traditional West African Wedding
I step out of the taxi onto the dusty lane, in a village much like any other in The Gambia. Today this particular street is unusually busy with a tangible buzz in the air. Today we are celebrating the wedding of my dear friend Okameo and his lovely bride Asanatou.
Baobab smoothie recipe
While on my travels in The Gambia and Senegal I’ve often heard from the locals of the many uses and benefits of the fruit of the baobab tree, a vitamin, fibre, and antioxidant-rich superfood. Here’s my recipe for a delicious and nutritious baobab smoothie....
Spicy coleslaw from Mauritius
Sunshine on a plate cookbook review plus a deliciously simple spicy coleslaw recipe from Mauritius by former masterChef winner, Shelina Permallo.
A child’s life in Senegal
The dust, the smiles and the rhythm of the drums, West Africa, can really get under your skin; I lost count of the number of times I’ve visited this corner of the globe a long time ago. As I set out on a journey of a different kind, namely sponsoring a...
White domes, hot stones and a paper G-string!
Sitting on a tiled bench in nothing but a paper g-string is not how I would normally picture the start of a day’s pampering but that is exactly how my morning at Coco Ocean Resort & Spa began; I was there to enjoy nearly 3 hours of utter self-indulgence, in...
Where to find the best food in Marrakech
Our guide to finding the best traditional Marrakech food from the barbeques of the Djemaa el Fna at dusk to a homemade Moroccan tagine.
An upcountry adventure with the Jola Tribe
A traditional Jola Festival is the subject of my 3rd podcast from The Gambia with the transcript and plenty of photographs here on my blog. “Unnerving but fascinating to watch, they used everything from cutlasses and razor blades to energetically strike their...
