December 2015 Hideaway Report

Andrew Harper shares luxury travel recommendations and the best hotels for a trip or itinerary to Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Johannesburg, and Tokyo, Japan.

Articles

Namibia: A Journey to the Skeleton Coast

Namibia feels like a country whose time has come. It is safe, well-organized and relatively prosperous, thanks to its deposits of gold and diamonds.

Zimbabwe's Singita Pamushana Lodge

For the past two decades, Singita properties in South Africa and Tanzania have set the standard for luxury wildlife lodges in Africa and around the world.

Harper Classics in Namibia

The immense dunes at Sossusvlei are the largest in the world, and no trip to Namibia is complete without at least a glimpse of this astonishing landscape.

Desert Lions Make a Comeback

Namibia's desert lion are genetically identical to those elsewhere, but their physiques and behavior have adapted to their austere surroundings.

Sabi Sand Update

Two of my favorite safari lodges have recently received major upgrades. Both are located in the Sabi Sand Reserve.

Namibia Books and Videos

Compared with the number about many African countries, there is a shortage of books in English about Namibia.

Video: Wolwedans Dune Lodge and Boulders Safari Camp

Enjoy this video of Andrew Harper's recent visit to Wolwedans Dune Lodge and Boulders Safari Camp in Namibia, Africa.

Journey to the Himba

Traditional African tribal life will soon be gone. Tribal allegiances will persist, but exotic clothing and immemorial ways of living will have disappeared.

Video: Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, Namibia

Enjoy this video of Andrew Harper's recent visit to Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp in Namibia, Africa.

Private Charter Flights on Safari

For a family or a group of friends, the best way to enjoy a complex safari itinerary is by private air charter.

Photo Tour: Best of Namibia

Andrew Harper shares travel photos and favorite trip experiences from a recent trip to Namibia's Skeleton Coast, featured in the December 2015 Hideaway Report.

Video: Singita Pamushana Lodge, Zimbabwe

Enjoy this video of Andrew Harper's recent visit to Singita Pamushana Lodge in Zimbabwe, Africa.

Rhino in Crisis

The Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve has succeeded in creating a local surplus of one of the world’s most critically endangered species, rhino.

New Johannesburg Hotel Option

In recent years, Johannesburg has lacked a distinguished larger hotel. Now subscribers can look to stay at The Westcliff.

Aman Opens Retreat in Busy Tokyo

Tokyo is a city of paradoxes: In the shadows of ultramodern skyscrapers is a grid of quiet alleys lined with traditional wooden homes and small shrines.

Tokyo Restaurant Discoveries

Considered one of the great food cities of the world (implausible just a few years ago), Tokyo offers every type of cuisine imaginable

Jazz in Tokyo

The Tokyo jazz scene is slowly gaining momentum and becoming more popular with locals and foreigners alike.

Roppongi: Tokyo’s New Art District

Tokyo is one of the world’s leading centers for contemporary art. Andrew Harper was pleasantly surprised to find new art galleries and museums in Roppongi.

New in Kyoto

Since it opened last February, the Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto on the banks of the Kamo River has become the most highly praised Western-style hotel in Kyoto.

Travel Plans for 2016

In these turbulent times, some countries that once were fixtures on the bucket lists of affluent Americans have been summarily deleted.

New and Noteworthy, December 2015

Andrew Harper points to notable luxury travel industry news, like the new Galapagos Pikaia Lodge and COMO The Treasury's opening in Perth, Australia.

Letter From the Editor, December 2015

Andrew Harper reveals more details about the hotels, regions and destinations of the Namibia, Zimbabwe and Tokyo featured in the December 2015 Hideaway Report.

6 Newly Recommended Hotels, December 2015

The December 2015 Hideaway Report follows Andrew Harper's travels to Namibia, Zimbabwe, Johannesburg, as well as Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan