Travel Smart

Looking for the world’s best holiday destinations? Travel Smart Choice selects some of the finest places to visit.

1. Royal Swazi Sun Hotel, Casino and Country Club, Swaziland

In the fascinating kingdom of Swaziland is a lush and verdant valley named ‘heaven’ by the noble Swazis. In this valley lies a sensational casino resort comprising a trio of hotels. Each touched by the magic of Africa, none more so than the 5-star Royal Swazi Spa Hotel. Overlooking the Royal Swazi Sun pool, a lavish breakfast, lunch and dinner is served daily, with emphasis on dishes cooked on order at the buffet. Planters Restaurant. An intimate a la carte restaurant and bar for all night service, specializing in grills, curries and a variety of prawn dishes. Ilanga Restaurant - A delightful buffet breakfast and dinner is served daily, with regular theme evenings being a main attraction. Snack menu is available for lunch. A magnificent buffet lunch is served on Sundays with live entertainment. From Mondays to Saturdays a great pub lunch is available in the Sportsman's Bar.

Type:	Hotels
Location:	Mbabane, Swaziland
Service Levels:	24 hours

Property Amenities The Royal Swazi Sun is the flagship of the Ezulwini Valley trio. Originally built m 1965,the Royal Swazi Sun has been regularly refurbished to maintain it in right royal style. The combination of luxury accommodation conference centre, country club, casino and an elegant new Health Spa,make it the ideal destination for leisure visits, conferences, incentives, as well as sporting events. Interleading rooms are available. Non-smoking rooms are available in all room types. All rooms have an en-suite bathroom and shower, air-conditioning,tea/coffee facilities, colour television,radio,telephone, hairdryer, and electric shaver plug.

Area Attractions The 9th Green Venue Situated near the casino entrance, the 9th Green is a novel venue for smaller cocktail receptions. The Boma The Boma seats up to 160 guests, and is most popular for typically African barbeques with large bonfires, and authentic Swazi entertainment. Golf The Royal Swazi Spa’s spectacular 18-hole championship golf course is one of the most scenic locations found anywhere in the world, with a different landscape waiting to be enjoyed from every tee and green. The sweeping par-72 course, which was opened in 1966, is played off the men’s tees to a length of 6166 metres (5258 metres for women). It has been laid out on the slopes of the Lubombo Range which curve gently down into the valley where the Royal Swazi Spa Hotels are situated. The first nine holes are comparatively level, and the second nine fully exploit the mountainous terrain. The greens and fairways are in tip-top condition. All the greens have been planted with Durban Country Club grass, which provides a thinner and therefore faster putting service, and all meet PGA standards. The fairways are planted with hardy Kikuyu, which stands up well to constant use and remains relatively green throughout the year. Indibano Amphitheatre Indibano Amphitheatre is situated just behind the Convention Centre and overlooking the 10th green, this quaint 160 seater amphitheatre lends itself as a perfect afternoon venue for a variety of functions. 2. Beach Villas Mauritius

Beach Villas is located in Mont Choisy on the north coast of Mauritius, approximately 1 hour 15 minutes drive from the airport, this small and intimate self-catering property located on the beach is the perfect option for families and friends looking for a home away from home. Beach Villas is just a few minutes away from various shops, you can refill your grocery cupboards and fridge at very affordable prices. Daily maid services allow you to enjoy your Mauritian holiday without worrying about housekeeping chores. Beach Villas - Accommodation Complex with 6 self-catering bungalows and 8 studio flats. 8 studio flats - bedroom containing a double bed, air conditioning, safe, TV, bathroom and veranda. Accommodates 3 persons with the possibility of adding an extra bed. An extra bed can be provided to accommodate a fourth person. Duplex Bungalow - Ground floor has a living room with TV, dining area, veranda and toilet. Upstairs has 2 air conditioned rooms (1 double bed in each room) with safe, bathrooms and balcony. Accommodates 5 persons with the possibility of adding an extra bed. An extra bed can be provided to accommodate a sixth person. Beach Villas - Activities The property has a swimming pool. All kitchens are fully equipped with refrigerator, microwave, electric kettle, coffee maker, toaster and gas cooker. At the reception desk - telephone, e-mail, fax and taxis. At an additional cost - laundry, ironing, baby sitting and typical Mauritian meals.

Type:	Apartments and Villas, Self-Catering, Guest Houses
Location:	Mont Choisy, Mauritius
Service Levels:	24 hours

3. Swahili Beach Resort, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Area Attractions

Beach Villas - General Information
Close to Grand Baie (10 min drive)
Casino and golf course near by
Diving centres and undersea walk excursions
DON’T MISS:
Grand Baie was the first area of the island to fully experience the tourist boom. A shopping and leisure paradise, Grand Baie also happens to be the area where Mauritians head for when they want a fun-filled night out. La Cuvette beach is well worth a visit.

Beach Villas - Amenities
Swimming pool
All kitchens are fully equipped with refrigerator, microwave, electric kettle, coffee maker, toaster and gas cooker.
Telephone, e-mail, fax and taxis.
Laundry, ironing, baby sitting and typical Mauritian meals.

Swahili Beach Resort has all the comforts and luxuries of a resort. This is due to the fact that they have the financial backing to ensure that everything is of the best authentic Zanzibar quality. They have used stunning authentic Zanzibar furnishings and design to create one of the best places in the entire Zanzibar. It is not a beach resort with hundreds of people. It is small enough to be intimate and big enough to allow for all the luxuries like a pool, room service (something not very common in Zanzibar) and many other luxuries.

Swahili Beach Resort is located in the renowned area of Kizimkazi. For those perhaps not too familiar with Zanzibar, this is where people come to swim with the dolphins. Whilst they often swim away when you dive in the water, you are pretty much guaranteed of seeing them… regularly! Swahili Beach Resort is also located on the best beach in the area. The sea is the most tropical you will ever encounter!

Type:	Guest Houses, Resorts
Location:	South Coast, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Service Levels:	24 hours

Property Amenities • 19 Rooms (all sea view) • Separate dressing room • En suite bath room • Spacious veranda • Air conditioning • Ceiling fans • Hair dryer • Satellite TV • Mini-bar • Smoke detectors • Telephones • Safe box • Room service

Area Attractions Accomodation at Swahili Beach Resort There are a total of 19 rooms consisting of 9 Sands Rooms, 6 Superior Rooms and 4 Cabana Rooms. The Sands Rooms are the largest and closest to the ocean. These are single storey semi detached units with 2 rooms per unit. They enjoy both a beach and ocean view. The Superior Rooms are located a little further back but still enjoy a sea view. These rooms are double storey semi detached units with 4 rooms per unit. The Cabana Rooms are sort of in between, but they also have a beach and sea view. All rooms are exceptionally comfortable and spacious. They all have a separate dressing room, en suite bathrooms with awesome showers and nice big verandahs. All the rooms also feature air conditioners, ceiling fans, satellite television, mini bars, telephones and safe deposit boxes. The bathrooms have hair dryers. Dining The lodge has the Cinnamon Restaurant, Caraway Bar and Pili Pili Lounge. Breakfasts are served from the buffet and consist of English breakfast, fruit or cereals. Lunch is served from the lunch menu. The lunches are basically pub lunch type meals such as burgers, fish and pizzas. Dinners are served from the buffet and range from traditional Swahili seafood to western style dishes. The Caraway Bar overlooks the swimming pool and ocean. It is the perfect place for sundowner cocktails or just to chill out at during the day. They serve the full range of spirits, wines, fruit juices, smoothies and their own Swahili Tea. The Pili Pili Lounge is a sort of chill out lounge where drinks are served and guests can just sit relax, have a drink and chat. Activities • Snorkeling • Deep Sea Fishing • Spice Tour • Jozani Forest (Colobus Monkeys) • Dolphin Tour • Safari Blue Tour • Stonetown Tour • Prison Island boat Trip • PADI Dive Centre 4. Obudu Cattle Ranch and Mountain Resort, Cross River State, Nigeria

The Obudu Cattle Ranch now known as the Obudu Mountain Resort is found in the Obaniku Local Government area of the northern part of Cross River State.It is an area where the wonderful work of nature can be appreciated with its awesome and almost indescribable views.

It is about 30 minutes drive from Obudu town and is about 332km;an equivalent of about five hours drive from Calabar,the state capital. The Obudu ranch also has provision for access by air with its small airstrip and presidential helipad.The airstrip now attracts flights from Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt via Calabar to the strip during peak periods.The flights are run by Aerocontractors.

Available is a cable car system which brings guests from the resort entrance at the bottom of the mountain to the ranch at the hill top.It is claimed to be one of the longest cable car facilities in the world.

At the ranch is located a breathtaking water park with facilities for swimming and water slides for all tourists.Other attractions include cattle on the ranch which are bred on the Ranch for their fresh milk, butter, meat and cheese.Horses,waterfall,golf course,canopy walk,organized bonfires and beautiful views of mountains and the country-side. There is also a honey and yoghurt factory, and the ancient Anape village. The Tinapa Resort can also be a part of the package for any interested tourists.

The ranch equally boasts of conference centers, as well as bungalows and chalets of varying sizes and styles to accommodate your budget. The presence of well rated restaurants also ensures that you get quality meals while at the Ranch.

The ranch community further offers a medical facility,night club, school, police post and staff quarters.

If you are looking for the place to go to with that special person,a business-oriented retreat,family holiday or you just need to take time off your busy schedule,Obudu Cattle Ranch is the perfect place. Grab your gear and get ready to have an experience of a lifetime!