52 BUCKET LIST 2013
Walk on the Wild Side
This year, why not delve into some of Kenya’ s most mesmerising landscapes with a walking safari from boutique safari camp company Cheli & Peacock. More wild and intimate than a conventional 4x4 safari, its collection of walking safaris range from easy strolls through animal rich plains to challenging mountain treks through some of the country’ s last true wilderness areas. The Extreme Wildlife Encounter walk leaves from Elephant Camp Pepper in the Mara North Conservancy, and follows the Mali ya Fisi route past a series of salty springs popular with lions and elephants, as well as antelope, gazelle, giraffe, hyenas and even hippos. Alternatively the Leopard Gorge trek starts from the world famous Leopard Gorge, renowned as a birthing and maternity ground for big cat predators, before crossing a rocky plain and the River Lugger to a stunning escarpment, perfect for a sundowner cocktails. www. thecpportfolio. com
Diving Deep
If you’ ve been looking for the perfect excuse to get your diver’ s license, exploring the wreck of the S. S. Yongala – which sank in 1911 with all hands aboard off the coast of Townsville, Australia – might be just the ticket. Regarded as one of Australia’ s most intriguing maritime mysteries and undiscovered for more than 50 years, Yongala is one of the top wreck dives in the world, and divers can spy shoals of stern and giant trevally, dancing sea snakes and even turtles nibbling away at the coral that’ s slowly but surely claiming the ship. Yongala Dive offers diving excursions and PADI-certified classes for all skill levels, and can reach the dive site in just 30 minutes on its purpose-built Yongala Express vessel. www. yongaladive. com. au
Regal Rails
The splendor and romanticism of rail journeys has never faded and the launch of the new Istanbul to Prague itinerary of the Danube Express is sure to help captivate new souls looking for the charms of slow travel. Limited to just 50 passengers, this iconic 10-day European odyssey departs Istanbul’ s Sirkeci Station, before skirting the Bosphorus and delving into Bulgaria. After stops in Kazanlak and Veliko Turnovo, once known as the City of the Tsars, the train climbs through the Carpathian Mountains, with opportunities to explore the legend of Count Dracula in Braşov and Sighişoara. In Hungary, passengers explore Kecskemét, and Lajosmizse, before arriving for a three night visit to Budapest. Guests rejoin the train as it heads west Keszthely to visit the Festetics Palace, one of the largest in Hungary, before crossing into Austria in time to visit Vienna’ s Schönbruun Palace. After exploring the castles of Bratislava, cross the Slovakian Mountains towards Poland and visit Kraków and the World Heritage Salt Mines at Wieliczka, before the final run into Prague. Departures include May 26, June 16 & September 22, 2013, with tariffs from GBP4,990 per person; www. danube-express. com
www. jetsetter. hk